Joe cool

It hasn’t even been two weeks yet. Nothing is really thriving but nothing is outright dying either. They are all rooting plants so I hope that is where they are putting their energy. I am getting some algae and some fuzz on the driftwood so I got 10 otocinclus catfish yesterday and they are working hard. Other inhabitants are six panda Cory catfish and a dozen neon tetras.

The browning leaves have me dismayed but the plants were still moist and the roots good. Some broken leaves. I am going to have patience, but I am going to be pissed at USPS if they don’t come around. I am already pissed at USPS. Can’t believe USPS took 100 hours to deliver, I am on the same interstate freeway that Aquarium coop is on, no need to go to Utah and Nevada. I could drive it in 12 hours all on the same road. I don’t like the plant selection at my local places. It’s like Java Fern or nothing. I like the grassy looking plants. I am a grumpy bastard tonight. Sorry.

I don’t blame aquarium coop for this except maybe they could have offered and suggested I pay a little extra for expedited shipping which I would have should have done. I am 12 hours / <800 miles straight down I5 from their location but USPS sent my plants to Utah, then Nevada, and finally California. I didn’t get them until 4 days after they were mailed. When I finally got them leaves were pretty limp. I planted them immediately but they don’t seem to be thriving. Brown patches forming on the leaves. Anything you can suggest to help keep these plants alive? Fertilized with root tabs only at this point, I don’t think I should add liquid fertilizer until I see signs of growth. 8 hours of light per day. 29 gallon tank with 6 corydoras, 12 neon tetras and 2 mystery snails. Gravel substrate with the root tabs, fairly hard well water no chlorine or softeners. Pretty new to this, all suggestions welcomed.