Past a certain point the plants don't care so much, the lights are for our benefit
great lights make it beautiful 
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Lighting Suggestions - 235g
- Thread starter RockyProndoa
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Past a certain point the plants don't care so much, the lights are for our benefit
great lights make it beautiful 
BranchScape
Active Member
Ivanacara bimaculata are not plant eaters. At most, they may uproot newly planted stems, but even that is far less common than with species like keyholes. In fact, Ivanacara dig very sparingly—much less than I expected.
I’ve never seen any of my dwarf acaras touch plants. The only fish I’ve had disturb plants are keyholes, and even then it’s accidental while digging or moving rocks they don’t like. The same has been true with blue acaras as well, so I’m not sure where that reputation comes from.
There are countless well‑scaped planted tanks online featuring both species, and my firsthand experience aligns with what I’ve seen in person in other hobbyists’ tanks. When plants are affected, it’s usually just collateral damage from grazing on biofilm or surfaces. TMK Aquarist has one of the best planted bimaculata tanks I’ve seen.
I’ve never seen any of my dwarf acaras touch plants. The only fish I’ve had disturb plants are keyholes, and even then it’s accidental while digging or moving rocks they don’t like. The same has been true with blue acaras as well, so I’m not sure where that reputation comes from.
There are countless well‑scaped planted tanks online featuring both species, and my firsthand experience aligns with what I’ve seen in person in other hobbyists’ tanks. When plants are affected, it’s usually just collateral damage from grazing on biofilm or surfaces. TMK Aquarist has one of the best planted bimaculata tanks I’ve seen.
- Thread starter
- #23
That's it! This is EXACTLY the inspiration I've been trying to create in my head for my new tank. Have you been witholding this from me just to make me suffer a bit? LOL.
Also - thank you for the feedback on the bimacs, this puts me way more at ease, and frankly, pretty excited now!
BranchScape
Active Member
Mark is really nice, if you message him and ask some questions he will likely respond or he always has with me. He uses the hyperspots and is the one that sells them in the US.
Kwyet
After every new tank—“This is my last one!”
I had an Electric Blue Acara for years. He would uproot new plants, but after replanting them a couple of times he would give up and leave them alone. It wasn’t really any worse than having Cory cats that uproot new plants by bumbling around them.
- Thread starter
- #26
Those hyperspots really seem to add a shimmer to the water. That's starting to tempt me over to that side of the fence, lol.
How/where do I contact Mark?
BranchScape
Active Member
His Instagram has his business in the profile for the lights and he replies to messages there. I think I talked to him about certain Juncus, Carex and sweet flag(Acorus) applications in emersed settings. I do a lot of water and bog gardens.
JayP
Valuable Member
Well, I just learned this. I knew Nature Design Studios was the only Hyperspot dealer in the U.S.. Based on TMK Aquarist's Youtube channel about inflo, TMK Aquarist aka Mark? is the owner of Nature design Studios.
Nature Design Studios
- Thread starter
- #29
You know you're to blame for this mess you're getting me into, right? Haha.
I just reached out directly through Nature Designs Studio webpage just to 'see', even though in the back of my head I already know how this is going to go because I'm like a little kid and just have to have things....
JayP
Valuable Member
I think, since @BranchScape is buddies with Mark, he should get all of us on Scapecrunch a discount deal on Hyperspots. 
BranchScape
Active Member
I wish I was, I would love a Hyperspot! Maybe a gift to myself if a few things fall into place later this year. The Aquael BT light that came with my tank is great in terms of PAR t's no Hyperspot.
But yeah Mark(TMK) is the owner, he says it in a few of his videos and mentions getting re-stocks. Useless knowledge from working very long hours for the last 18 months and if I have 15 to 20 minutes lately I am on here or youtube chasing this obsessive hobby.
But yeah Mark(TMK) is the owner, he says it in a few of his videos and mentions getting re-stocks. Useless knowledge from working very long hours for the last 18 months and if I have 15 to 20 minutes lately I am on here or youtube chasing this obsessive hobby.
- Thread starter
- #32
Well, do you want to go halves with me? I'll keep em at my place and you can come over and look at them whenever you're free.
In all honesty, the company website is incredibly responsive. They've already answered all of my questions (including me finding out these gold bars are NOT waterproof) and are just waiting for a check from you so they can ship them out early next week.
I'm not sure my reef tank cost this much to setup lol. You've really gotta talk me out of this...
JayP
Valuable Member
Well, don't talk to @Naturescapes_Rocco about it. He certainly won't help dissuade you. Would it help if I said the prices for each size were at least 10% lower before all the tariffs kicked in?Well, do you want to go halves with me? I'll keep em at my place and you can come over and look at them whenever you're free.
In all honesty, the company website is incredibly responsive. They've already answered all of my questions (including me finding out these gold bars are NOT waterproof) and are just waiting for a check from you so they can ship them out early next week.
I'm not sure my reef tank cost this much to setup lol. You've really gotta talk me out of this...
- Thread starter
- #34
No...no, that doesn't really help. Especially since me and @BranchScape are now committed to this endeavor.
JayP
Valuable Member
Oops, I meant to say 20%. The large was $800 something and small $400 something.
- Thread starter
- #36
Seriously?
JayP
Valuable Member
Yep. They were out of stock of all sizes at the end of the year and when they came back in stock late Jan of Feb, they were at the new much higher prices I was seriously considering buying a large so was watching stock.
- Thread starter
- #38
@Naturescapes_Rocco you'll be happy to know you swayed me enough that I am now the proud owner of two Hyperspot FMs.
I also put in a good word for you as part of their marketing team, but no response back on that yet, lol.
I also put in a good word for you as part of their marketing team, but no response back on that yet, lol.
JayP
Valuable Member
So did you ask when Scapecrunch members were getting that discount code?
- Thread starter
- #40
Ha. No, but that is certainly a legitimate question that I should have posed.
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