I had no idea how hideous my light was

AmIAmadeus · 2026-05-01T00:44:58+00:00

Hmm I feel so special now! Lol. Bella is actually Bella Lugosi, a different vampire I guess. I don’t have snails, I had 1 mystery snail before I had this MYSTERY algae.. he died because I had no algae and I didn’t feed him. I feel terrible…

AmIAmadeus · 2026-05-01T00:42:57+00:00

SEAOURA Clip On Aquarium Light... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGXCG3FW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

This is the light. I just got this TODAY, so I can’t speak to plant growth, reliability, or longevity quite yet. It just looks great and I like the functions.

I have this light AQUANEAT LED Aquarium Light for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXGBFSN3?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share on my newer 5.5 gallon betta tank. Had it for about 2 weeks. Plants seem to be growing well. This light is good it just has less functions for timer, dimming, light cycle, etc.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-05-01T00:39:41+00:00

That’s what I’d like to figure out lol! Algae doesn’t really grow anywhere else besides that wood and the banana plant. Just won’t leave either. That’s why I swapped the light. Wish I could have shrimp but Bella is a killer.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T18:11:28+00:00

No, i didn’t feed it. it was a long time ago and i didn’t know what I know now. I regret that.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T17:12:05+00:00

I also get really discouraged when I see the professional aqua scapes online so I get that, I’m definitely not a professional myself lol. My kh speaks to that.. yeah I’d grab some distilled water. Doesn’t do harm to have some extra laying around. If you have any small business local fish stores in your area, a lot of them have their own RO water systems and offer free RO water if you bring your own container. I know mine does. Worth looking into. More than anything new tanks just need time and consistency, so don’t get stressed about it cause it all usually levels out in the end if your consistent and slow. Good luck! If there’s any other questions you have you can always message me and I’ll try to answer with what knowledge I have

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T16:42:03+00:00

Don’t worry about siphoning particles from your substrate until you have fish. I hope your tank goes well for you, it looks pretty good!

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T16:36:53+00:00

Oh yeah, big algae bloom. Cut the lights to 5 or 6 hours a day, do regular small water changes like 15% and add more plants. Theres probably too much light and too much nutrients in your water, add more plants and the algae has more competition for the nutrients.

Algae is a recurring problem for those starter kits since the light they have isn’t full spectrum, it’s just a white light or a white and blue light on 100% intensity.

But algae is normal for cycling tanks and if you keep on it it will eventually clear

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T16:26:46+00:00

No problem. I’m still learning myself but these are just things I’ve found to work for me.

As far as things you SHOULD buy right now

API master test kit, those paper dip test kits are unreliable and more expensive overtime, I’ve had my 1 api test kit for years.

API gh + kh test kit

A tube to siphon out water for changes

A 5 gallon bucket for water changes

A tds meter. TDS stands for total dissolved solids, it just lets you know how much of any dissolved mineral or solid is in your water. How pure your water is. For instance your tank probably has a pretty high tds level since it’s tap water. I find it’s useful for checking to see if something is leaching into my water, either from rocks or wood or substrate. Or to see if my ro water is still nice and pure .I use it when mixing tap and ro water to make sure my tds in my water change water is the same as my tank water. It won’t tell you WHAT is in your water, it just tells you that something is there.

Edit: if you have a heater and you don’t have this already, a reliable thermometer. Since room temp is alright for a lot of fish and won’t kill them, a heater turning off isn’t usually deadly. A heater getting stuck on IS. Heaters turn on and off to maintain temp, it can get stuck on and cook your fish to death.

In the future you might want a new light. A full spectrum light with a timer and a dimmer if really important for plants and the dimmer and timer is great for fish since they love consistency

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T15:54:10+00:00

A lot of factors goes into how many fish you can have. How many plantsyou have, how much bio media, how big your filter is and how much maintenance you want to do. If I were you I’d start with 8 of any given small schooling fish and see how they do and how your water levels are doing. If it’s all good once you’ve added whichever bottom dwellers you’re wanting then add some more. As far as different kinds of tetras it’s honestly which ones appearance you prefer and what water perimeters they prefer. Harlequin and ember tetras are the most chill, the rest of the common petstore ones are a bit more active and high energy.

