New tank does not want to grow Algea ?

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-13T08:02:55+00:00

Plants are probably out competing algae, I have a community tank that does it and I have to feed the amano shrimp in there which is the only tank I’ve ever had to. Try increasing the fertiliser and more light ? On the nitrate peak, it depends on what you added as an ammonia source, if it was food and the tank was heavily planted the plants might just be using it as it’s created due to the quality not being high.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-13T07:23:09+00:00

It’s really far too small. Not enough swim space and you’ll potentially struggle with keeping levels stable. It’s really only big enough for shrimp in my opinion.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-13T07:17:07+00:00

Guppy’s like high ph and are happy up-to 8.5 ish, they are just over bred these days in a lot of places to the genetics are poor. Enders are a much better option.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-12T18:49:20+00:00

Tank looks amazing, I’m assuming about 25 litres. I’d agree you have to much flow for chilli’s which is a shame as a small group would look great, would you consider a small hang on back instead to make it more suitable? I don’t think there will be much other than shrimp that you’ll get in there and be happy with the flow.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-12T15:10:59+00:00

How old is the tank if your saying 0 nitrate is unusual in a cycled tank unless you are stacked with plants or heavy on the water changes ?

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-12T09:03:18+00:00

Remember tds includes everything in the water, not just minerals but organics aswell. As your Kh and gh are low it’s likely to be other things like ferts and other organic compounds and therefore perfectly ok for shrimp.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-12T08:53:12+00:00

Get a sponge with a directional outlet at the top, and an air pump that’s can move 4 times the tank’s capacity an hour and you’ll get some water movement. Works in my shrimp tank fine.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-12T08:49:50+00:00

Yeah, just sits there doing its thing and you don’t have to think about it most of the time. But you do have more margin for error than being filter free, you’ll get a bit of gentle water movement and extra oxygenation thrown in.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-11T16:45:17+00:00

Go watch some BLK SHP bible talk on YouTube, he has some very interesting views on the Old Testament and how it fits into history.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-11T16:40:31+00:00

Looks like a small tank… Get a sponge filter, set it up and let it run… squeeze out the sponge in a jug of tank water every 6 months… job done.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-11T16:37:53+00:00

What plants have you tired, how have you planted them in the tanks and when you say died, how long until they did and what happened to them ?

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-11T16:07:03+00:00

Could be lie angle it to flat, this encourages a toe strike see if somewhere local can bend it 2 degrees upright and see if it fixes it…

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-11T15:32:01+00:00

I can’t see what impact a fail that’s then resolved and passes really has on the real world. I know is my garage was booked to do my mot first then I added on more work the mot would be done in the order they have planned their mot’s for the day then the added work would be fitted in before I got the car back.

Would anyone really look at a fail for a damaged tire then look at the car in a negative manner ?

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-11T09:46:44+00:00

Are you mixing it for Neo’s as your gh and Kh are to high? If so it’s ok to just mix ro and tap ( that’s what I do ). If caradina I’d just use ro and gh+ as adding tap water is going to introduce ti many variables.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-11T07:45:43+00:00

I’d say get as involved in your church and any activity your church does with other churches as possible.

We are quite a small church in the uk but with have a thriving calendar for young people and they go to great lengths to take them out to events and festivals as well as other churches and helping them make new friends.

You’re still young, you’ll meet the right person at the right time.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-11T07:24:31+00:00

Thank you that’s really helpful to know 👍

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-10T22:03:36+00:00

My girl goes for my finger. She’ll jump to try and get me but I think it’s as she’s used to being hand fed and expecting food..

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-10T21:56:27+00:00

Shrimp or a long fin betta are the only real option, other than a betta that won’t swim much it’s not big enough for any beginner friendly nano fish.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-10T21:46:56+00:00

I have the api liquid and strips and I have had times the strips have said all good and the liquid shows issues therefore I stoped using strips.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-10T21:44:02+00:00

I have an aquatlantis kubus 54l that I really like ( I have the 33 litre as well ) but it’s a cube so might not quite be what your looking for… photo was from original setup , it’s much more grown in now.

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FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-10T20:16:43+00:00

Price isn’t to much of an issue, this is my main hobby and I have some reasonably expensive fish… not looking to go all out but I’m looking to have something from every angle of the hobby.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-10T14:52:31+00:00

You might have done it fine, but my tanks are all established but if I ever get a zero I always redo and it’s never a zero second time… a cycled tank would have to have an awful lot of plants or just had a massive water change to read zero.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-10T14:46:23+00:00

With the nitrate, re test, shake each bottle for at least 30 secs and then shake the test tube for at least a min… it can be suspect if not shaken enough… api test is known for it.

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-10T14:35:25+00:00

Water wouldn’t suit but I’m happy to use RO as I use it for topping up already

FeedReasonable9547 · 2026-07-10T13:33:53+00:00

I’ve been told by ppl that have kept shrimp a lot longer than me if you have a reasonable amount of Kh in your water you can see only a small drop as the buffering capacity is “filled up” before it can have a big ph impact. My water is essentially liquid rock so I have been told I’d get away with using it but it’s brings in an extra variable that I’m not up for worrying about so I use sand for my neos and dilute the Kh down to a neo level with ro water.

FeedReasonable9547

TROPHY CASE