Introduction Aquatic stem plants offer a huge variety of colors and leaf shapes, however, hobbyists often shy away from growing them. A common experience for newer hobbyists is that the stem plants grows well for a time period, then after a couple of trimming cycles, the bottom stems deteriorate and the aquarist is at a […]
Introduction While many hobbyists rely on water parameter readings of ammonia/nitrite/nitrate to monitor their water quality, these parameters alone do not give a complete picture of water quality. The tank water may have a high pathogenic bacteria load (in the case of new/unstable/under-filtered systems) or other forms of organic waste molecules that have not yet […]
Seiryu rock aquascape with dwarf hair grass (Eleocharis acicularis) Introduction Iwagumi layouts are rock focused planted aquariums inspired by Japanese and Chinese rock gardens and by Japanese/Chinese rock appreciation – (水石) Suiseki in Japan and (供石) in China. Its goal is to showcase particularly aesthetic pieces of rock; rocks that have interesting weathering patterns or shapes make good […]
Above: a tank at peak. When tanks reach their ‘instagram moment’, it unfortunately also signals that (a) trimming and/or (b) replanting is soon due. In reality, planted tanks are crop-fields, not perennial forests. They look best when they fill the tank. But this peak also marks the ‘point of harvest’. If we do not remove […]
Biofiltration 101 The decomposition of waste products in a tank happen in many stages. Fish & plants (yes, plants too, in the form of old leaves and old plant parts) excrete organic waste in the form of waste proteins, amino acids, cellular lining, dead cells, fiber, urea and other organic by products. Snails, shrimps and other detritus […]
ⒸAQUA DESIGN AMANO common mistakes starting a fresh water aquarium Creating a beautiful freshwater aquascape can be a rewarding experience, but it also requires careful planning and attention to detail. Many beginners make common mistakes that can harm their aquatic plants and fish. Here are five of the biggest mistakes people make when starting a […]
Planted tanks are much easier to run in the range of 24 to 26 celsius. Gaseous exchange is better as the water holds CO2 and O2 saturation better and plant metabolism is slowed down. Algae is often easier to manage in cooler tanks as well. Plant growth forms tend to be more compact. In tropical […]
Biofiltration 101 Fish & plants (yes, plants too, in the form of old leaves and plant parts) excrete organic waste; a portion of it is broken down into toxic ammonia. Bacteria (Nitrosomonas and Nitrosococcus among others) & archaea in the filter & substrate converts ammonia (NH3) to nitrite (NO2). Different strains of microbes (Nitrobacter and […]
From time to time, we would receive a concerned ‘Oh no! What did I do wrong?’ email , with a picture of a plant looking like the one above (a bouquet of Lobelia cardinalis after 4 months) Actually, nothing is wrong. Aquatic plants, unlike certain woody terrestrial species, are not perennial. They are are more […]
Resetting a tank The first question you need to ask is, does my tank really need a full reset? Often tanks that are over-grown or face deteriorating growth just need substrate maintenance or trimming and replanting work done. Head here to read about substrate maintenance. Head here to read about why trimming and replanting of new growth is important. […]
Modern aquascaping has a strong focus on using hardscape elements and having ways to attach hardscape securely and efficiently allows for complex hardscape to be build quickly. A couple of points on preparing wood & rocks; for wood pieces which have bark which can easily peeled off, the bark should be removed so that the […]
“I use small species to emphasize a sense of scale.”- MM A convincing depth of field / visual perspective is one of the most identifiable traits of aquascaping experience. Matthew’s point on the conscious use of small species is often missed by beginners. 2Hr Tanks generally utilize smaller plant variants for the same reason. For […]
What does tank stability mean? At the basic level, it indicates that ammonia cycling is done and the tank’s microbial’s community has developed enough to digest volatile organic waste quickly enough that there will be no ammonia spikes affecting livestock or plants. Furthermore, water should be crystal clear as bacteria bio-film binds even the finest particles […]
