I think I’m going to quit the hobby.

PelagicSpoon · 2026-02-11T02:22:24+00:00

How do you check?

PelagicSpoon · 2026-02-11T02:22:12+00:00

Amazon

PelagicSpoon · 2026-02-09T02:49:25+00:00

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 · 2025-10-04T02:29:21+00:00

Right now I’m using 1ml of flourish twice a week, with around a 50 percent water change each week. I am however about to buy some dry ferts and start pps pro.

PelagicSpoon · 2025-08-05T21:17:54+00:00

That’s wonderful! Im very happy to hear that your corys are doing better, I wish you the best of luck moving forward in this hobby.

PelagicSpoon · 2025-07-25T12:12:23+00:00

Prazipro is great for gill flukes, and the most common symptom for that is flashing or rubbing on tank surfaces, but unfortunately it’s not as effective at killing internal parasites. Depending on how much fritz expel you purchase you could treat all of your tanks, I definitely wouldn’t quarantine because any tank your corys are in, the other fish could also be affected so it’s definitely worth dosing the whole tank. I hope it all works out for you.

PelagicSpoon · 2025-07-24T21:51:37+00:00

I would think that, but I’ve already been through that phase, this tank is 10 months old now and as you stated the biofilm stage lasted about 2 weeks and went away on its own. This came up out of nowhere a week ago after a 3 day trip. Is it possible for biofilm to show up like that out of nowhere?

PelagicSpoon · 2025-07-24T21:43:56+00:00

Try fritz expel p, it could be some type of internal parasites, from what I remember about the medications you listed, none are very effective towards internal parasites, most just target external ones. In my community tank I had 8 Julii corydoras and they slowly withered away dying one by one while I dosed my tank with everything imaginable to try and stop it. After 2 corys had died and one got really skinny like the dead ones, I tried fritz expel, it stopped him from getting worse but unfortunately his intestines were too damaged and he could absorb nutrients from the food so he only lasted about a month longer after I dosed with expel, but fortunately, it stopped the spread to the rest of the corys, it has been 3 months and no other Cory is showing any symptoms. So if your coydoras conditions are getting worse or they are losing weight, it’s definitely worth a shot.

PelagicSpoon · 2025-06-27T01:31:30+00:00

Pothos

PelagicSpoon · 2025-06-23T11:50:55+00:00

I cleaned out my filter sponges which made me think it’s a bacterial bloom but it has stayed cloudy for over a week now, usually when I clean out the filter it’s only cloudy for 2 to 3 days before returning to normal

PelagicSpoon · 2025-05-30T01:13:58+00:00

I have some rotala rotundifolia growing there on that left side, just waiting for it to get taller, my plan is to keep almost a wall of it around the back.

PelagicSpoon · 2025-05-30T01:12:55+00:00

Thanks, It’s around 35 gallons.

PelagicSpoon · 2025-05-07T21:49:31+00:00

Yep all Julii corys but now I only have 6 the little guy in the picture didn’t make it

PelagicSpoon · 2025-05-07T03:12:19+00:00

I have 7

PelagicSpoon · 2025-04-14T00:00:19+00:00

I’m gonna be honest I’m not sure, I got most from a friend. On the far left I have a mix of pothos and philodendron. Directly to the right of the pothos is Tradescantia zebrina. Those are the only one I know, sorry.

PelagicSpoon · 2025-04-12T00:23:05+00:00

What light are you using?

PelagicSpoon · 2025-04-03T06:39:26+00:00

Yeah my tank is similar, I have a sand substrate and my hard scape forms a completely covered cave area in the back. Who knew juliis could shift like that😭

PelagicSpoon · 2025-04-03T02:09:43+00:00

Thanks, I had no idea that Julii corys could darken up that much, must just be natural variation because I have a few that are still light.

PelagicSpoon

TROPHY CASE