bvaring

Neons, raspbora, cherry barbs, corys and the larger fish I can't remember. The larger fish used to be at the top and neons and others at mid level and of course the corys on the bottom. I just wonder if there is something wrong. Attached is a picture of the larger fish that now spend time breaking up and annoying at the others at the bottom but they are not aggressive.

Are the any fish? Is this built-in lighting? Fertilizer? It is my dream to grow plants in a mini aquarium. Mine always die. My larger tank grows better. I think I have the same fish forgot what they are.

Why all my fish swim near the bottom of the tank? I do have 2 large fluval hob filters. Too much flow or what? I do not have correct schooling levels and low stock because I don't want to add anything until things are resolved. Nitrates 10 Size 36 Gallons I'm sorry if this is already a topic but I could not find it. Thanks, Brad

Nitrates are already back to 20 according to strips after a 20% water change. I forgot to test it before. I havent cleaned the HOB sponges at all in a while, none through any of this. I have a in=tank bubble sponge filter I could add but I didn't think that would help with Nitrates. For now the BBA is not increasing, I think maybe increased. I started back using Flourish Excel today. I don't understand how to add root tabs and fertilizer if the nitrates are already high (high?) Do I need to do very frequent water changes now? Do I need even more plants to take up the Nitrates? This is a 35 gallon thank with 7 tiny fish and 3 medium-small fish. Oh and are these tiny snails? Are they harmfull?

I'm using API 5-in-1. I had a test kit supplies ran out and I got rid of it. I'll put it on my list of to-buy. Thanks

I used to use liquid dropper test but I got lazy. I think these strips have expired or got contaminated because the color is kinda brownish pink. I got the water tested at PetSmart today and I think they use the same strips. 0 for both Nitrates and Nitrites and no Ammonia. I might overdone the water changes a bit. I'll have to get new test and see if the Nitrates rise. I hope the 0 level will help to get rid of the BBA. I plan to also start using Flourish Excel again daily. Thanks

It thought about that yesteday and tested and it was 0. I never thought about the test strips being bad. I'll get it tested at PetSmart today. Thanks

Nitrates are always 40+. I just did a 50% water change and it still shows 50 ppm nitrates before and after the water change. How is it possible that it does not change? I have seen this statement "Optimize fertilization: Improve fertilization levels." Should I fertilize and what does optimize and improve mean for my tank? Thanks

No, what are the green specks on the first pic. I can get rid of them. Suggestion?

Can somone tell me what kind of algae this is? It is the little green spots? They are stuck to the glass and very hard if not impossible to remove by force or chemicle. If you also notice the BBA, I know about that one and the same applies but I'm working on it. Each time I get a little plant growth the BBA takes over. The vallisneria was covered with it so I cut it all back and it hasn't grown back yet. I have tried peroxide dosing (didn't work, try again?), and daily flourish excel but only for a week. On the pic with the wood I see at the top the BBA has turned grey after brushing some on the wood only outside the tank. But I can't see all the BBA spots to brush on because it is hard to see outside the tank. Also, I figure if I don't get it out of the water it will just grow back and the little spot treatments will not matter. I don't want to even try spot treating the plants. I am amateur, really, I know but my fish live on almost no problems.