MattyM

@jwcarlson I saw that! Yeah guy is prolific. FWIW once I got to book 3, I decided to switch to audio books (via Audible - free trial and credits if you're an Amazon Prime member). The audio books really help plow through them - the narrators are so good. (Plus I really look forward to my morning walk now!)

Ammonia is zero 🙂 Thanks @Chick-In-Of-TheSea! And I think I've watched that vid like 5 times already - so good!

Hi all - so I'm about 2 weeks into new tank cycling (just plants), and decided to do an extra dose of EG to bring my Nitrates up into the 20s. While that worked, the next day I woke up to brown algae. I know phosphates can cause this, which EG has - so maybe that did it, or maybe I would've gotten the stuff eventually as I understand this is part of new tank syndrome. It's not terrible, just settling on decor/heater/etc and my live plants. I've been gently wiping the plants off where I can (can't really on things like a monte carlo) and dislodging so my sponge filter can pick it up. I've cut back the lighting from 8 hours to 6, with a siesta. I have more plants coming tomorrow, as some of my initial plants died back (roots rotted, and I just needed/wanted more to fill out the tank). I've removed the dead/dying stuff. The stem plants I snipped the dead/dying stuff off and have floated what was alive. More plants are showing up tomorrow - which I've heard may help the situation. I'd love to bring an algae eater of sorts in - but my Nitrites have been hovering around 1 so the tank isn't cycled, nor do I expect it to be for awhile. Kinda of a shame because I have some really tasty bio film on my driftwood. Question: do you think I should do a partial water change before the new plants arrive, or just let it ride?

I've been making my way through The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson - they are loooong but great books. If you're a fan of epic fantasy books - highly recommended, especially the audio books!

Thanks all! I did wind up ordering some more - should arrive in a couple days. I had some die back on the Barcopa and Pennywort (roots got rotten on some stems - I salvaged what I could and am floating the clippings), and am now into the brown algae/diatom stage of my cycling. Am hoping some more plants will help clear that up while filling things out. Will probably add some Ramshorns to help out too.

I have a new low-to-the-ground tank, am hoping my Python is able to handle it. I've also seen vids on YouTube for DIY gravel vacs that use a pond pump.

Thanks @nabokovfan87 I did split the micro sword into 2, it seemed fragile so didn't push it - 1 of them has a runner on it. Also thanks to @Mmiller2001 and @xXInkedPhoenixX - do you mean 70% of the tank space?

Hi all - after a long time away from the hobby, I'm starting up again with a 10 and 20 gallon, doing plant/fertilizer cycling - no fish/snails. These tanks have been up for about a week and a half, and have received 3 doses of Easy Green - so far things are looking good. Plants were from the co-op, and I put them, basket and all, in the tanks for a few days before planting to help gain some of their bacteria. But I'm wondering, did I start with enough plants? I believe some of these are slow growers, and may not fill in very fast. In the 20 gal: Amazon Sword, Brazilian Pennywort, Monte Carlo, Dwarf Sagittaria, Cryptocoryne Tropica In the 10 gal: Bacopa Caroliniana, Micro Sword, Cryptocoryne Lutea I believe I'm starting to see small signs of new growth - no algae yet, but tanks are in my basement office. I've ramped up to having lights on at least 8 hours (Stingrays). Water params according to co-op test strips: Nitrite has crept up to about 1, from 0, so I suppose it's time for that nitrate chomping bacteria to ramp up (?) Nitrate is around 20, after increasing dose frequency Hardness is purple - I know we have pretty hard water here in Chicago but it's hard to match the color I'm seeing Buffer is medium-high (prob 140ish) I know from homebrewing that our tap ph is 7.9 or 8 - strips seem to register lower than that Chlorine is 0 Water temp is 76F. What do you think? As for the driftwood bacteria/fungus, from what I've researched I'm not worried about it - just sorry I don't have anything to munch on that. I actually think it looks pretty cool.

Hi all - back in the 80s when I was a teenager I had a fish obsession, and little idea what I was doing. I had community tanks, cichlids, even smelly hermit crabs at one point. Had no idea about nitrogen/water chemistry, never had live plants, came across about every disease possible. I had 1 other fish friend, but he was mostly into salt water. Some of my other "friends" would mock my fish nerdiness. Fortunately my Mom was always very encouraging. When I moved out, the hobby died. But when I discovered a co-worker of mine that had a 150 gallon tank - I was like "whoa!" they make them that big? Boy have things changed. He got my interest going again, and I started researching online - wow. Info overload! So thankful I found the Co-op - I love Cory's approach and ability to distill complex topics in a way that makes sense to us hobbyists. I picked up and 10g and 20g long to dip my toes in (Petco sale) - and am doing live plant tank cycling now. I've always had a green thumb in the yard and hope that translates to tanks. Am loving it - and unlike when I was kid, am not going to rush anything. The sound of bubbling tanks in my home office is bringing back lots of good memories and the "wonder" factor. Good to be here!