"Jurassic World" - 96L aquascape [Update!]

This aquarium is inspired by Jurassic World. Hardscape made of Red Moorwood and Fossilized Wood on which various ferns grow - a good combination to evoke that period. The fish I am planning to introduce are Parambassis sp. / Gymnochanda sp. and something more bizarre looking (the weirder the better :)) depending on what will be available. Some of the plants are still not planted such as Bucephalandra and some ferns as I am waiting for the aquarium to stabilize a bit, even though the filter has been in operation since the last setup.

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Growing Microsorum sp. from the leaves

Microsorum pteropus or Java fern is a popular undemanding aquarium plant. There are many varieties of this plant in the hobby, some are quite expensive and difficult to obtain. It is a slow growing plant so if you have a small amount and would like to multiply it quickly, this is one of the ways to do it.

First you need to cut off the older leaves of the plant. To tie them down, you can use a rock or a piece of stainless steel wire mesh:

Arrange the leaves parallel, next to each other and tie them to a stone or mesh with fishing line so that the underside of the leaf is facing up:

Black spots or circular bumps that develop on the undersides of the leaves are sporangia (reproductive organs). From them new plants will be born.

Now put the tied leaves into the aquarium and wait. After 3-4 weeks you will see plenty of plantlets:

The plantlets are big enough and can be detached from the old leaves:

They can be glued to the hardscape with gel type super glue. From each plantlet new plant will grow:

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"Green Echoes" - 292L aquascape

This aquascape is inspired by a river bank where fallen trees, branches and roots are exposed to the flow of water. But despite this, life goes on and various plants come to life growing on driftwood and rocks above and below the water surface.

Hardscape

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DIY - Desktop Nano Tank

This build is for a 5 liter nano tank with canister filter hidden in the stand.

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Growing 'Monte Carlo' (Micranthemum tweediei) on Hardscapes

Micranthemum tweediei also known as 'Monte Carlo' is one of the easiest carpeting plants to grow in aquarium as a carpet in the foreground. Recently, it is very popular to grow this plant on the hardscape (stones and wood) as an epyphite plant with amazing downward creeping manner.

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Amano shrimp vs. Black beard algae (BBA)

If you wonder how efficient Amano shrimps are against BBA, here is my story. This aquarium I have used as an experimental tank; fertilizer testing, CO2, photoperiod, water flow... Like the most of my experiments, it resulted in disaster. First there was a problem with green algae (Hair algae, GSA) which I managed to fix, but then BBA appeared. We all know how stubborn this algae is and it is difficult to eradicate it even when the cause is removed. Well, it can be done with some chemicals like direct spraying with H2O2 or Excel / Easy Carbo, but these chemicals can very easily kill some sensitive plants and especially mosses. I decided for a more natural approach and give Amano shrimps a chance. This is the result;

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Nano aquascape - "By the Sea"

Dimensions: 59x20x15cm - 17 liters or 4.5 gallons
Lighting: Chihiros RGB60
Filtration: Eden 501 (sponge, ceramic rings) 

CO2: Pressurised 1 bubble every 3 seconds
Substrate: Pool filter sand, gravel 1-3mm, peat
Hardscape: Seiryu stones, Lava rocks
Flora: Riccardia chamedryfolia, Bucephalandra sp. 'Kedagang Mini type 3', Utricularia graminifolia, Eleocharis acicularis, Myriophyllum sp. 'Guyana'

Fauna: Sundadanio axelrodi 'Blue', Neocaridina davidi var. 'Blue Jelly', Clithon corona

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Cryptocoryne nurii var. raubensis 'Rosen Maiden'

This beautiful Crypt originates from the Malay Peninsula (Bt. Perah, Raub). In their natural habitat they grow on the stream banks in limestone soil. This is smaller Crypt and has tendency to grow very low, leaves growing horizontally. It is very easy Crypt to grow (both emersed and submerged).

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Nano aquascape - "Fire Garden"

Dimensions: 20x15x15cm - 4 liters or 1 gallon
Lighting: LED 9W
Filtration: Azoo Mignon 60l/h (sponge, Purolite) 
CO2: Pressurised 1 bubble every 2 seconds
Substrate: ADA Aquasoil Amazonia (regular and powder)
Hardscape: Lava rocks
Fertilization: PPS pro, Easy carbo
Plants: Eriocaulon sp. 'Sulawesi', Fissidens sp. 'Khao Sok', Rotala mexicana 'Goias'
Fish/shrimps/snails: Crystal Red shrimps, Leopard ramshorn snails

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Cryptocoryne nurii 'Platinum'

Cryptocoryne nurii 'Platinum' is found on Lingga island in the Riau Archipellago province of Sumatra. It was discovered in 2009 by Mr. Nakamoto.
This beautiful new Cryptocoryne he named Cryptocoryne sp. 'Lingga 19 – Platinum Line' based on its distinct platin-colored leaf nerves. Recently this plant got the status of a cultivar: C. nurii 'Platinum'.

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