smartalec13

It’s a UNS 45U, with an Oase 100 thermo and a Chihiros WRGB Slim. CO2, and aquasoil in a mound under the rocks. There’s an open area behind and under the stacked rock, making a nice little hide.

So far I am liking the poppy pipe style, it’s my first time using it. And slowly I’m getting diatoms and snails, usual early tank stuff.

Lemme know your thoughts :)

I moved July2025 and rescaped. My original plans for the tank are pretty different compared to how it ended up now (unsure how to post multiple images, will do in comments or check my past posts). (Equipment and tank stats at the bottom)

My creeping jenny field on the left died mysteriously after I trimmed and replanted them. So that area I’ve let the Monte Carlo and Hydrocotyle Tripartita run a bit wild.

The central “rock face” got slowly covered by Monte Carlo, and after an aggressive trimming of that, I discovered it wasn’t even attached and was almost entirely free floating. So that rock eventually got buried.

The high slope I once had in the back has slowly fallen.

And I’ve added (and lost) many different varieties of plants. Mostly just experimenting and trying things out!

Despite all these slow and sometimes unfortunate changes, I still love looking at it and tending to it.

At some point this year I plan to rescape, with a more focused design and more intentional planning of plants.

Tank Stats Filter: Oase Biomaster 250, set to like 40% flow Light: Chihiros WRGB II (cannot check light level at the moment, I believe it is 70R 60G 45B) Tank: ADA 60p, 60x36x30cm Substrate: Pea gravel bags for height, UNS Contrasoil on top of a mix of old UNS Contrasoil & Eco Complete (lava rock gravel) Water: TDS 120ish after water change. No clue on pH, GH, or KH. CO2: yes. Lime green drop checker.

Plants Carpet: Monte Carlo with Hydrocotyle Tripartita in the front left.

Left: Some Bacopa Carolinia Green, Creeping Jenny, and Java Moss on the rock

Right: Ludwigia Diamond and some other smaller Ludwigia in front, then various Crypt & Anubias. Nothing special. There’s also a buce hiding in there somewhere.

Top: “Red” Root Floaters (I have lost hope of them getting red, and I am still a bit too intimidated by messing up fertilizer to try to limit my nitrates)

Center: Cardamine Lyrata bush, some more Bacopa Carolinia green, one or two surviving stems of Rotala Macandra, some sort of grassy thing (no clue), some Mermaid Weed barely hanging on, and a whole mess of Rotala Indica.

Moved about a month ago, but only two weeks ago did I finally move my tank. Decided it was a good chance for a rescape! Loving my new layout, and the plants are already growing. I bet in two more weeks the carpet will be almost complete

(Unsure if I’m doing it wrong, but I seem to only be able to upload one image. See below for more).

I’m less than one week away from my anniversary with this tank. One whole year, and a whole lot of changes.

Sometimes I miss how fresh and clean it looked in the early-mid stages, especially when the Limnophilia Aromatica was bushy. But I love how it looks now, so colorful and a bit messy.

For any first starting their tank and getting buyers-remorse if it looks odd or ugly to start, just remember that it’s gonna grow and change!

I’ve had this tank for about 9 months now. While it’s been very beautiful, my background has been rough. First it was a simple foggy-glass film. Then I removed that to try to add a white one, which only looked worse.

But finally, I was able to afford a dream item - a lightscreen.

And damn, the difference is insane lol. It may show off the algae more, but it really makes the colors pop.

It’s kinda crazy for me to think about. Story time! Otherwise just ask me anything :)

Around 11 years ago, I sat in the lounge that the Video Game Club occupies once a month on college campus. I looked over and saw a group of gamers go into one of the meeting rooms attached to the lounge - but instead of laptops or gaming consoles, they had books and dice and paper. I scoffed and thought they were too nerdy and cringey - I then went back to munching Doritos, chugging MtDew, and playing Borderlands/Skyrim/Pokemon for the next 12 hours lol.

Thankfully I was saved from my misguided views. A member of the VGC invited me to try out DnD, his group had an open spot. I was hesitant, but I craved more creativity in games that just couldn’t be supplied. So I decided to try it out.

Ended up not having a great time. One player was entirely checked out for 80% of the time and was a scumbag during the 20% he was engaged. The DM either was very new, or just had some very questionable calls. There were of course some fun moments but not a great impression.

I knew the game had potential. And I knew I could run it better.

So 10yrs ago today, my Players Handbook arrived, which is when I really began my journey to learning the rules, how to make characters, and how to run the game.

I’ve since had a few successfully completed long term games, including one that was over 5 years. I’ve ran a game at a convention, I’ve done some paid birthday parties, in person and online long campaigns, even some very successful afterschool programs while I was a teacher for a few years.

At my peak, I was running 4 games weekly. Since then I’ve slowed down a bit more and focus on two good weekly games.

Willing to share tips or stories for any who ask :) otherwise I just wanted to share this milestone.

I’ve got an aquarium at home, and though I have countless tiny bladder snails, Jasnah is clearly a different beast. She is my fiancés favorite creature in the tank because she’s got a lot of personality.

Her hobbies include posing for the camera, eating, climbing on top of plants, eating, parasnailing from the top of the tank, and of course eating.

And yes she is named after the character Jasnah Kholin from the Stormlight Archive book series. If I’m being honest though, she acts more like Lift lol

I’ve had it going for about 8 months now. Originally it was going to be only CRS, but unfortunately my KH was repeatedly on the rise. After testing my rocks, my water, etc I came to the conclusion that it’s due to the pea gravel I used in filter bags to prop up the rocks.

So though the CRS population has dwindled, there is still life. I got some RCS instead, which seem to be doing well, as well as 3 Amanos and 12 Pygmy Cory catfish.

Just wanted to share my aquascape :) I am happy to answer questions - I did a good amount of research but keep in mind this is my first tank.

Edit: please ignore the ugly fresh trim on the Rotala, and the horrible background!