Journal My $12 Aqueon 10 gallon journey from nothing.

[FrankZ]

Some prepping, some scape practice, some cool growth, some maintenance, and some gross negligence.

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Cleaned up and organized the years worth of haphazard power cables and equipment. Installed the new inline diffuser (wow) and hoses. Canister maintenance.


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New office open-top terrarium is doing surprisingly well.

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That snail is sporting a nice George Castanza hair do

The plants look amazing too! That terrarium is eye catching.

 

[HardeeParty]

Some update photos as I thin the herd.

 

[HardeeParty]

RED.

Really need to cut these down but having a hard time brining myself to actually do it.

Glad to finally have palustris growing steady without pinholes and necrosis.

 

[miwa]

loved this thread! especially love how you stuck with basic 12$ tank(s) surrounded by equipment at least 50x its value!
also love how rainbow gravel is/was stuck in it. sheer pragmatism!
I love those things so because, I, too, do similar things! lol!

 

[HardeeParty]

Prepping for the big cut and project grow out tub.



Old Chihiros doing the lighting work.



After a surprise birthday adventure to SeaWorld of course.

 

[HardeeParty]

So I just pulled those two tiny Buce culture cups I tucked back into the bottom corners.

Apparently I have way more to scape with than originally anticipated.









Also, transitioning rotala is beautiful.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

So jealous of your buce! The petsmart cups?

 

[HardeeParty]

Yea one PetSmart and one Petco. I have a Buce brownie ghost, whatever that is, in my work terrarium too.

 

[HardeeParty]

Anyone have insight into which rotala tends to grow more vertically with less creeping tendencies? I know light mounting height and intensity play a role and I’ve been playing around with that. I’ve also heard that some varieties are less prone to laying down.

 

[FrankZ]

Anyone have insight into which rotala tends to grow more vertically with less creeping tendencies? I know light mounting height and intensity play a role and I’ve been playing around with that. I’ve also heard that some varieties are less prone to laying down.

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I’ve only grown wallichii, macrandra, and rotundafolia and all were very vertical

 

[HardeeParty]

I’m over here trying to take pictures and these celestial pearl danios start acting all majestic when the camera comes out like National Geographic just showed up.

 

[HardeeParty]

This mermaid weed looks really wicked going through it’s changes.

 

[FrankZ]

This mermaid weed looks really wicked going through it’s changes.

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That’s my one of my favorites right there. Haven’t been able to find the Maryland form in a long while only the Cuba. I assume yours is the Maryland variety based on the fine myrio like leaves

 

[HardeeParty]

That’s my one of my favorites right there. Haven’t been able to find the Maryland form in a long while only the Cuba. I assume yours is the Maryland variety based on the fine myrio like leaves

I really have no idea as these were field collected. There’s a few new ones I’ll be transferring to the new tank so there will be a new learning curve.

 

[FrankZ]

I really have no idea as these were field collected. There’s a few new ones I’ll be transferring to the new tank so there will be a new learning curve.

It’s supposed to be all over the Chesapeake bay. I need to do some non fishing exploring over there and find some like you did. Maybe even find some surprise species

 

[HardeeParty]

Y’all need some stem plants?







So I moved all the Buce outside for a few into a holding storage tub with a spare hang on back filter and they took a hit. Lost 90% of one clump of wavy green. The others would have been lost if I didn’t catch it in time. Now my 10 gallon is basically a Buce farm.

 

[Kwyet]

Man, I hope you continue this! I really enjoyed seeing the progress in your beautiful tanks! All the humor was fun too.

 

[HardeeParty]

Thanks! I’m afraid this tank, while still in use, is in a depressing but useful condition. It’s functioning as my random acclimation tank right now. My sprawling farm tank collection is in a bit of disarray and due for reorganization. The thinly veiled threats are becoming less passive. Something about hammers, IDK.

I’ll be moving everything so the tanks are inline on two racks, with a separate area for emersed grow out. There’s a tremendous amount of marginal/bog plants native or naturalized to this part of Florida and I’d love to see them worked into the hobby. Some really nice colors and textures. I’ll be turning the 29 gallon into a sump and plumbing the tanks together with pvc overflows. Should make routine water changes easier and quicker by incorporating some kind of drip system with the RO unit. We shall see.



Can’t get this one to clear up for whatever reason.

 

[HardeeParty]

Also, if you need plants, please don’t hesitate to send me a message. Life has become exceptionally busy so I haven’t finished setting up an Etsy store or similar so most of my stock has been going by word of mouth.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

He’s got some excellent plants for sure