Tami

I found my dehumidifier walker was high in Ammonia - I considered using it after finding something online- actually started using it - then found something else online, tested and found high ammonia

I have been trying to grow plants for over a year now -they grow but stay very small BUT I have grown A LOT of different algae The photo is of my newest issue (though I have had it for at least a month) thought is was black beard but it is slimy feeling and I can easily rub it off - it pinks up almost instantly with direct dosing of liquid CO booster - it is on every plant I am making some changes - trying to wait at least 2-3 weeks between changes, just would like to know what it is thanks for any suggestions - I am not the best photo takers

can't wait for some comments - I had the same thing happen

very nice - your plants look great

so cool -

I am no professional but over my first year and a half I have learned that patience is key - if you keep messing with it you will never figure out what worked or was wrong. If you don't have fish in there, then just let it sit with your filter running and lights as you want them and wait. Frequent water changes and disrupt a lot of things - plus your source water could have minor differences every time you change it unless you are using 0 TDS RO/DI water Test once a day and keep a journal. When I had crazy readings it was an inert cause (once never figured it out) or my source water all the other times. Switching to RO/DI has fixed that for me - the cost was worth it since I was buying bottled water. If you are using your tap and it is the cause you can figure out how to adjust your tap water for stable numbers. In my experience nitrates don't affect my pH - my nitrates are 15-60 without my pH changing. My RO/DI water goes in at 8 (the tank test 7.8 after) and settles at 7.2 in 24 hours without a change until I change water again in 1 week. GH/KH can affect pH. figuring out if that is stable would be helpful. Good luck and breath - if there are no lives at stake - you have time to learn patience

I received several strange/ blank looks when my answer to 'what did you do for your birthday?" when I said we went down to the big fish store to visit the fish and I was so excited to find my r/o supplies there

I love you tanks, they are an inspiration --- reminding myself to just let the plants grow!

interesting - would like to hear if it leaks or not

so sorry for your lose. I love Otos.

I struggled to cut glass well. I used thin polycarbonate plastic that I had a friend laser cut for me, put it in so one part slides to feed (saw a video). I ordered the greenhouse stuff from Home Depot (cheapest price) and it arrived in 2 days - haven't attempted to cut it yet Good luck - I found a lot of options - this will be my third effort, the thin plastic does the job but is bowed and I cracked a piece

check your source water

Mine can get like that too - they are little pigs when it comes to feeding time - especially the girls

ok then an affordable one for us little fish people

I don't want a strip I want a meter - stick in and out come the measurements - matching colors sucks

@Betsyand @Isaac Myou guys are go getters! I too have been playing around with the best option for journaling. A friend bought me a printed journal that I like a bit but really just like writing in a steno notebook until I need to look up stuff. I have stacks of papers that I desperately need to organize in a binder BUT then there a fish to watch or plants to fuss with, videos to watch, forums and articles to read..... the expenses is a good idea then I know how much I have yet to spend. here is a picture a journal page for more ideas

@CJz Fishesit looks like we have a lot of the same plants. How big is your tank? What light and settings do you use?

congrats on that. i am still struggling with balancing everything. i can grow algae great though

not that I have it figured out but my first sword did amazing then rapidly died - I have learned that they want root tabs. I started with 2 right at the roots when I planted and put 2 in every month as it puts out at least 2 leaves a month. Cory has a video on started plants and he says they need lots and increase as growing - my crypts seem to need them too. My moneywort is new to me - it is growing very slowly (just put root tabs around them too) and it has grown some floating. The forum has lots of good advice, and aquarium co-op videos are great

@MadTurtlewouldn't your nitrates rise naturally if you did not do water changes and used regular dosing of Easy Green. I have a hard time keeping mine down to 20 with half dose Easy Green and understocked tank....one of the many things that confuses me in addition to yo-yoing plant growth and almost every kind of algae... just thinking out loud cause not sure I can even say it is my 2cents. following to see what others post

i think it is Bacopa monnieri - moneywort. It looks like what I have by that name

from what I have seen online you can set up a quarantine tank in a tote, clean it and store it when finished.

sorry for your loss. great job on caring for him so long.

sadly no, tetras eat the eggs as fast as they are laid and I was not expecting it nor do I know enough about breeding yet

I love my Otos and they do a great job on biofilm and brown algae, not so much with the green algae though. I also have pristella, they were spawning all the time until one suddenly died. Very active and fun to watch. Stocking is confusing to me since it is dependent on so many things.