Pictures of heavily planted tanks when first planted!

and now

 

This is new I'm going to post a pick in a month or so.... in a fitted tank with co2 so it should grow like crazy!

 

heres mine updated planted tank with oscars 5 months strong anubias grows a shute once a week swords are growing really good java fern is a bit harder to keep

 

As you can see not only did the aquascape evolve, but the tank did as well. Hope it's what you were looking for.

Absolutely love this layout - especial the leaves sticking out of the water on the left hand side of the tank.

 

and now

Wow so cool! I may need to switch to high tech. Y'all seem to get much greater growth with better substrate, lights, and CO2, and I don't know what else, tons of TLC? hehe

 

Wow so cool! I may need to switch to high tech. Y'all seem to get much greater growth with better substrate, lights, and CO2, and I don't know what else, tons of TLC? hehe

If you choose the right plants, you can pretty easily (but more slowly) get similar results with nothing but some bright daylight CFL bulbs and some dirt. My tanks all have lots of plants that are flourishing without CO2, ferts, or even dirt (I use a black blasting sand instead that has lots of trace iron the plants love.) By having a long daylight cycle with a several hour break in the middle of the day, the naturally occurring CO2 has a chance to build back up rather than leaving the plants without it for most of the day like they otherwise would be. Allowing plants grow above the surface also gives then literally unlimited access to CO2 and unfiltered light, eliminating the need for expensive, intense lighting. Little things like that can make a huge difference, and can save you a ton of money.

 

Wow so cool! I may need to switch to high tech. Y'all seem to get much greater growth with better substrate, lights, and CO2, and I don't know what else, tons of TLC? hehe

This tank actually isn't high tech. I don't add CO2, don't have high light nor special substrate. For some reason this tank grows plants very fast

 

hhey sarah73 how did you get the aquascape to look that great? how did you make a the pile of substrate

 

hhey sarah73 how did you get the aquascape to look that great? how did you make a the pile of substrate

Hello, . I really didn't do much. I have carbon in the filter(doubt that helped the plants grow). I just let the swords grow on their own. For the substrate, I added gravel first for 3 months, then I add some sand on top and did a water change. Somehow I added just enough to overflow the gravel, but have the gravel show as well. I really don't have anything special.
Edit: Here's what it looks like right now

 

Hello, . I really didn't do much. I have carbon in the filter(doubt that helped the plants grow). I just let the swords grow on their own. For the substrate, I added gravel first for 3 months, then I add some sand on top and did a water change. Somehow I added just enough to overflow the gravel, but have the gravel show as well. I really don't have anything special.
Edit: Here's what it looks like right now

It looks special to me. Very nice indeed!
I was wondering if I can add sand over gravel. It there anything I should watch out for? Can adding sand be done while the fish are in the tank? Maybe wash it first?

 

It looks special to me. Very nice indeed!
I was wondering if I can add sand over gravel. It there anything I should watch out for? Can adding sand be done while the fish are in the tank? Maybe wash it first?

Yes you can add sand to gravel... first you will need to rinse the sand very well before you add it to the tank. Second make sure you put in enough so the sand doesn't disappear

 

Started this aquarium on Oct 11, 2016. The first photo is when I first added some plants and the second pic was taken today.

 

Also! When I first started

Now

 

Aug 2016 day one




Jan 2017

 

 

Here's my 10g!!!! It finally feels complete. I just can't wait for the hygro in the back to take off.

 

Here is how my tank has progressed. Added zome hornwort on the side since the big rescape in October

October



Beginning of December



And now!!

 

cool cool looks fantastic

 

Here is how my tank has progressed. Added zome hornwort on the side since the big rescape in October

October
View attachment 272952

Beginning of December
View attachment 272953

And now!!
View attachment 272955

This is a bit off topic but what's the fish in that tank it looks awesome

 

This is a bit off topic but what's the fish in that tank it looks awesome

He is a cockatoo apisto. He's not staying in this tank permanently. But he and his partner are spawning and I'm trying to get some fry.

 

Are they rare? I've never heard of tjem

 

I wouldn't say rare but maybe not super common. They are also called apisto cacatuoides. I don't see them often in the stores around me. I easily found them online though.

 

They are beatific

 

 

This took just two months

 

this was January 20 2016


one year later

 

I don't think you want to see my ugly tank haha

 

That's a really nice before and after tank. Thanks for sharing.

 

Waiting on my driftwood so I can complete it

 

Before CO2



After CO2

 

I don't have a before as this is my newest tank build. This will be my red cherry shrimp and pink ramshorn snails paradise!!!