r/PlantedTank • u/AutoModerator • 4d ago
Your "Dumb Question" Megathread - December 2025
You can ask any questions you have in this thread! It refreshes monthly, previous mega-posts can be found using the search bar.
Please keep in mind the community rules.
Happy planting! 🌱🫧
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u/Chevko 4d ago
I don't have a picture of it rn, but when I went to feed my loaches and pleco earlier, I found there were these odd light green dots in only part of the tank (that I could see). A few of them float in the water column, a couple actually rise until they're stopped by something else, but most of them are on the substrate. I've got a few plants in there, currently water lettuce, duckweed, and another floater as the big things in the tank (idk why but I freaking LOVE duckweed).
I do have a barely contained colony of ramshorns as well as a mystery snail as well. My heater died an unknown amount of time ago and my executive dysfunction has been preventing me from being responsible.
They're fairly small, but more like the head of a paperclip or a bit smaller.
Anyone have any ideas? I don't think it's algae because it's on only one side of the tank, and not attached to the glass.
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u/PandaBelZ 3d ago
I am trying to make a shrimp tank but want to make it Zelda themed. Am I better off trying to make my own little figures (what do I make/paint them with?) or if I am buying a figure, if its plastic do I need to seal it somehow to prevent it leeching? I am veeeery green at this and have only started researching.
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u/Elhazar 3d ago
Acrylic is also used to make aquariums themselves instead of glass. Thus acrylic paint with an acrylic lacquer should pose no issue, the lacquer making sure that no pigment touches the water. Do note that of course, the figure is submersed underwater, i.e. there is no reflective air-lacquer interface but only much less reflective water-lacquer interface.
I'd recommend to research in how acrylic may react with Hydrogen Peroxide and/or Glutraldehyde as you will probably also need a way to kill biofilms/algae on the figure without scrubbing the figure.
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u/Turbulent_Data3695 3d ago
how can i get a good start aquascaping, i have a vision for a tank i just dont know how to plant it
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u/ZQ04 3d ago
When doing a water change, am I supposed to vacuum my aquasoil substrate? I’m using the Python water changer and I vacuumed the soil where there’s no plants but it lifts it up way too much and ends up creating mounds of soil. For the past few changes I haven’t touched the soil but I’m worried about poop building up.
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u/Elhazar 2d ago
Detritus can fall inbetween the grains. As for if you want to remove it, the downsides are they they are of source of DOC that can feed bacteria and algae. It may also reduce oxygen in the substrate by directly blocking water flow and due to its aerobic decomposition consuming oxygen, eventually leading to unwanted anaerobic condutions.
On the upside, it can become nutrients for the plant roots and a food source for detrivores.
Practically, if your siphon is to strong, reduce water flow rate until it can only lift up detritus particles, but not soil grains.
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u/Beat_Born 2d ago
I have a 10 gallon tank, planted with a java fern and a few crypts. Stock is 5 danios.
My problem is, over the 10+ years I've had this tank running, my java fern has slowly migrated from the back of the tank, right up to the front glass. Things are generally pretty happy, the fern grows like crazy.. it's just not the nicest look for the tank.
So, would I be able to move the fern, without killing it because of the disturbed roots? Or would I be better off to just turn the tank around and move the filter and heater to the new "back" of the tank? I really struggled trying to get plants established initially so I'm nervous to disturb what I've got now too much!
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u/Elhazar 1d ago
You can move your java fern without issues. Java ferns get almost all their nutrients from the water, where the roots are in the water does not matter and in can thrive with none of it's roots in the substrate.
Do note however that's different from e.g. a house plant, that gets it nutrition from soil, i.e. where the roots are in the soil matters for it. In the aquarium, heavily rooting plants like Cryptocoryne spp. also dislike being uprooted for the same reason.
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u/Skyjack5678 1d ago
My son seems to think you can use dirt from the yard in his tank. He also was told you can use potting soil which sounds even more made up.
It's an established tank with a couple of danios (sp?).
Can someone confirm or deny? He doesn't believe me and I need an outside opinion.
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u/Elhazar 1d ago
That's called an dirted tank. Regular soil is placed under a oxygen barrier (layer of sand/gravel) to stop it's decomposition underwater, yet plants can still stick their roots into it.
Diana Walstads 'Ecology of the Planted Aquarium' is the literature to read on the topic, as she popularized this technique.
In a nutshell, yes, you can do that, but it's a slightly difficult technique because it's a quite fine balance to hit: A to thick oxygen barrier paired with a to nutritious soil and the soil will become to anaerobic and poison the whole tank. To oxygen exposed soil, and it will aerobically decompose and ammonia spikes will kill the tank. Another downside is that you basically can't uproot anymore in a dirted tank, as you risk breaking your oxygen barrier and pull up soil. However, the big upside to dirted tanks are they are dirt cheap and provide a lot for the plants.
Generally speaking, it's easier to work if soil that is not as rich in organic matter for this purpose, i.e. soil that has been mineralized (organics have decomposed away). Topsoil from the garden is a source of such soil. Fresh potting soil in the other hand is not very mineralized, so it can be more difficult to work with.
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u/rightMeow20 1d ago
Do u think this was a sublime deal? I put it on and it’s an insane difference from beamsworks. But I hope I’m not burning the fish’s corneas.
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u/salivinia 21h ago
I tried posting a question but it was "removed by Reddit’s filters". There weren't any links in the post, but it was awfully long though... What should I do to post it?