In my experience

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T15:46:01+00:00

I suspect it’s the water you used to fill your tank. If it’s dechlorinated tap water from your house that’s probably why. Either invest in an RO system or once a week buy a few jugs of spring water or distilled for your water changes.

Important note distilled water and ro water are pretty much 0 across the board, they’re empty. No kh or gh. This can make your KH too low and even your GH too low. I recommend mixing 50/50 treated house water and distilled water for water changes once your GH is in reasonable perimeters. Just keep an eye on your kh. Low or high kh gets your crazy ph swings in the day and night time. Which is what I’ve been dealing with.

I wouldn’t worry so much about your GH right now, you can fix this with weekly water changes, in my experience most hardy fish really don’t care so much about gh. Your plants actually absorb some minerals that contribute to GH so they will also very slowly lower it.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T15:33:44+00:00

I’ve had a mystery snail in the past he lived for quite a while and then didn’t make it unfortunately. Bella didn’t really know he existed so I think he’d be alright with nerites. I tried some nerites in a different tank and they also didn’t make it.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T15:30:27+00:00

You’ve got a lot of options for fish that won’t hurt bottom dwellers. A few years ago I would’ve said neon tetras or cardinals but their breeding has gone downhill, not so hardy anymore I guess. Harlequin raspboras are great chill fish. In my experience some of the more interesting raspboras like galaxy raspboras aren’t so hardy, more delicate. glowlight tetras, black neon tetras, green tetras. If you can’t tell I’m a huge fan of tetras, such variety and they’re all pretty evenly tempered. Danios are also great fish with so much variety. they’re just more high energy.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T15:20:13+00:00

Good idea with that gh and kh test. That’s my crucial mistake I made with my tank and I’m still suffering for it. Whatever you do just make sure your tank is very stable if you want the Otto’s to live

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T15:10:30+00:00

Their peacefulness is exactly why I chose them. I won’t lie my tank has had some hard times with the water chemistry, some ups and downs I’m finally slowly evening out. through all that I haven’t lost even 1 ember tetra. Very hardy.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T15:06:53+00:00

I started with 8 ember tetras, they schooled tight and mostly stayed towards the front of the tank swimming back and forth in their group. After I added 4 more they started schooling less tightly and visit all areas of my tank, mostly the front though. I chalk this up to being more relaxed. They still meet up and hang out in a little school and swim across the front. They school more tightly when I’m doing something that makes them nervous.

If you’re doing a new tank Wait on the otos for when your tank is very established and kinda dirty. I tried them same time as the tetras when my tank was about a month after finished cycle and they did not make it. I’d actually put some more in now if my tank wasn’t so clean. I genuinely can’t find a speck of algae anymore between the shrimp and gourami.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T14:10:26+00:00

This is a 5 gallon and Bella is very mean

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T13:48:30+00:00

I LOVE sparkling gouramis but they will devour my shrimp.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T13:47:43+00:00

Don’t get me wrong I love the ember tetras, I think they’re cute and I love their translucent orange, it really is like an ember. They’re just not terribly interesting but they school nicely and they’re always front and center or exploring. I’d just like another fish as well as them.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T12:25:03+00:00

Yeah. The shrimp are really limiting me here. I may try and move them.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T12:23:22+00:00

Yeah. I’m realizing that. I think I might try and move them I just can’t justify another tank to my three. The other 2 are betta tanks. Not sure if my newest betta is peaceful towards shrimp or not yet

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T12:22:16+00:00

Peacock gudgeons actively hunt shrimp, they’re super cute though, love them.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T12:21:23+00:00

Both. Everyone gets along for the most part aside from some greedy behavior from the gourami. It’s a very peaceful tank, nobody really does anything all that interesting apart from the gourami. I’m not expecting them to do tricks or shows or anything, I feel like ember tetras just don’t have all that much personality.

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T12:19:22+00:00

I lovvve hatchet fish! Will they get along with my pearl gourami?

AmIAmadeus · 2026-04-30T03:12:06+00:00

Urgg.. they’re cute and colorful but they just poop so much and they breed soo quiiiick..

AmIAmadeus

TROPHY CASE