Starting a New Tank- the 2Hr Way A new aquarium is always lovely but can quickly become frustrating. These 5 steps would help: Step #1: Start Slow A new aquarium is like a young earth billions of years ago. It might look clean and peaceful, but it is actually incredibly hostile and unstable. In that […]
Regular water change is critical to maintaining the biological balance within the closed ecosystem of planted aquariums. It is best to do so weekly, changing 30%-50% of the water. Water changes remove dissolved organic waste and free-floating algae spores. It also allows one to re-balance water parameters that may have shifted during the week. However, […]
“Aerial roots” refer to roots that often grow out of the internodes of stem plants midway up the stem, above the substrate. Why do these roots appear? Are they cause for concern? What can we do if we find them unsightly? Territorial Instinct Aerial roots are most common in sparse tanks, or when stem plants […]
Above: In cooler waters ( 22 to 26 C / 72 to 79 F ) Bucephalandra grow markedly better and mosses display richer, greener tones. Above 29 degrees Celsius / 84 F, most aquatic mosses tend to be more yellowish and melt more easily. Temperature plays a powerful, silent role in planted aquariums. While most […]
Above: Consistent and sufficient CO2 levels are central to vibrant, enduring Dutch-style 2Hr Tanks. If you have invested in CO2 injection, a good question is: am I injecting enough? If your drop checker is always green or if the bubble count is above, say 3bps, does it mean you have enough CO2? The answer is: […]
Above: Bucephalandra ‘Brownie Ghost 2011’ has a particularly strong purplish tone. Buceps belong to a genus of flowering rheophyte that grows with a creeping rhizome. They are endemic to Indonesia and come in varied and unusual forms. Above: Buceps are most often grown on hardscape, even though they can be grown directly on substrate if […]
Introduction There are quite a few considerations for planted tanks when the aquarist plans on going for a holiday. On the safety angle, having a good setup where tank/equipment is of decent quality is important – having equipment failures can be catastrophic when there is no one around to rectify issues. Having the system well […]
“Will it help rejuvenate my overgrown tank?” Yes, but not in a way you might be thinking. Aquatic plants are not perennial. They are not like trees where you prune and new leaves regrow again and again. In particular, when stem plants grow tall, the lower portions get shaded and naturally start to deteriorate. The […]
From time to time, we would receive a concerned ‘Oh no! What did I do wrong?’ email , with a picture of a plant looking like the one above (a bouquet of Lobelia cardinalis after 4 months) Actually, nothing is wrong. Aquatic plants, unlike certain woody terrestrial species, are not perennial. They are are more […]
Introduction There are many species of dwarf shrimp on the market today, with a staggering number of different color variants and color patterns. Some species have become very prolific in the hobby such as the ubiquitous and easy to care for Cherry shrimp “Neocaridina davidi”, while there are other species with more specific requirements such Crystal red […]
Everyone loves carpets. However, as smaller plants that grow on the substrate they have less access to light and are more delicate than larger, robust plants. With a little specialized attention, various carpets can be grown with high success rates in a low tech tank. 3 challenges to overcome Growing a carpet without the help […]
Not working?
Why this? Tips on keeping Java Fern and Anubias
Dealing with algae in new tanks
How to get rid of surface scum
Chlorine a concern?
Holes in leaves?
3 beginner traps
Soak before use?
Is it a problem? Deep substrates?
Setting up an easy mini low tech planted tank
Floaters: a dangerous love affair?
Nutrient uptake through leaves?
Water Change- how much?
Monte Carlo vs HC Cuba: same same?
Test Kit Budget: Top 3 Picks
Stronger is better?
Tank Reset? 3 Hacks
Flowering Underwater?
Best Festive Red Plant?
Why is my plant melting?
When Less is More
2Hr Tanks are known for their resilience against algae, and we share our approach to algae on our website. However an interesting question came up recently from a reader: do your tanks never have algae? Actually while our tanks are free of algae 90% of the time, there are still several occasions when we face algae problems. Let’s […]
Bright enough?
When 'simple' is the hard way