1/2 Gallon Iwagumi Cube (Need your advice!)

No Aquascape seems to last very long in this little cube aquarium. What am I doing wrong?
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[@Merb34st]

Inert substrate and epiphytes. Feed less. The snail explosion and all the algae indicate to me that there are too many nutrients.

[@ssaquascapes]

I am guessing the aquasoil is too much in that small volume of water. Inert substrate is a good idea. 🤘

[@zachbochner1662]

@@ssaquascapes You just needed to catch it early before it spread. I would clean out as much as possible and then add amano shrimp to clean the rest. Weekly water changes would help remove the excess organics too.

[@ssaquascapes]

I’ll admit I don’t change the water in there. Just top off. 😒

[@IAMAREALOSPREY]

Monte Carlo can be a nightmare, I finally figured out that (for me at least), laying it on top of the aqua soil or attached to something as an epiphyte rather than planting it will lead to success. Personally I would probably just go back to the Glosostigma to avoid the headache, it really is silly that Monte Carlo is considered an easy plant when it can so often struggle to survive even with CO2.

[@ssaquascapes]

Agreed. It is growing fine on the rocks in my “Dragon Valley” scape. Definitely not an easy plant.

[@zachbochner1662]

I've never had a problem planting it into the soil. Good lights, ferts, and water quality and it grows fine. With co2 it does even better.

[@ssaquascapes]

A 0.5 gallon is hard to get all the equipment in. 🤣 But I’ll try it in soil again in another tank. 🤘

[@IAMAREALOSPREY]

Its one of those plants where depending on the water that comes out of your tap it can do really well or struggle there are definitely a large population of people like you where it just works, personally the water that comes out of my tap is stupid soft which can be a problem for both my fish and some of my plants.@@zachbochner1662

[@draidt]

Is your E-Bay store closed?

[@ssaquascapes]

Yes. I am in the process of becoming a licensed aquatic nursery in the state of Florida. I will be transitioning to my own website soon rather than eBay. Thank you so much for your previous support.