Hi all,
I've been running a 5-gallon betta tank that I started about 6 years ago with little knowledge about planted tanks and I've recently decided to try out my green thumb!
For a long time, I've been battling some dark sludgy algae that covered my Anubias frazeri and a java fern that went wild and started spreading sprouts everywhere (the fern is gone now). Recently, I did some research and figured that the problem was that my lighting was set too high for my lower-light loving Anubias. I finally updated my Fluval Plant Nano to run Bentley Pascoe's DaySim at 50% power in hopes that I can beat back the algae and let my plants grow better. I also ordered a Vallisneria and Baby Tears to replace my one of my last fake plants but the latter tore up so easily when I tried planting it
While my plants are adjusting to the new light schedule, I realize that my gravel line is way too low and making it hard for me to keep my plants rooted. I'm considering topping my existing gravel with CaribSea Eco-Complete Red but I'm not sure if it'd be too much trouble to replace my substrate completely. [https://www.chewy.com/caribsea-eco-complete.../dp/168344](https://www.chewy.com/caribsea-eco-complete.../dp/168344)
Any advice on how I can makeover my tank into a lush mini betta pond?
Some helpful info:
-Nitrate is around 5-10 ppm. May consider getting a phosphate test kit as well.
-I normally dosed API Leaf Zone with every weekly water change but I'm going back to Seachem Flourish.
-Don't hate me, but to stave off the algae, I also tried adding AlgaeFix every few days and even considered using Flourish Excel for carbon (I now know that Excel isn't really doing much compared to actual CO2 dosing). I'm going to throw these out especially since Vallisneria hates Excel.