Need advice for my failing 10 gallon planted tank - update
I can't believe it's been so long since I posted that initial picture along with my plea for help, and things have turned around quite a bit! It took time and was not always easy. The tank has also undergone quite a few iterations. But, I think I can safely say that I'm currently winning the battle against BGA, dying plants, and questionable water parameters.
Here is the tank in its current state. Plants are a very healthy cryp wendtii (has sent off runners), numerous sunset hygro, java fern, a mystery plant (dwarf hairgrass?), and a ludwigia that has survived a lot of abuse. I tried anacharis twice without success; it just dissolves away in my tank.
Current livestock are three red tetras, one pristella tetra, one striped kuhli loach, two black kuhli loaches, and lotsa pond snails - my reason for adopting the loaches.
I miss my lil' dwarf cory buddies. I fished out one and days later, the other three seemed to vanish. The snails took care of the dead bodies for me, I think.
The change that made the most dramatic difference in terms of controlling the BGA was the light fixture. I could not understand why the bulbs I was purchasing weren't strong enough before it became obvious that I would have to change the hood, altogether: from a strip to a double-socket hood. Now, I have the power of two 13w eco-efficient curly-q's beneath the new hood, which has done wonders for the algae as well as the plants. Then, I begin making partial water changes three-times a week and dosed with Flourish Excel and regular Flourish daily until the plants regained their vigor and the BGA stopped wreaking total havoc. Now, I can get away with once-a-week water changes without the BGA totally taking control. Within the past week or so, though, the BGA has tried to creep up on me, again, so I am increasing the water changes to twice-a-week to try and calm the swell. I dose with Flourish excel and, since I rain out of reg. Flourish, API leaf zone during these water changes.
The results have been very positive. Thank you to everyone who read and took the time to offer tips and support. I would like to concentrate on scaping sometime in the near future. I'm very weak in this area, I'm afraid. I'd appreciate any input on foreground plants (more grass, perhaps? clover?) and anything else that may grow well in a tank with these lighting parameters and this sort of livestock.
Also, would anyone happen to know if the Whisper filter cartridge holders (the green, plastic case) are sold separately? I ask because I originally had two striped kuhlis. One disappeared and I didn't find it until a water change, where he was literally glued to the filter cartridge. It was much too big to fit into the intake openings, so my suspicion is that he attempted a jump to freedom and did. not. make it. I was waaaaaaaaaaay too grossed out to scrape it off the filter holder, so the whole thing went into the trash, filter included.
In any case, thanks for reading! Here's a pic of my new kuhlis, because I like them:
I can't believe it's been so long since I posted that initial picture along with my plea for help, and things have turned around quite a bit! It took time and was not always easy. The tank has also undergone quite a few iterations. But, I think I can safely say that I'm currently winning the battle against BGA, dying plants, and questionable water parameters.
Here is the tank in its current state. Plants are a very healthy cryp wendtii (has sent off runners), numerous sunset hygro, java fern, a mystery plant (dwarf hairgrass?), and a ludwigia that has survived a lot of abuse. I tried anacharis twice without success; it just dissolves away in my tank.
Current livestock are three red tetras, one pristella tetra, one striped kuhli loach, two black kuhli loaches, and lotsa pond snails - my reason for adopting the loaches.
I miss my lil' dwarf cory buddies. I fished out one and days later, the other three seemed to vanish. The snails took care of the dead bodies for me, I think.
The change that made the most dramatic difference in terms of controlling the BGA was the light fixture. I could not understand why the bulbs I was purchasing weren't strong enough before it became obvious that I would have to change the hood, altogether: from a strip to a double-socket hood. Now, I have the power of two 13w eco-efficient curly-q's beneath the new hood, which has done wonders for the algae as well as the plants. Then, I begin making partial water changes three-times a week and dosed with Flourish Excel and regular Flourish daily until the plants regained their vigor and the BGA stopped wreaking total havoc. Now, I can get away with once-a-week water changes without the BGA totally taking control. Within the past week or so, though, the BGA has tried to creep up on me, again, so I am increasing the water changes to twice-a-week to try and calm the swell. I dose with Flourish excel and, since I rain out of reg. Flourish, API leaf zone during these water changes.
The results have been very positive. Thank you to everyone who read and took the time to offer tips and support. I would like to concentrate on scaping sometime in the near future. I'm very weak in this area, I'm afraid. I'd appreciate any input on foreground plants (more grass, perhaps? clover?) and anything else that may grow well in a tank with these lighting parameters and this sort of livestock.
Also, would anyone happen to know if the Whisper filter cartridge holders (the green, plastic case) are sold separately? I ask because I originally had two striped kuhlis. One disappeared and I didn't find it until a water change, where he was literally glued to the filter cartridge. It was much too big to fit into the intake openings, so my suspicion is that he attempted a jump to freedom and did. not. make it. I was waaaaaaaaaaay too grossed out to scrape it off the filter holder, so the whole thing went into the trash, filter included.
In any case, thanks for reading! Here's a pic of my new kuhlis, because I like them:
