Written By: Chris (@shrimpery) If you're like most aquarium hobbyists, you probably grew up with a childhood aquarium that had a standard river gravel substrate. I personally never really thought about other types of substrate in the aquarium until I got...
Written By: Chris (@shrimpery) Before they became mass-produced, household carpets were a symbol of luxury, found only in the homes of the wealthy. Growing carpeting plants- the fine-leaved aquarium plants used to blanket the substrate of a tank- can seem similarly lofty...
Written By: Chris (@shrimpery) Gorgeous planted aquariums aren’t hard to find online, but a few stand out more than others. You know it when you see it: nearly every aquarium plant leaf looks crisp, fresh, vibrant, and healthy; for a...
Written By: Chris (@shrimpery) Utricularia graminifolia (UG) is one of my favorite aquarium plants, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. For a while, it seemed to have a reputation as being difficult to grow, but it is increasingly...
Written By: Chris (@shrimpery) Some of the discussions involving aquascaping border on the esoteric (debates about the dry-start method and ‘siesta periods’ come to mind), but nearly everyone can relate to the subject of stocking a planted aquarium with livestock....
Written By: Chris (@shrimpery) It is easy to get so carried away in the excitement of decorating your planted tank that you neglect to build a foundation for a sustainable setup. In particular, going the high-tech route can be particularly...
Written By: Chris (@shrimpery) Aquascaping is a visual hobby. The planted tank is analogous to a canvas, and just like with painting, there is a certain amount of taste needed to achieve a pleasing composition with aquarium plants. While that...
Written By: Chris (@shrimpery) Do you ever see a photograph of an aquascape that looks objectively great while still feeling a bit… off? The key elements (healthy plants, clear water, thoughtful hardscape) are all there, but something is undeniably...
