BettasAreSuperior

I would go ahead and buy fertilizer. To be a hundred percent honest, all floating plants would need fertilizer. I had Amazon frog-bit and I didn't give enough fertilizer to it and all of it melted away. So, logically I would say that you should definitely go ahead and buy some fertilizer because it will totally help the overall condition of your water lettuce. Also, welcome to the hobby and best of luck!

I have decided to pick the @BettasAreSuperioraccount because I have more experience on this one. If needed, you guys can totally delete the other account because it takes up unneeded space on the forum.

Thank you so much for the help and for looking into this, @Streetwise

Hi all, I was wondering: Can accounts on this forum be merged? I forgot my password to this account (@BettasAreSuperior) and set up a new one (which is @LoneFox). I didn't know that you could reset your password and didn't even see it, unfortunately creating a new account. I was exploring the forum and came across the "Forgot Password." I genuinely don't know how I didn't see it. I don't know which account to use and was wondering if Mods or Administrators could help me merge my accounts. (I'm not sure how to ping them, sorry) If merging accounts isn't possible, that's okay. Thank you, I would greatly appreciate it.

I agree, dosing to 20 ppm nitrates should be enough. Well, I'm dosing fertilizer and my plants aren't getting enough iron and potassium still......lol (I got it figured out)

Yeah, he's okay, he hasn't escaped since I sealed the gap in the lid and he's happy and thriving again!

Thanks guys. I agree, with a shy fish having more fish of it's own kind will help it feel more comfortable. I have another question though. (Sorry) A 20 gal tank would be the ideal for a trio and for 4 a 29 gal, right?

Yeah, I agree. They are a slow-growing plant so I got concerned but I think they're bouncing back, I am seeing a few, new small leaves on the buce! Hey @Seattle_Aquarist Informative! That did help, thank you! Got a mini lesson on plants melting, I am glad I got the science part of it.

From the feedback, it seems like they wouldn't be lving their BEST possible life if they are kept alone. I think it would be the better choice to keep 3-4 since they like each others company. Question: If you get 2 males and 2 female will fighting be inevitable? Thanks again!

Haha, cute (and funny) 😅! I would love to get them at least sometime in my life. They seem like cool fish. It's also a plus for me that they aren't shy, I especially love fish who are enjoyable and aren't skittish. Ok, Thank you. I will try the blackout. 🤞

I will for sure keep you guys posted. Thanks a bunch guys, I really appreciated the help. I will update this thread once i have tinkered with the lights and ferts and see what is right for my tank. 🤞🙂

Hi all, I was wondering, can a honey gourami live alone? Just 1, by itself? Thank you in advance.

Ohh, they seem like nice fish. If I ever get a 20 gal or bigger tank I will for sure try them out. They kinda look like plecos imo. 🙂 The otocinclus are nice, I'm enjoying them. I was actually going to do a blackout but wasn't sure if the plants would melt. Will the plants melt at all if I do a blackout for a week? Yeah, I think regular maintenance and the algae-eaters would solve the diatom problem. They've got it pretty covered, the diatoms are almost gone! Yes, I have got 2 snails and I want more, I can't get enough of them! (Though I think my tank is a bit overstocked 😬) Same! I thought snails were a bit gross (sorry) but now that I have got them they are pretty cool!! I think the same, I think the otos are doing more work but I still love the snails.

Yeah, I see the little panda cory! Though I don't think my light timer can stagger lighting like yours. I guess I will have to compromise. BTW, your tank looks really nice! Lush, thriving, and algae-free. I think I put too many root tabs though, I'll cut back on those as well. Also, unrelated question, do your cardinal tetras attack your shrimp? (Sorry for so many questions) Thanks. I will halt the fertlizer and put it down to one pump per week. I will start my lights a 5 hours per day and go from there. I will make sure to do it one at a time, slowly. I will try it out and see if it has any effect on my algae, fingers crossed!

I will try the schedule since I was actually looking for someone's light and fert scedule to follow. I will update and let you know how it went! Question: What light do you use on this tank and is this low-tech or high-tech tank? Thanks @Ken! No, no, it's fine!! No need to apolgize! I just want the cyanobacteria and the green spot to go away. I am fine with the diatoms sticking around though for my snails and otos. But atsm I would be fine with all the algae going away since I feed all my fish. Thanks a bunch guys!! I will update once I have got the algae under control, triied out new light and fert schedules, etc. Though it might be a while, lol.

