BAT

Also I don’t think your medicines/treatments have covered gram negative bacteria. Something to think about.

Does anyone have any recommendations on plants to root in water and grow leaves above to help reduce nitrate levels? I have seen pothos used. Any others? Tips welcome.

How much aquarium salt have you used? Or concentration

Am thinking about putting these fish in a 20 gallon long with Mollies and Dwarf Gouramis. has anyone had any experience with Red velvet swords? Opinions?

@Guppiesgonewildi removed a few of mine to make more room for light and found that the lily pads grew right back within a few weeks.

Sorry @Bethany92😢

YAY!!!🥰

@Torreyif we keep the detritus to a minimum does that mean that the snails wont multiply as fast if at all?

Hi All, i was doing a gravel vac and water change and i saw this thing clinging to my tube? It would elongate and then scrunch up. And rather quickly. Is it a detritus worm? A leech? Something else?

@Torrey where did you get the white plastic that holds your outside plants? I want to get one for my tank.

I read online that IAL can breakdown after a while and contribute to water problems. How long before this happens? Can you leave them in until they start breaking apart? any guidance appreciated.

@Intuoshow do u get the snails out of the dish? Do they not float away when you pick it up??

I tried a lettuce leaf but none seemed to care.

Anyone have any tips on how to catch a multitude of bladder snails? Trying to round up a critical mass of them to take to LFS. Thanks!

@HomerJayi love your tank set up! I see we both like sponge bob (see pic) i have had good luck with using the polyfil like @Mmiller2001says. Just keep an eye and change when it looks bad (about a week or less, depending) bc i have had nitrates spike when I kept too long.

I had a huge nitrate spike in a 10g tank that was 6 mos old and had been running fine (plants, gravel). In hindsight i think it was because i feel behind in my gravel vacuuming and that (decaying matter in the gravel) was the source of the nitrates. Just a thought.

Sorry to hear @Bethany92

So sorry to hear @Bethany92 @Torrey@Colu what would you recommend? I don’t have much experience.

I agree. You are doing your best. he is lucky to have you. What is your salt concentration right now?

Do his scales look like they are pinecones?

Thanks @Scott Stevenson this explains what happened when I had an out of control spike 6 mos after starting my tank. Then our betta got fin rot. So now that he is healed I am making sure the tank is totally stable before he returns.

If the heterotropic bacteria are part of the cycle and their ammonia products can be decomposed by the autotrophs then why do we need to do gravel vacs?

@OurfFishBabiesagree with salt. I wonder about gram negative bacteria. Consider adding kanaplex if it gets worse.

@Bethany92I had the SAME problems with a betta we bought for my son! His name is Cutie. The kids pick the best names. I came to the forum for help back in January and it was great. See my previous posts on it. Recs from my experience - I found Kanaplex to work best. Since fin rot is largely caused by gram negative bacteria and Kanaplex covers more gram negative baceteria than Maracyn. (Gram positive and gram negative bacteria are classifications for different bacteria). I also found that the kanaplex really started to work wonders when i got the salt up to 1 TBSP per gallon. I started at 1 TBSP per 5 gallon, then went to 1 TBSP per 3 gallons, then 1 TBSP per 1 gallon. Check out this link from AC. https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/aquarium-salt-for-sick-fish Finally, i increased the temp of his tank to 80F to reduce any stress he was feeling. i think you still have a chance to save him!

Very helpful @Guppysnail. @Scott Stevenson thanks! is this why the water smelled a bit odiferous ? Like a sulfur smell? @Scott Stevensoncan you explain why the heterotrophic bacteria convert it to ammonia and not nitrite?