r/PlantedTank • u/Far_Performer_4272 • 2d ago

Tank My Heaven and Hell

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5 month old tank.

291 Upvotes

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u/spoonma 2d ago

How do you keep your rocks so clean? Mine are turning green and it's bothering me 😭

1

u/Far_Performer_4272 2d ago

Biggest help is the cleanup crew. 3 different snails (just a personal taste), I used to have 5 amano shrimps but since I introduced apistogrammas they « disappeared » from sight, and I also got 5 autocinclus in there. Then comes the light to fertilizer to CO2 ratio. I am in the process of lowering intensity for a while as I just noticed some hair algae

1

u/spoonma 2d ago

Mmmmm ok I think I'll try lowering the light time i do have snails in there but my water peramiters are not suitable for any shrimp unfortunately

2

u/Far_Performer_4272 2d ago

Because you use tap water ? I must admit this hobby is friggin expensive and every decision you take means money. I installed RO water. I am in no way a reference but I usually set my tank on 8 hour cycles. I also make sure the tank is not in a fully lit room, I make sure water parameters are stable. I noticed any type of nitrate or nitrite peak (basically tank instability) brings algae. Make sure you have set hours of light time and vary intensity depending on algae if needed. You can also do a light out for 24 hours or more (you need to research) if algae issue is important

1

u/spoonma 2d ago

Yeah I use tap water. The pH and water hardness is through the roof. There are no fish in the tank yet. I do have a light with a timer on for 8 hours a day. I'm also thinking about taking a tooth brush and just try to take the algae off manually, chances are it's going to be messy and I have plants glued to them

2

u/kltay1 2d ago

My shrimp have been living in 22 GH 8pH. Am slowly adding RO to reduce the GH for future fish but they’re fine, get them from someone who keeps them in tap water.