Rewcolee1

Understood and that makes sense. I’ve just always been to nervous to try and do it.😁

I may be in the minority in my thinking, but why run the risk of regenerating Purigen? It is not horribly expensive and so many things could go wrong. I just stock up when it’s on sale at PetSmart.

In my limited experience with swordtails, they should not bother your rice fish. I could be proven wrong, but I’d say you should be fine. I would also say based on filtration and live plants 5 should not overwhelm your tank either.

How many were purchased? What type of filtration do you have in place? Live plants?

I used Seachem in my daughter’s 5.5 gallon tank. 1st time I’ve used it and now I want to replace the gravel in my 75g with it😁. The plants just seem to do soooooo much better with sand vs. gravel.

Here is my 75g low tech, low light. 😁

I don’t have a reasoning for it, it’s just been what I’ve experienced. I’m actually going to pick up a few new plants tomorrow, so I’ll give a shot a 4th time.😁

I have yet to get a bulb plant to grow in gravel substrate. However, 3 times now I’ve take the bulb from my tank when it was not growing and put it into my daughter’s tank that has a sand bottom and within no time that bulb has taken off and has done amazing.🤷🏼‍♂️

I was about to say the same thing😁

You are correct that you now have to play the waiting game. Unfortunately, way to many start off the same way you did. Your tank has to Cycle to be ready for fish. I’m guessing this is part of the reason you lost 5 fish. Getting the fertilizer will potentially help the plants, but will not help with the fish. Some additional info could be helpful. What fish did you lose? What type of heater do you have and what is the temperature of the tank? What type of filter did you get? For your plants what light? As you’ll learn we are hear to help on this forum and folks much smarter and more experienced than I will certainly chime in here.

Welcome to the forum!

Agreed 100% with Manringjk. RMS has been my go to, but they have been struggling with stocking issues for sure. Something Fishy is fantastic and definitely specialize in Cichlids. I’ve never been to Agnoquatics, but I’ve heard good things.

Hi again. Something that has been sticking with me, but I’m not even sure what to think of it. The bottom picture I originally attached shows the whole aquarium. Java ferns aside, all the other plants, especially the Swords and Crypts are doing better than they ever have. so maybe in doing something right. I guess the question could be: Can dosing Potassium for the ferns negatively impact other types of plants?

Welcome to the forum

Welcome!