Planted Aquarium Aquascaping & Oil Film Troubleshooting Guide

Part 1: Aquascaping Fundamentals for Planted Tanks

1. Design Principles

  • Rule of Thirds: Place hardscape (rocks, wood) at 1/3 or 2/3 of the tank for visual harmony.
  • Depth Creation: Use foreground (e.g., Dwarf Hairgrass), midground (Anubias), and background plants (Rotala) to add layers.
  • Substrate Choices: Nutrient-rich substrates (e.g., ADA Aqua Soil) support root-fed plants; cap with sand for contrast.

2. Common Aquascaping Mistakes

  • Overcrowding: Too many plants/hardscape blocks swimming space.
  • Poor Plant Selection: Mixing high-light (HC Cuba) and low-light plants (Java Fern) in the same tank.
  • Ignoring Growth Rates: Fast-growing stems (e.g., Hornwort) may overshadow slow growers (Bucephalandra).

Part 2: Understanding and Eliminating Oil Film

1. Causes of Oil Film

  • Decomposing Organics: Excess fish food, plant melt, or dead livestock.
  • Low Surface Agitation: Inadequate filter outflow or stagnant water.
  • Biofilm Formation: Common in new tanks during bacterial colonization.

2. Solutions

A. Mechanical Removal

  • Surface Skimmers: Install an internal skimmer (e.g., Eheim Surface Extractor) or overflow box.
  • Paper Towel Trick: Lay a towel on the surface, then lift to absorb the film.

B. Biological Fixes

  • Increase Water Flow: Adjust filter output to ripple the surface.
  • Add Surface Agitators: Air stones or lily pipes break up the film.

C. Preventative Measures

  • Feed Sparingly: Remove uneaten food after 2 minutes.
  • Regular Water Changes: 20–30% weekly to reduce organics.
  • Floating Plants: Duckweed or Salvinia absorb excess nutrients.

Part 3: Maintenance Routine for Healthy Tanks

  1. Daily: Check equipment, remove debris.
  2. Weekly: Test water (ammonia, nitrates), trim overgrown plants.
  3. Monthly: Deep-clean substrate with a siphon.

Conclusion

A well-scaped planted tank balances beauty and functionality. By addressing oil film proactively and following aquascaping best practices, your aquarium will thrive with minimal issues.