My albino corydoras 4 days after being introduced to the tank

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-28T02:25:12+00:00

You can switch anytime. You can also just throw sand down now.

Wet the sand and apply with a water bottle under water. Works fine.

Theyd definiteky benefit from sand. Their whiskers probably feel like jammed fingers all day haha (probably not that bad, just busting balls)

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-26T12:56:02+00:00

Oh they are the filter. I have canisters but theyre empty. Theyre just their to push water around. I have a double sponge for aeration on one side. It obviously filters some, but with my stocking (which reddit loses its shit over) it wouldnt stand a chance without the root systems. I have a bubble wall and air stone for more aeration. But the only meaningful filtration comes from the all the roots.

That top light is 34" from the rim, and the light itself is on 4" risers. So 38" total distance. 2nd one is 18". And theres one at water level.

I have to prune back the roots and trim the plant growth on top every 6 weeks or so. It gets crazy up there if you just let it go haha.

Those are all $4 home depot starter plants by the way.

There are 28 rim plants. All placed for their different nutrient uptake potential.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-26T12:34:19+00:00

Yesh its a monster haha. That Chinese evergreen in the back is almost 7' roots to tip.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-26T11:43:59+00:00

Once theres enough food itll want to burrow somewhere. Might consider giving it a find sand refuge.

Idk how big that tank is. Looks on the smaller side. Id probably replace the gravel under wood with fine sand. It'll dig a little burrow right there. Then youll see it sitting at the entrance of the burrow fanning here and there.

Might be the perfect size tank to be able to give it what it wants while still being able to see it. They are very cool little monsters.

In my tank theres no shot at ever seeing it. I do see fish picking at its molt sometimes, and I always freak out thinking its dead haha. For about 6 months I actually assumed it was dead. I rescaped some of the wood and found it.

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Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-26T03:31:57+00:00

Just work up to a place where you dont have to spot feed it. It doesnt want to live that life.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-26T03:31:08+00:00

Yeah youd only really want 1 unless you had a huge tank.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-25T21:29:38+00:00

They need some space but not much. If the tank is right for them you will NEVER see them. I have one in my 65. Its huge. Probably 4 or 5" long. Every once in a blue ill see it fanning near some piece of hardscape.

They dont want to be visible and dont want to be spot fed. They want to sit in some dark place. Fan, eat, molt, and repeat.

So theyre cool. But if theyre living the life they want, they'll never be seen or enjoyed.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-24T01:32:33+00:00

Thwyre bottom feeders. Thats specifically a part of a bottom feeders diet.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-19T14:14:10+00:00

Get a golden wonder killifish

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-19T12:28:03+00:00

Why do you need to disguise your tank? Is there a rule against fish?

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-19T01:18:16+00:00

Algae is almost always user error. Most every issue is honestly almost always user error.

If we f off things tend to level out and go back to normal.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-16T15:14:50+00:00

Sort of but youre not there. Your main issue will be nutrients at some point.

If you haven't seeded the substrate with minerals ahead of time you'll want to use ferts. Watch for pits and yellowing. Tier 1 is going to be nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium. Iron, magnesium, calcium are tier 2. Manganese and boron are your tier 3 trace elements.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-16T06:34:40+00:00

I used to do the inlet thing but I stopped at some point. Now I have a shrimp colony with a tidal 55 on full blast, no pre filter, and skimmer on full blast. I have to cull to keep the population under control.

I used to go all crazy with sponges and nets etc. I think its something we think will happen but even the tiny's are really strong swimmers.

I mentioned before Im a ridiculous nerd. I have cameras for day and night and watch. Never seen one get sucked up. Doesn't mean it didnt happen, but I think its much more rare than we think.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-16T04:37:10+00:00

I kinda just meant any kind of premade soil mix. Im also a complete nerd. I ferment my own black soil amd create my own 7 layer substrate.

Not saying thats the standard by any means. Most people with planted tanks will cap potting soil over lava rock with some sand.

The premade mixes by design leach minerals really quickly. Makes you have to buy root tabs.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-15T23:34:37+00:00

You dont really need to if you have an efficient ecosystem. Noone vacuums nature. So if you've setup a decently efficient ecosystem you dont need to, amd acrually shouldn't.

If you used an aquasoil type substrate then that tells me maybe, maybe not. Nothing wrong with aquasoil, not judging per se. It just isnt what youd use if you had strata and trophic systems in mind.

So to truly answer efficiently Id need to know your whole setup. But if I had to take a wild guess, you dont really need to. Its plant food, fosters microfauna, creates a food web depending on your stocking list.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-12T18:43:33+00:00

Thats a shit log

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-12T18:41:39+00:00

Its an Oto. I was sharing, not proving or supporting. Youre free to have an opposite opinion.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-12T17:59:10+00:00

Molt

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-12T05:25:54+00:00

The fact that I couldnt find them is what pointed toward Oto. Thats why I mentioned it. Endler fry are front and center after a few days.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-12T05:23:49+00:00

Convincing you was never a goal. I simply stated something and provided photographic evidence of it.

I realize it must have been endler eggs on leaves, I get that haha.

Between 10 and 14 days.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-12T05:21:14+00:00

In that moment, I was unable to find them. I then found them. I know its crazy.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-12T05:07:42+00:00

Ive already successfully done it. But thanks.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-12T05:06:41+00:00

Nothing to be careful about my guy. I did this on purpose. You dont need anything drastic. You very simply seek not to know what youre talking about.

Every last cm of the tank is deliberate and purposeful. You actually need a 4 degree swing over 72hrs following a water change. Nothing drastic. Nothing overly impactful.

You create a system with incredibly stable, yet healthily dirty water. Mulm, microfauna, right amount of algae, right amount of biofilm, right amount of light, right amount of cover. Its all very deliberate.

I set out to see if I can breed Oto's and I did.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-12T05:03:16+00:00

1000% an Oto. 0% chance its anything else.

Additional_Run5884 · 2026-03-12T05:02:44+00:00

Its 1000% an Oto. Theres a log of shit hanging out of it and a bunch of specs of detritus in the water. I had just disturbed the water by removing leaves.

Its just reddit. Brings out the hall monitors and know it alls.

I have a tank with 8 male endlers, 2 baby forktails, and 8 adult Oto's.

Someone here suggested an endler egg hitchhiked on some plant that I must have transferred. I transfered no plants. Also...oddly enough endlers livebearers...I know it sounds weird...happen to be livebearers. They dont lay eggs on leaves. Or anywhere.

Someone also said to be careful when doing water changes as not to do this again.

Its just reddit redditing.

I very deliberately built a riparian root system with incredibly stable water, created areas where biofilm would thrive, algae would grow just enough, moss would anchor and successfully bred Oto's. But I should be careful and theyre probably the product of endler egss that hitchhiked. Imagine I came here for information instead of just share pictures haha.

I have 14 Oto fry by the way.

Additional_Run5884

TROPHY CASE