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I just had a crazy idea. I could try adding a potted plant with some kind of different substrate. That's brilliant! But what should I put in the pot?

I got my aquarium for free from a teenage kid. It came with gravel, so I used it. I have had my tank for years, but it never really worked well. My gravel has some weird marbles and glass beads in there. What is the chance there is something unhealthy in the rocks? I don't even know if the rocks...

I have a 10 gallon tank. Just 2 small fish at the moment - a pleco and a rasbora. The other 2 rasboras died when I went on vacation because the house smart thermostat lowered my whole house to 56 degrees. I think the little aquarium heater didn't have the wattage to compensate. One big java...

Based on my research, I want to have a calm surface to minimize CO2 escaping. But at the same time, I want to have a choppy surface to dissolve oxygen. How do I navigate that? I have a HOB filter, so my water is always choppy. Could that be why my plants don't do well? Should I test the CO2...

Okay. This is my tank water. I'm going to try thinning the plants out. Maybe I am trying to do to much with just the 4 fish in there.

I have been dosing with Flourish and Excel. Doesn't seem to be making any difference. I got the $6 test done. Does anything jump out?

Okay. I should have done the in-depth test while I was there. It's only 6 bucks. I'm a moron.

I have had the plants for a couple of years. It's not a new problem. The black does not rub off. It is just death. In the worst spots, the leaves crumble apart. pH is 7.4 Ammonia is 0 Nitrite is 0

My plants don't look healthy. But they don't look like any of the pictures online. There is no yellowing or pin holes or dark veins or whatever might indicate something specific. Some parts look healthy. Some parts have big chunks of black. It is a 10 gal tank with 3 brilliant rasboras.

I have green stuff growing on my rocks and glass and plants look sickly. It did seem better when I put the tape on. I think reducing the light will definitely help. I contacted the manufacturer of my light and they said it was not dimmable. I think something with a dimmer or different options...

I put tape over my light to prevent algae. The light burned through the tape. I guess I need a new strategy. My Nest thermostat has a presence sensing feature. When nobody is home, it goes into eco mode. I presume I could get a smart plug for my aquarium light and add that to the routine in...

What is this stuff? It seems to be growing around my java fern and choking it.

Okay, that was kind of what I thought. But it doesn't seem to be working for me. I have "java fern lace". I think maybe this particular plant sheds a lot. I like the idea of cleaning one section at time.

My gravel gets filthy. The siphon helps, but there is still crap everywhere. I have to take everything apart and wash the gravel and deep clean. Is that normal or should it stay clean indefinitely with water changes and filtration? Or do I happen to have very messy plants?

I called and they said a dimmer would not work. Bummer because I really like the slim style of the LED light. And I don't want a dark tank. So I stuck some masking tape over it. Pretty ghetto, but it seems to work. Hard to see unless you are looking for it.

I have had three brilliant rasboras in there for a long time, but the tank was very plain so I'm trying some stuff. I didn't have a plant, but I got the "plant light" so I would have the option. But I guess that just makes weeds grow. So I put a plant in there as well. I like the plant. The fish...

What should I do about all thus green stuff growing in my gravel? The siphon doesn't take it off. Should I scoop it out and try to clean it somehow? Throw it in the garbage and replace it? Will it go away if I fix the light or something?

Really not finding what I'm looking for. All the cool looking tanks seem to come as kits with integrated filters and stuff. I was hoping to mix and match high quality standard parts kind of like building a custom computer. Fish tanks don't seem to work like that. I'm not a fan of the black...

I think 10 gallons is perfect. I was imagining something with frosted glass accents and brushed nickel trim on a teak base with intricate wood inlays. But that might get expensive. :) Now, my best idea is keep the tank, but put a glass top and some snazzy lighting. Maybe something that hooks...

I'm sitting on a sturdy side table that matches the rest of the dining room set.

I'm thinking about a whole new setup. My wife just popped it on me, so I didn't think it through. But I want take take advantage. I want to stick with fresh water. I don't have plants, but maybe it would be nice. I like a natural look. I like my rasboras. I used to have some sword tails that I...

I've had my 10 gallon tank for a while. It's doing okay, but it is kind of an eyesore. I got it for free from somebody. It's just a cheap tank with a waterfall type of filter and some rocks in the bottom. One of the bulb sockets is broken. I have three brilliant rasboras in there. For Christmas...

Wow. I thought vacuuming the gravel was Step 1. Of course, the guy who showed me how to vacuum gravel was the same guy that sold me two goldfish for my 10 gallon tank. Yeah. They didn't last long. Now I have 3 brilliant rasboras, a cory catfish, and a swordtail. No plants yet. I want...

So do you do a gravel vac on every 3rd water change or something? Or you basically never vac the gravel?