I have a year-old, and some months, tank, its fully cycled as of 2023 of December 2nd. The only known problem I'm battling right now is an outbreak of Cyanobacteria (I've been hand removing and doing water changes at least once a week). I've recently removed several handfuls of java fern as it was overgrown. The tank is 10 gallons, and has a HOB filter that I wash and occasionally replace once it gets too dirty (covered in cyano or brown algae, for whatever reason) to be effective. There's a bubbler (Without a stone as it had begun to foam at the surface. This may be why they're afraid. I'm not sure. I can reattach the stone to see if it helps.) It also has a 50 watt heater and small black gravel. I have several Java ferns and a few Anubias Nana's. I have a second Anubias plant, but I'm not sure what its called. Its leaves are wider, that I know. I have a small piece of driftwood that I've attached a baby java fern to, it doesn't have any hiding places apart from the leaves. I also have an ornament in the back right corner that all of my fish seem to enjoy hiding in or around. My Neon tetras have lived with me for half a year now, and my shrimp and rasbora have lived with me for a year.
I do also have green spot algae and brown algae that I'm struggling with. I also recently came to terms with an odd kind of worm (teardrop shaped, translucent with light brown and darker colors—I assumed its innards which I later discovered was its 'mouth', and when it came in contact with another of its kind, would 'attack' it by shooting what I could only describe as the second mouth in Alien. I was assured it wasn't a leech, and I wasn't told what it was as the people at MCAquatics didn't know. They, the unknown worm-like creature, haven't bothered my fish, and they seem to live off the detritus worms. I had at the time experimented with what they were susceptible to, and they would die upon contact to salt, and would invert on themselves after sitting in a motionless shallow cup of aquarium water for a few days. They came as small as a detritus worm is wide (and just as white), and as large as a small pinky nail bed is long (larger the 'pinker'). There is a greenhouse and a hydroponic plant system on either side that supply extra light, but I block what I can with clipboards.
I cannot currently remember or think of any other problems that I am or have dealt with that may have left an impact upon my Neon tetras that would cause them to not want to actively swim around. The last water change was done on Monday, September 2nd. My Parameters (Last measured September 3rd, 6:48 pm, or 1848) goes as follows:
(Parameter kit by API, followed instructions with a stopwatch.)
GH: 120
KH: 40
PH: 6.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20
(Ammonia parameter kit by API, followed instructions with timer.)
(measured at 8:25) Ammonia: 0 ppm
The temperature is at 78 F˚, the only possible fluctuations are during water changes where I use tap from a shower, treated by water conditioner (Aqueon water conditioner, 16.0 fl oz. I may be using too much water conditioner as it claims 5ml is enough to cleanse 10 gallons, and I've been treating 3 gallons per water change with 5 ml, sometimes a little less. I've heard that could cause problems, I'm not aware of the risks associated with that though.)
My stock:
4 Neon tetras (One died very strangely a month after they settled in; It grew very boney and milky eyed despite having the same opportunity to eat the same amount as the others.)
1 Dwarf Rasbora (I'm aware it should be in a group of 3-5, I had originally gotten 3, but the stress from the move was too much, and they grew—the only way I can explain this is—opaque, and their capability to swim was extremely horrible. They both died on their own. The remaining fish lived on its own for a few months until I was able to purchase more, but upon looking for Dwarf Rasboras at the store I'd gone to originally, I had found none and ended up getting the neon tetras after looking at two other stores. The Rasbora has since schooled with the neon tetras without issue.)
3 Amano shrimp (These I had gotten with the Rasboras and have thrived on algae wafers and fish flakes that sank to the bottom.)
What I suppose my question is, Why aren't my (seemingly completely healthy) Neon Tetras (and other) swimming around their tank?
(Image of tank included. Mild water damage on particle board from a possible leak that I will likely post another question for help with diagnosing and treating, and from water changes. I will be getting an Aquarium stand and a pothos plant soon.)
I do also have green spot algae and brown algae that I'm struggling with. I also recently came to terms with an odd kind of worm (teardrop shaped, translucent with light brown and darker colors—I assumed its innards which I later discovered was its 'mouth', and when it came in contact with another of its kind, would 'attack' it by shooting what I could only describe as the second mouth in Alien. I was assured it wasn't a leech, and I wasn't told what it was as the people at MCAquatics didn't know. They, the unknown worm-like creature, haven't bothered my fish, and they seem to live off the detritus worms. I had at the time experimented with what they were susceptible to, and they would die upon contact to salt, and would invert on themselves after sitting in a motionless shallow cup of aquarium water for a few days. They came as small as a detritus worm is wide (and just as white), and as large as a small pinky nail bed is long (larger the 'pinker'). There is a greenhouse and a hydroponic plant system on either side that supply extra light, but I block what I can with clipboards.
I cannot currently remember or think of any other problems that I am or have dealt with that may have left an impact upon my Neon tetras that would cause them to not want to actively swim around. The last water change was done on Monday, September 2nd. My Parameters (Last measured September 3rd, 6:48 pm, or 1848) goes as follows:
(Parameter kit by API, followed instructions with a stopwatch.)
GH: 120
KH: 40
PH: 6.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20
(Ammonia parameter kit by API, followed instructions with timer.)
(measured at 8:25) Ammonia: 0 ppm
The temperature is at 78 F˚, the only possible fluctuations are during water changes where I use tap from a shower, treated by water conditioner (Aqueon water conditioner, 16.0 fl oz. I may be using too much water conditioner as it claims 5ml is enough to cleanse 10 gallons, and I've been treating 3 gallons per water change with 5 ml, sometimes a little less. I've heard that could cause problems, I'm not aware of the risks associated with that though.)
My stock:
4 Neon tetras (One died very strangely a month after they settled in; It grew very boney and milky eyed despite having the same opportunity to eat the same amount as the others.)
1 Dwarf Rasbora (I'm aware it should be in a group of 3-5, I had originally gotten 3, but the stress from the move was too much, and they grew—the only way I can explain this is—opaque, and their capability to swim was extremely horrible. They both died on their own. The remaining fish lived on its own for a few months until I was able to purchase more, but upon looking for Dwarf Rasboras at the store I'd gone to originally, I had found none and ended up getting the neon tetras after looking at two other stores. The Rasbora has since schooled with the neon tetras without issue.)
3 Amano shrimp (These I had gotten with the Rasboras and have thrived on algae wafers and fish flakes that sank to the bottom.)
What I suppose my question is, Why aren't my (seemingly completely healthy) Neon Tetras (and other) swimming around their tank?
(Image of tank included. Mild water damage on particle board from a possible leak that I will likely post another question for help with diagnosing and treating, and from water changes. I will be getting an Aquarium stand and a pothos plant soon.)
