k8nabel

Hi everyone, I am curious to know if anyone has any insight for me as to why almost all of my pond snails and one mystery snail died within a few weeks of another. It’s a 30 gallon stocked with neon tetras, corys, and amano shrimp. I was experimenting with how long my water parameters would remain consistent without cleaning my canister filter, and with reducing my water changes to every other week. I continued to test the water twice weekly. It maintained with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 40 nitrate (I have to dose easy green weekly to keep this up otherwise I drops to 20), pH is consistently 6.5, temp stays at 76-78, I have hard water with a GH at 150. These parameters have been relatively steady for the last year and all inhabitants healthy (aside for one bout of ick when the tank was new and has since been treated). Any idea what would have caused all of my snails to die? No harm done to shrimp, fish or plants. And nothing changed aside from not cleaning the canister filter and decreased water changes. I should also mention it’s is a very densely planted tank so I was trying to see how much work my plants are doing to maintain the water parameters. thank you in advance for any insight!

I'm excited to share the progress I'm making in expanding my fish room. At our old house I had a tank in almost every room, but I've downsized and am trying to keep the tanks I'm running on the smaller size so that I can house more species and am able to spend more time admiring them, rather than maintaining. The 29 houses a school of neons, a small group of sterbai corys (5), as well as some otos and amanos. My goals for this tank are to really have the plants take off and have a more jungle look. I'm happy enough with the stocking and certainly don't want to be overstocked so I don't plan to add any more fish, though if I did I would add more of the same species. On the desk I have a 5 g marineland betta tank with a few mismatch shrimp. On the shelf is a 5 g fluval edge which currently only houses blue dream neocaridina shrimp. I plan to add a trio of clown kilis as soon as I am able to source them. Next to the 5g is the 12 g edge, which I removed the top from and disregarded the base and back stand. It is currently empty and I am trying to decide what to house in it. Currently I'm toying with the idea of chilli rasboras, habrosus corys, and yellow rice shrimp. Alternatively, I've always wanted to keep CPDs but haven't thought through the rest of the stocking there. Finally, I have another 5 g edge that has a stand to the left of the sofa (out of frame). It is also empty, and I'm going to hold off on it for a while to really figure out what I want in there, lots of ideas, but just not settled on anything yet. I'm open to any and all feedback, especially constructive criticism! I'm hoping to continue keeping this space my little meditative haven.

In my experience, the more plants I have in a new tank the faster it cycles. Another thing you may consider adding if you haven't already is an air stone. I put mine right below the intake for my filtration so that more oxygen is available to the bacteria in my filter media. I know how frustrating and confusing getting started can be, I was in the same boat not very long ago. Its so rewarding when it all comes together! Good luck!

This is so so cool! How did you get the top that was cracked off? I have a 12g edge that has a cracked top and I'm inspired by your project to try something similar!

Looks awesome! I agree with @OceanTruth either some buc or maybe crypt wendetii planted in the foreground in front of the driftwood would like awesome. I also really like having some mini catappa leaves, and some alder cones on the floor on the aquarium as in my opinion it gives a really natural look.

@H.K.LutermanThank you! The corys are my favorites! They have stuck with me through a pretty significant learning curve and are little troopers. The 29 I put together just for them and am really focused on making up for my past transgressions again them (note their poor little barbels) and keeping them fat and healthy!

That is such a beautiful betta! Great find, and his tank looks beautiful!

Hi there! I'm so excited for this forum as I think it is exactly what I've needed but couldn't find to help improve my enjoyment of the hobby. I started my first tank up a few years ago and went all in with a 75 planted community and it was a train wreck, but I learned a lot. We ended up moving and I had to break that tank down so I took the opportunity to downsize to some smaller more manageable tanks. I am currently running two 5s, one with blue dream neocaridinas (breeding like mad), and the second with a betta and some amanos. Both of these nano tanks are heavily planted are doing fabulous! I also started up a 29 a little less than a year ago, and am finding it much more enjoyable than the 75. I'm keeping neons, sterbai corys, amanos, bladder snails, and just added a few otos who are thriving! My goals for this next year is to get the plants in the 29 to really start growing well. It's full of anubias, java fern, some cryps, an amazon sword, and some floating water sprite. I'd love for everything to really fill in, but so far I've just succeeded in keeping the algae at bay! Wish me luck and thank you in advance for any advice!