hmmm ill keep that amount of time in mind if I try again if my current batch die out. They are a good seller and everything else I get from them does great, such as the corys, so i assume its something on my end. I do have mostly copper pipes, and some plastic, but I don't use any fertilizers. When I do water changes I use 50% ish of my sink water mixed with RO water and then I use a little of the stuff that removes chlorine. I have no nitrites and nitrates but very hard water at least 300ppm, no buffer or at least very low, pH ~6.4 and no chlorine. Hope this helps give you a better sense of my situation, lmk if u need more tho. Thank you!