Welcome to ScapeCrunch

We are ScapeCrunch, the place where planted aquarium hobbyists come to build relationships and support each other. When you're tired of doom scrolling, you've found your home here.

Social Feed

Art
Art
Staff member I Donated 2026 Founding Member
Last reply · posted in Planted Aquarium Discussion
Recently, I’ve made it a practice to spend part of the last week of the year planning for the next one. I find that it gives me something to strive for and allows me to feel like I’m achieving some of my life’s objectives intentionally.

This year, I’m extending this to my aquarium.

I like to come up with a theme that I will focus on so my aquarium theme for this year is going to be “simplicity”. Simplicity in gear, husbandry and fauna.

My tank is tech heavy today. I like to say that it is to help me manage my tank while I’m away (I travel a fair bit) but on the down-low, I’m also a tech gadget guy at heart. While some of this technology and gadgetry will need to stay, my plan is to think about what I can take away.

So that’s my plan for 2025 and I’ll update my Journal to keep me honest and intentional.

What plans do you have for 2025??
24 Replies · 3534 views
Mr.Shenanagins
Rockstar
Last reply · posted in Equipment Discussions
I am not as technically inclined as some members on here, but for those who are, answer me this. Could you not attach tubing to the end of this device where the sensor/probe is and run it into the aquarium in a similar fashion in which the drop checker works? Instead of waiting for a color change you could get an actual PPM reading? Please let me know if I am completely off base and why, or if this could possibly be a rudimentary way of getting more accurate co2 concentrations at a fraction of the cost of some high end equipment designed for submerged readings.

10 Replies · 652 views
Naturescapes_Rocco
Supporting I Donated 2026 Rockstar Article Contributor
Last reply · posted in Journals
1751398420680.webp
1751398442101.webp

Main idea/inspiration:​

Since my main 150p aquarium is in our front room and is the first thing we and our guests see, I can't afford to experiment much with it. I also spent like $600 on aquasoil to fill it, so I thought I'd like to try something different.

This tank will be 100% BDBS substrate, no fertilized substrate. No root tabs (yet), no aquasoil. Only water column fertilization, to challenge myself to see whether I can grow plants well without aquasoil or not! Inspired by the @Burr740 BDBS journals and many other amazing inert-substrate aquariums out there. This isn't a dutch style, only a general "garden" style tank.
222 Replies · 25207 views
riioKen
Last reply · posted in Planted Aquarium Discussion
Hi guys,
I'm planning to do a switch, but I would like to know if it makes sense before buying anything.

My actual tank is a 110x50x60h, this is my first bigger tank and it's the tank where I started to truly love this hobby.
This tanks gave me joy, anxiety and satisfaction.

I bought it for relatively cheap (around 130€), but know I was thinking to buy a standard 120p.

I plan to reuse my old tropica aquasoil (I'll remove the First 1-2cm and topping It with apt feast).

What do you think? It's a waste of time/money or you'll think that is a change that make sense?

I always felt strange about this tanks proportion.

I plan to do it with 3 buckets (fish, plants and soil). The water is fully ro.

Any suggestions for doing it? Is worth it? Or it's just late and I'm overthinking?
8 Replies · 133 views
  • Like
Reactions: GreggZ
Koan
Staff member Supporting I Donated 2026 Rockstar
Last reply · posted in Planted Aquarium Discussion
20251224_113306.webp​

  • We grow super interesting plants here

  • Everybody has extra tank / filter / heaters around they've been meaning to get around to building into a farm tank...


naru-swap-2165936439.webp


It's easy!

TRIMMERS

Next time you have a big trim planned, or have just done: post a pic here of the plants!

Include the
  • species name
  • date cut / uprooted
  • expiration / you-will-toss after date
  • your zip code

TAKERS

Check cost of FedEx /UPS to your own address, and send the trimmer a PM with the offer to pay shipping 💯💯


word-done-stamp-letters-retro-grunge-design-composed-single-letter-stamps-vintage-isolated-wh...webp
22 Replies · 1346 views
BenB
Rockstar
Last reply · posted in Planted Aquarium Discussion
These plants have been sitting in this container in the dark for 9 days. They are still wet, but the container isn't 100% air tight.
Plants look great. They are crispy and green. I removed them from the tank on Oct 11. It's Oct 20.
I haven't had a chance to do hardly any tank maintenance since my trip, but I needed to get some stuff out to make room for some tc plants I ordered.
I thought someone might want some of this, so I put it in this container, and was going to offer it all up if I thought I'd have time to ship. (Too late now)
I can't believe how long they've lasted.
So if you need a way to store some plants for a few days. This might be an option.
Note: Both things were pulled up roots and all. If I had cut stems, they might not have lasted?

