Field-tested layouts, hardscape breakdowns, and nano fish care notes — written from a decade of breeding and scaping in Sri Lanka, one of the world's source countries for the hobby.
The breakdowns I keep linking people back to — written for tanks under 30 litres, where every mistake shows up fast.
Why most 20L iwagumi layouts fail at the substrate slope, and the ratio that actually holds.
No guides published yet — add some under Guides in the dashboard and they'll appear here automatically.
Adult size, minimum group, and temperament — the three things a stocking list always needs and rarely gets straight.
No species profiles published yet — add some under Species in the dashboard.
No gear gets listed without running in one of my own setups first. Ratings reflect real maintenance, not spec sheets.
The fixture I'd recommend first for a low-tech nano carpet. Quiet, app dimming, no heat bloom over 20–30L.
Gentle enough for chili rasbora fry, strong enough to keep a 25L crystal clear between cleans.
The grain size that finally stopped my carpeting plants from floating loose during replanting.
Sri Lanka has shipped ornamental fish since the 1930s, and the waters around Negombo still supply tanks worldwide. This site comes out of that context — years of breeding nano fish here, then learning to scape around what actually thrives in this climate.
Every guide is written from tanks I run myself, not spec sheets. Where it's useful, I'll flag what's specific to Sri Lankan water and what holds true anywhere.
Short, specific notes from the tanks I'm running right now — new layouts, species I'm testing, gear that earned a place.