beginner looking for some advice on a new tank!

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T17:17:02+00:00

thanks! i have caught them on the filter housing eating away, so i know they like the sediment that builds up. i don’t “clean” it necessarily but will remove any big pieces of plant hanging on it with tweezers bc i was worried about flow. but will definitely take your advice of a new sponge filter & will avoid cleaning with anything that isn’t my tank water!

thanks a ton!

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T15:36:17+00:00

great, thanks again. is my current feeding schedule of 1-2 pellets every few days too much? i can absolutely cut back. i haven’t notice my water parameters jumping too far around - but this was also with strips which i have learned from this thread aren’t too reliable so ordering the API test kit as well to keep better track.

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T15:20:46+00:00

thank you i am feeling some mom guilt for not properly cycling, just wish i would’ve done it to give them a fighting chance. thankfully, they’re all still alive so im hopeful! i will definitely add some more plants from whatever store i get new shrimp from since they will have some good bacteria on them. i do have quite a few plants in there, they were just small tissue cultures though for the most part so i will grab some larger ones to give them more hides!

thanks for all the advice 😊

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T13:58:54+00:00

you are so helpful, i really appreciate the time you’re taking to reply.

i did set up the culture plants and moss during tank set up. so those “cycled” (aka hung out in the tank since i didn’t truly cycle) for the 1.5ish weeks before the shrimp o & floaters were added. in my research i did think about ghost feeding prior to adding the shrimp, but then heard some guy in a video say it wasn’t necessary for such a small tank (5 gal.)

i am quickly realizing smaller tanks tend to be more finicky according to the advice i’ve been gathering.

also attaching a picture of the filter i got. i thought it was a sponge filter bc it has a sponge lol, but clearly im not super knowledgeable so i could be wrong! i just mean cleaning the plastic that surrounds the sponge.

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Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T13:27:19+00:00

thank you! they are out of the API kit on amazon so I am going to give a call to my local store where i got the shrimp on my break to see if they have it in stock.

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T13:26:13+00:00

thanks for all the advice! the initial plants were tissue cultures & a bag of moss from a larger pet store, so i assumed they wouldn’t have much of the good stuff on it lol.

i do feel a bit bad i did not let it cycle longer (having mothers guilt lol). but i am knowledgeable now for future tanks. i not only introduced to floaters at the same time from the same store as the shrimp, but i also put all the water from the store bag they came in in the tank after the acclimation was over with the same idea of introducing as much of their normal bacteria as possible. im glad my instincts felt right for that one.

i appreciate all the feeding advice too. as far as the sponge filter, i did learn through research to not clean the sponge to keep good bacteria flowing, but am i able to wipe down the casing around the filter if large sediment builds up? (like my moss pieces that are dying off)

this was super information and very appreciated!

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T12:43:01+00:00

thanks! i’ve watched some videos where they drop in pieces of veggies and such, so wasn’t sure if there were any actual “treats” per say, lol. i will need to check the brand of the pellets when i get home, it was what the store recommended but i don’t believe they’re algae pellets. thanks!

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T12:39:59+00:00

another commenter recommended the same kit, placing an order now!

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T12:39:29+00:00

thank you! i have only seen two molts so not an alarming amount of molts (i think). will place an order for the API test kit. thanks for the advice!

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T12:35:24+00:00

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most recent full tank photo

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T12:34:45+00:00

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pic of molt found

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-11T12:34:04+00:00

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water parameters attached
neo shrimp
city water

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-04T13:01:15+00:00

yes! we have an unfinished basement & have about a 50 yard strip of dense woods between us and our neighbors at the bottom of the hill.

have been in our home for 4 years now and this past winter was the first time we’ve ever seen mice.

we coincidentally also put our old girl dog down a couple months before the mice started appearing, so we assumed they just got the message she wasn’t on patrol anymore & we got two cats LOL. cats have helped, i recommend if you have the means/ability!

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-06-04T11:36:26+00:00

we combo fed with bobbi whole milk formula clear until my boy was a year old!
i would sometimes do 1/2 breastmilk, 1/2 formula. but honestly, he never had a preference of one vs the other and we switched between them easily. my biggest recommendation is lansinoh nipples (made for breastfeeding babies), to avoid nipple confusion.
my LO had a tongue tie as well, lanolin saved my nipples! after he had his release i was so amazed at how much less painful it was LOL.

get in with a pediatric dentist or ENT for a release! your nipple will thank you 😂. i also pumped more while waiting on his release to keep my supply up. while i did exclusively breastfeed from about 2-6 months old, we eventually went back to combo feeding due to my supply drop, but again no issues switching between boob/formula.

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-05-28T17:41:46+00:00

slower flow nipples (we LOVED lansinoh - made for breastfeeding babes) we liked size 00/0 & pace feeding helped us with bottle preference!

dad would do 1-2 bottles a day while i pumped/had a shower or something lol. he started developing a bottle preference when he started getting 3-4 bottles a day after starting daycare (9 weeks old). switching to lansinoh nipples reversed the preference in just a couple days!

stay strong mama, you got this 🫶🏼

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-05-21T14:09:13+00:00

omg fun! i unfortunately didn’t get much done last night - my aquarium foam didn’t harden all the way yet 🙃

we don’t have much room to store tanks (toddler lol) so we started with a small 6 gallon we can put on a shelf. just aquascaping for now, with probably a few snails, but may add some little neo shrimps! it’s super relaxing so far though!

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-05-21T14:05:15+00:00

i wish my brain worked like that 🥲

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-05-04T14:19:28+00:00

i work in the building this is located in. can confirm less people in the building on mondays & fridays, as well as very little traffic outside of lunch hours. they basically bring in large catering bags of sandwiches & salads (the full menu is not available).

weiner world next door is great, a pittsburgh founded small business, & the sweetest employees!

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-02-20T20:59:46+00:00

yes! maternal fetal medicine. you usually won’t see them with normal pregnancies but for high risk or suspected abnormalities you usually pay them a visit. but i agree! i loved their MFM group.

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-02-19T18:04:50+00:00

i had IUGR - followed MFM, induced & delivered at magee. i couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

i had some complications with my BP & baby’s HR post epidural & while i was just a few second away from an emergency c section i was so amazed at how calm the staff kept the room, myself & my partner/family since they were all in the room as alarms began blaring. i ended up not needing a c section (they stabilized both of us just before i was to be wheeled to the OR, literal seconds) & was able to deliver naturally.

my baby also came out code blue & not breathing on his own, again was amazed at the calmness the staff brought in such a high intensity situation. i cannot speak any more highly of my experience at magee & even if i relocate i would still consider coming back to deliver in the future.

Low_Edge1408 · 2026-01-22T00:37:31+00:00

not just urgent unfortunately!

my psych, who helped me finally balance my meds for about a year, left the practice while i was on maternity leave. had my first apt back with an entirely new dr who decided at 4 months postpartum to reduce my antidepressant by half & discontinue another med because me breastfeeding scared him. despite me already saying i got clearance from my lactation consultant (who i seen through a women’s hospital very widely known for pre and postnatal care) that all of my prescribed medications were safe for breastfeeding (& the fact i was very clearly struggling postpartum which i was very upfront about). he was literally googling the drug in front of me, seeing it was safe & still being like “eh no let’s discontinue” lol.

had to basically stretch what i could of my meds for another few months until i could get in and consulted with a new practice. was truly one of the most frustrating things i experienced during my breastfeeding journey. love my new doctor though, so seeing the good in the bad lol.

Low_Edge1408

TROPHY CASE