20261020_083415a.webp
3 Replies · 166 views
JayP
Supporting I Donated 2026 Rockstar
Last reply · posted in Planted Aquarium Discussion
Browsed the Sreepadma booth at Aquashella briefly today. I'd not heard of them but they are the largest aquatic plant farm in India and have been selling their TC offerings in the US for about 2 years. I was actually impressed with the qualty I was seeing of their TC cups and wish I had room in a tank for some (and some ADA TC). Has anyone else purchased any of their plants. One of the first that I spotted was Red Tiger Crypt which was a coincidence since we have a thread discussing it.
19 Replies · 892 views
Chimera
Last reply · posted in Planted Aquarium Discussion
Hey all,

Just wondering what your thoughts or experiences are with running some form of moon or dusk lighting.
With my tank only running 8hrs of light per day, I have recently added a 2-3% setting on my Chihiros WRGB II from 18:00 - 21:00.
It's running quite a blue light and is just so that I can still get some enjoyment from my fish when I am at home in the evening.

Does anyone else do this in planted tanks? Do you think it will create algae issues?

Cheers
Chimera
8 Replies · 167 views
Art
Art
Staff member I Donated 2026 Founding Member
Last reply · posted in Fertilizing and Aquarium Chemistry
Well, as this thread exists in a few places, I figured why not have it here also. Perhaps we can take up the baton and keep it active and bring some value to hobbyists.

For those of you that don't know, I got into thinking much more about my micros when I read this thread on another forum. It was started by our very own @GreggZ. It was spurred into existence because of our own @Burr740 and his work with micro fertilizers. Some really good discussion followed and a lot was learned.

I don't want to steal Gregg's thunder with this so I hope he posts his current thoughts on the subject and we can all take it from there.

All the best,

Art
101 Replies · 16947 views
BenB
Rockstar
Last reply · posted in Specific Plant Discussions
I mention this plant on occasion, but no one ever comments. So I thought I'd make a post for others and me for future reference.
It is my favorite Erio. It is a darker green, doesn't get too big, and for me it has never sent up any seed stalks.

I find it easy to grow. I have high light but nothing crazy at 124PAR and high CO2, 50+ppm. It gets about max 3-4" and makes side daughter plants when large. I'm not sure my dosing scheme is. Sort of an EI daily dosing kind of thing.

What gets me is every autumn, it starts to melt. I'm not sure how it knows it's autumn with consistent light and a heater, but it must get a little cooler in the tank or something. The plant starts to turn brown and sends up (I'm not sure of the correct term) vegetative stalks with little plantlets on the ends. I've found you can plant these stalks into the substrate with the plantlet on top, and it will grow into a new plant. They've been easy to grow. This is the third year this has happened to me.
Pic of plantlets below. I'll try to get a better one sometime. All I had time for tonight was a crappy phone pic.

This year I divided one of the mother plants in hopes that it wouldn't fully melt and would regrow. That is still in progress.

Anyone else's experiences are welcome.

DSC09694a.webp

This plant is the same plant as the one on the right above.
20261006_182513a.webp
13 Replies · 711 views
artandsoul
Last reply · posted in Planted Aquarium Discussion
Sounds like a joke question but for reasons unknown I cant get moss to grow period, Got a huge baseball of moss for free from shrimp breeder. I put some in 5g shrimp tank, low light no heater around 74 its dead. 3 other tanks 76 degree low to medium light its all dead or looks dead its grey color I'd say it's dead. water parms are pretty spot on no big shifts or other plants would have issues imo.

what do I need to do to grow java moss 😂? grew it for years no issues would take over now im lost! I can grow anything but moss?
7 Replies · 594 views
Back
Top