Informative! I will asap get potassium fert and see how it goes. I heard that as well with otos and mine actually aren't picky at all! They go for diatoms, cyanobacteria, green spot, you name it, mine go for it. Lol, IDK if that's normal. My snails also help out. Anyway, I will try to remove as much as I can. Every day I have to scrub off algae, I am desperate to balance my tank. Hopefully, with cutting back on lighting, nutrients, etc, I will finally balance my tank. Thanks.

No, I haven't. Would it work for cyanobacteria, brown diatom algae, and green spot algae as well? I am also feeding my otos well with food as well such as blanched veggies and repashy soilent green. Repashy is made out of aufuchws which is what otos eat in the wild. I also have a cholla wood log that also is a food source for my snails and otos. That cholla wood grows SO MUCH and such thick biofilm. It is a like a repleshing food source for them. My otos are well-fed and their bellies are full, I can tell when they are on the glass. I agree, the "balance" part is time-consuming and frustrating. But! It's important!

The tank took a long time to cycle about 3 months, plants were added November and that's when algae problem started arising. Fish were added in December. So, the tank has been running, in total for about 4 and a half months. I don't add Co2 and it's not high light, etc. So, yes, it's a low-tech tank. I will cut back on the nutrients and lighting but I have one problem.....My plants have a potassium deficiency so I need I add more potassium fertilizer.....😬 More nutrients = More algae. (I wil also watch that video you gave)

Haha, lol. I agree my otos love diatom algae. Otos in general do. I feed them real food as well such as blanched veggies and repashy soilent green. Repashy is made out of aufuchws which is what otos eat in the wild. I also have a cholla wood log that also is a food source for my snails and otos. That cholla wood grows SO MUCH and such thick biofilm. It is a like a replenshing food source for them. My betta likes hiding in it as well so it's a win-win! They are well-fed!

This is a 20 gallon long tank. For my parameters, I have a test kit but I am at my dad's house and the tank is at my mom's house so I will have to give the parameters to you later. (In about a week, sorry) I know my ph is 8.0 and my dGH is below 8 degrees. For my kh I don't have a test kit for that -__ - sorry. Though I will give my nitrates, ammonia, and nitrite in about a week because of the reason I listed a few sentences previously. Okay I will cut back on my lights ferts, thank you.

Hi all, I have a planted community tank that has been struggling with algae. I scrub the algae off and the algae eaters keep it at bay but I can tell something is off. I want to get rid of algae but I just can't. Irene made a video on balancing your tank but I still don't get what I am doing wrong. Can you guys help "balance" my tank? Here is some info on my tank. Can you guys help identify the issue? What am I doing wrong? How do I fix it? Stocking: 1 male betta 7 harlequin rasboras 6 sterbai cory 2 nerite snails 6 otocinclus (It's a 20 gallon long planted tank) Fertilizer and Water Changes: Thrive regular. 3 pumps every week and water changes once a week. Lighting: Nicrew Classic light on for 8 hours every day. Co2 and oxygen: I don't know my exact levels but there is 2 sponge filters, a hob filter, and an airstone in their so I can tell you there's a good amount of gas exchange. Also, No C02 injection. Low-tech or high-tech? : I have a low-tech tank.

Thanks a bunch @Koi! Yes, I am provding good fertilization. They just turned clear and soggy. I propagated the leaves and they look really bare. Once again, thanks for the reassurance. Hopefully the new leaves will grow back soon. I just panicked since buce is slow-growing and "wasn't supposed to melt." 👍🤞

Yeah, I also got some nerite snails as well. The otocinclus and snails are keeping the algae at bay.

Hi all, I recently bought some new buce to put on my driftwood and for about a few weeks it was doing good BUT then it started melting A BUNCH for no reason. I heard that newly introduced buce melts. Is that true? Is this normal? When will they recover? Thank you in advance. If you need more info about the tank, parameters, etc, let me know.

Thanks a bunch guys!! Yeah, after about 10 minutes he started doing his snail thing again! 👍🐌😁