Lighting Suggestions - 235g

[Koan]

the lights I'm considering are most likely overkill, but that's ok, because if I ever choose to change

Past a certain point the plants don't care so much, the lights are for our benefit great lights make it beautiful

 

[BranchScape]

Ivanacara bimaculata are not plant eaters. At most, they may uproot newly planted stems, but even that is far less common than with species like keyholes. In fact, Ivanacara dig very sparingly—much less than I expected.

I’ve never seen any of my dwarf acaras touch plants. The only fish I’ve had disturb plants are keyholes, and even then it’s accidental while digging or moving rocks they don’t like. The same has been true with blue acaras as well, so I’m not sure where that reputation comes from.

There are countless well‑scaped planted tanks online featuring both species, and my firsthand experience aligns with what I’ve seen in person in other hobbyists’ tanks. When plants are affected, it’s usually just collateral damage from grazing on biofilm or surfaces. TMK Aquarist has one of the best planted bimaculata tanks I’ve seen.

 

[RockyProndoa]

Ivanacara bimaculata are not plant eaters. At most, they may uproot newly planted stems, but even that is far less common than with species like keyholes. In fact, Ivanacara dig very sparingly—much less than I expected.

I’ve never seen any of my dwarf acaras touch plants. The only fish I’ve had disturb plants are keyholes, and even then it’s accidental while digging or moving rocks they don’t like. The same has been true with blue acaras as well, so I’m not sure where that reputation comes from.

There are countless well‑scaped planted tanks online featuring both species, and my firsthand experience aligns with what I’ve seen in person in other hobbyists’ tanks. When plants are affected, it’s usually just collateral damage from grazing on biofilm or surfaces. TMK Aquarist has one of the best planted bimaculata tanks I’ve seen.

That's it! This is EXACTLY the inspiration I've been trying to create in my head for my new tank. Have you been witholding this from me just to make me suffer a bit? LOL.

Also - thank you for the feedback on the bimacs, this puts me way more at ease, and frankly, pretty excited now!

 

[BranchScape]

That's it! This is EXACTLY the inspiration I've been trying to create in my head for my new tank. Have you been witholding this from me just to make me suffer a bit? LOL.

Also - thank you for the feedback on the bimacs, this puts me way more at ease, and frankly, pretty excited now!

Mark is really nice, if you message him and ask some questions he will likely respond or he always has with me. He uses the hyperspots and is the one that sells them in the US.

 

[Kwyet]

I had an Electric Blue Acara for years. He would uproot new plants, but after replanting them a couple of times he would give up and leave them alone. It wasn’t really any worse than having Cory cats that uproot new plants by bumbling around them.

 

[RockyProndoa]

Mark is really nice, if you message him and ask some questions he will likely respond or he always has with me. He uses the hyperspots and is the one that sells them in the US.

Those hyperspots really seem to add a shimmer to the water. That's starting to tempt me over to that side of the fence, lol.

How/where do I contact Mark?

 

[BranchScape]

Those hyperspots really seem to add a shimmer to the water. That's starting to tempt me over to that side of the fence, lol.

How/where do I contact Mark?

His Instagram has his business in the profile for the lights and he replies to messages there. I think I talked to him about certain Juncus, Carex and sweet flag(Acorus) applications in emersed settings. I do a lot of water and bog gardens.

 

[JayP]

Those hyperspots really seem to add a shimmer to the water. That's starting to tempt me over to that side of the fence, lol.

How/where do I contact Mark?

Well, I just learned this. I knew Nature Design Studios was the only Hyperspot dealer in the U.S.. Based on TMK Aquarist's Youtube channel about inflo, TMK Aquarist aka Mark? is the owner of Nature design Studios.

Nature Design Studios

 

[RockyProndoa]

His Instagram has his business in the profile for the lights and he replies to messages there. I think I talked to him about certain Juncus, Carex and sweet flag(Acorus) applications in emersed settings. I do a lot of water and bog gardens.

You know you're to blame for this mess you're getting me into, right? Haha.

I just reached out directly through Nature Designs Studio webpage just to 'see', even though in the back of my head I already know how this is going to go because I'm like a little kid and just have to have things....

 

[JayP]

I think, since @BranchScape is buddies with Mark, he should get all of us on Scapecrunch a discount deal on Hyperspots.

 

[BranchScape]

I wish I was, I would love a Hyperspot! Maybe a gift to myself if a few things fall into place later this year. The Aquael BT light that came with my tank is great in terms of PAR t's no Hyperspot.

But yeah Mark(TMK) is the owner, he says it in a few of his videos and mentions getting re-stocks. Useless knowledge from working very long hours for the last 18 months and if I have 15 to 20 minutes lately I am on here or youtube chasing this obsessive hobby.

 

[RockyProndoa]

I wish I was, I would love a Hyperspot! Maybe a gift to myself if a few things fall into place later this year. The Aquael BT light that came with my tank is great in terms of PAR t's no Hyperspot.

Well, do you want to go halves with me? I'll keep em at my place and you can come over and look at them whenever you're free.

In all honesty, the company website is incredibly responsive. They've already answered all of my questions (including me finding out these gold bars are NOT waterproof) and are just waiting for a check from you so they can ship them out early next week.

I'm not sure my reef tank cost this much to setup lol. You've really gotta talk me out of this...

 

[JayP]

Well, do you want to go halves with me? I'll keep em at my place and you can come over and look at them whenever you're free.

In all honesty, the company website is incredibly responsive. They've already answered all of my questions (including me finding out these gold bars are NOT waterproof) and are just waiting for a check from you so they can ship them out early next week.

I'm not sure my reef tank cost this much to setup lol. You've really gotta talk me out of this...

Well, don't talk to @Naturescapes_Rocco about it. He certainly won't help dissuade you. Would it help if I said the prices for each size were at least 10% lower before all the tariffs kicked in?

 

[RockyProndoa]

Well, don't talk to @Naturescapes_Rocco about it. He certainly won't help dissuade you. Would it help if I said the prices for each size were at least 10% lower before all the tariffs kicked in?

No...no, that doesn't really help. Especially since me and @BranchScape are now committed to this endeavor.

 

[JayP]

No...no, that doesn't really help. Especially since me and @BranchScape are now committed to this endeavor.

Oops, I meant to say 20%. The large was $800 something and small $400 something.

 

[RockyProndoa]

Oops, I meant to say 20%. The large was $800 something and small $400 something.

Seriously?

 

[JayP]

Seriously?

Yep. They were out of stock of all sizes at the end of the year and when they came back in stock late Jan of Feb, they were at the new much higher prices I was seriously considering buying a large so was watching stock.