StaceyTNBCkicker

I got back into the hobby this year. I was diagnosed, and successfully beat so far, breast cancer. A friend gifted me a 30g full setup. I have always loved fish, water, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, etc. I used to have a 55g cichlid tank, but that was over 15 years ago. This time I went for a more relaxing planted community setup. I am a nurse practitioner, so I have budgeted for plants, fish, supplies. A little at a time.

I am new to planted tanks, but have had an above water green thumb for years. Just using what nature has perfected and crafting it into my little ecosystem. I think I have labeled my plants correctly, most came without labels, lol. I've ordered some red to make it more natural. I'm going to have more plants then fish soon. Better for both of them.

My anubia species are getting great root growth. My java fern is getting roots and new leaves at rhizome, my background brazillian pennywort and my rotala indica have both already been split, my amazon sword and micro swords are putting out new leaves, and even my dwarf hairgrass and lobelia cardinalis seem to be thriving.

I noticed there is a topic for fluval planted 3.0 settings. I snagged a fluval aquasky 2.0 for like 50$, so I got it. I love the features and the PAR lighting on my plants. Just wanted to share my daylight settings for those that might have this light. It has a cool morning, 5.5 hours of full sun to feed my plants, and a warm sunset. I have been using this for my 30g foe almost 2 months, and getting great growth on all my plants.

Yes, others in another forum mentioned it was from sparring. They noticed similar bump on danios. Thank you!

Is this anything? He is eating well, sparring with my other male, engaging in breeding behavior. Noticed yesterday, but may have been there all along. Had for 1 week. All 6 (2 males, 4 females) doing well.

Update. My cory cats are finally settling in. They still occasionally glass surf (play), but are foraging more. They love bloodworms which I plan to treat them to 2 times a week. I love watching the little school tag team around the tank.

Just a morning update. This morning they are all "glass surfing" again, but some are cruising the bottom from time to time. They all quieted down and rested, picked around under the rocks and plants last night when the lights dimmed. My ammonia this morning is at 0, as are my nitrates and nitrites. I did note that my dwarf rainbow fish are bullies, lol. They look for food all day long, even on the bottom (all my fish are apparently abnormal 🤣). I seen both my bigger male and my females kinda nip at the coradoras if they come out into the open swimming space up front. Doesn't seem to bother the cory cats, they just go under the hardscape.

I'm hoping that is all it is. I am already smitten with the little goofy fish! Thank you for your input. Greatly appreciated!

Approximately 6 weeks before fish. I started with fish two weeks ago today.

Just an update. Water change made no difference, in either fish nor water parameters, lol. Still reading on stick at 0 nitrates, 0 nitrites and 0.5-1.0 ammonia. Maybe ammonium? The cory were still nuts. However, when my light started dimming for night, they started acting more "normal". Still some glass surfing, but more bottom cruising. I do remember that the pet store had motion detection lights, so perhaps they are not used to full lights. Also, another forum several mentioned that they sometimes do this with new tank or water changes. Sometimes takes a week or so to settle. I'll still keep a close eye on them and a check on my water parameters. My master kit should be arriving this week (finally)! Thank you all. Any other thoughts are appreciated!

I don't have any snails or other invertebrates. I did have a plant die, but that was a week or so before I added any fish. I thought my tank was finished cycling. It had went through a nitrate/nitrite spike when it had only plants and then these came back down to 0 on the test strips. I added just a few fish. No changes in 2 weeks. Then added the corydoras 2 days ago. I am doing a 50% water change and going to add stress coat plus and some bacteria. I do use weekly plant fertilizer. Maybe I was feeding too much.

My ammonia level is between 0.5 and 1.0

They are eating sinking shrimp pellets but then go back to crazy train swimming. 🤣

Well, that is with a test strip. I have ordered a master kit, but amazon is very slow in delivering. My other fish appear to be acting normal, glowlight tetra and dwarf neon rainbow fish.

Just got a small school (6) of strerabi coradoras. They are mostly "glass surfing". My water parameters are ok, no nitrates or nitrites, ph is 7. I do have hard water. Water temp is 76-78. Planted tank. HOB aqueon 20 woth floss and biomedia, no carbon. Medium sponge filter as well. They came from a store that was displaying them in a very small tank. It looked like a longer 10 gallon divided into 4. They were all together there. They do come down and sand sift, but then go back to going up and down glass constantly. They do not appear in distress. No gill flaring ot frantic fins, just cruising the glass. I have had them 2 days, drip acclimated. I unfortunately do not have a quarantine tank. Online I see both happy exploring and stress as answers. Any info appreciated.

New to planted community tanks. Excited to find this forum to learn and share. I recently beat Triple Negative Breast Cancer (hence my name) and a friend gifted me a 30g. I have cycled it with plants and just started adding community fish. Will visit the forum often as I also do the aquarium co op site and you tube channel. Will have to also look into the podcasts. Thanks for having me!