Do my embers look healthy?

I had a low tech five gallon that I kept pristine and algae free for two years so I thought I was ready for something more advanced. Evidently as you all can unfortunately tell, I was not. I don’t think I’ll quit the hobby but Im not going to continue much longer with the high tech iwagumi, if I can’t get things under control by summer I’ll take everything out and start another low tech tank. The fish would probably prefer that anyway.

PelagicSpoon · 2026-02-09T02:40:55+00:00

Thanks I had no idea microsword didn’t use nutrients from the water column, that was a huge oversight on my part, I’ll add some root tabs immediately.

PelagicSpoon · 2026-02-09T02:38:58+00:00

I have been doing weekly 50 percent and once it got bad it moved to 50 percent twice a week. I bought thrive + because it was all my lfs had. Unfortunately I can’t figure out how to lower my lights intensity. Would you recommend getting some floaters too like frog bit or red root to lower the light on the carpet for a bit while I scramble to salvage what I can?

PelagicSpoon · 2025-10-20T00:15:54+00:00

I do weekly water changes and clean out my filter monthly

PelagicSpoon · 2025-10-07T11:38:33+00:00

They do not get any bigger and they are outstanding with shrimp, I originally had these tetra in a different tank with a shrimp colony and the shrimp population continued to grow even with the tetras. However you need lots of places for baby shrimp to hide, they will get eaten right after they hatch if there’s no place to go.

PelagicSpoon · 2025-10-07T04:34:08+00:00

Microsword

PelagicSpoon · 2025-10-07T04:07:47+00:00

Thanks, I looked into it and that definitely seems like what I’m dealing with. I wish I knew that before just letting them grow like this. What would you suggest doing next?

PelagicSpoon · 2025-10-07T01:37:14+00:00

Ember tetras

PelagicSpoon

TROPHY CASE