best plants for a Planted bowl

[duskyl]

I'd also recommend a small snail or two. They help keep the bowl clean and add some movement. Nerites are great because they don't reproduce in fresh water.

[Blossom]

One thing to watch with the bowl is water evaporation. Smaller volumes can swing params fast. Top off with RO or distilled water to avoid mineral buildup.

Yep, learned that the hard way. My first bowl got super cloudy from tap water top-offs. RO is the way to go.

[whiskerix]

Another tip, keep the lighting period short, like 6 hours max. Algae can take over fast in a small bowl with too much light.

[Mango]

I've found that a timer for the light makes a huge difference. Set it and forget it. No chance of leaving the light on too long by accident.

[Ravenox9]

If you're feeling adventurous, you could try a tiny carpet of Monte Carlo. It's a bit more work but looks amazing in a bowl. Just needs good light and maybe some liquid carbon.

[duskyl]

Don't forget to cycle the bowl before adding any livestock. Even with plants, it's good to let it stabilize for a few weeks.

[Blossom]

I've found that a timer for the light makes a huge difference. Set it and forget it. No chance of leaving the light on too long by accident.

Totally agree. I use a cheap outlet timer and it's been a game changer. No more algae blooms from forgetting to turn the light off.