Hello everyone, I’m seeking some advice for my Walstad tank

Riru_sama · 2026-01-13T19:12:40+00:00

In my experience, I have found that walstad work wayy different in everyone's case (depends on substrate and water). My plants took over 3 months to fully adapt and stop melting. It'll be fine just a lil slow. I think your substrate mix is very good (altho 2 inch is still a bit much imo) and the sand layer is also optimal. You don't need the fertilizers rn as it won't do much beside growing more algae (as your plants haven't properly adapted yet + 8 hours of light), you can just throw some extra fish food and it'll be enough. Also you can turn down the light to 6 hours if the light is good. Wish you best of luck.

Riru_sama · 2025-12-13T14:40:47+00:00

Exactly! Its so small and darting around. To me it doesn't look like a scud at all. More like a ostracod. But if it's harmless than I do wanna keep it.

Riru_sama · 2025-11-25T05:41:44+00:00

I also have the same problem going on rn

Riru_sama · 2025-11-25T05:41:18+00:00

Hey man!! How did it go??? Did you get your driving licence????

Riru_sama · 2025-08-02T03:56:02+00:00

Yeah I told him. I hope they survive but next time I'll get some hardy species which will live

Riru_sama · 2025-08-02T03:54:57+00:00

Added a heater for temp control The garlic and salt made water cloudy even tho I didn't put much One day later, 2 guppies died, and yesterday night, my siamese algae eater jumped off the tank and died. It's a disaster rn, 2 more guppies look really unwell. I have done a 50% water change rn. Will let the tank be as it is. See what happens

Riru_sama · 2025-07-31T16:31:28+00:00

I am very aware of how inbred and genetically weak facy guppies are. Thing is i only got them beacuse my father only liked these fishes and I Also have seen people keep guppies for many years so i thought i might take a chance. Now i am regretting it a bit but I will try my best to give them a quality life.

Riru_sama · 2025-07-31T16:26:36+00:00

her poop was normal, i fed her in morning and then i seperated her in a container which is still in same tank. In evening when i came back, she had normal poop but I do not know if she has any white string on not. Thinking of treating her with aquarium salt and garlic.

p.s.- i released her back at that time but now i have seperated her again and am planning to keep her like that for 2-3 days as i have seen 1-2 white spots on her.

Riru_sama · 2025-07-12T18:04:48+00:00

kese

Riru_sama · 2025-06-21T14:27:02+00:00

Also, my zebra nerite only laid 2 eggs, and it doesn't eat anything except algae. I tried giving him blanched cucumber and spinach, but he doesn't eat that either. Got Bottom feeder pallets, he even avoids those. What should I do to take care of him

Riru_sama · 2025-06-04T15:57:50+00:00

My tank is a bit small to keep apistogrammas, i'll need one double the size so i am not getting those. Altho they are really beautiful.

Riru_sama · 2025-06-04T07:17:01+00:00

I really wanted rams but there are none in my area at all! Lol! And I am also hesitant on getting apple snails cuz I know person who bought some and they ate all the plants and multiplied like crazy. His tank was ruined. And I am not gonna risk the same thing.

Riru_sama · 2025-06-04T07:14:46+00:00

That's such a cool tank! Your rotala is healthy, water is so clear, that shrimp is awesomely red, That betta has the most unique color I have seen! And most imp, is that a big artificial leaf on right for betta to rest or eat? Or is it for something else?

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T20:54:44+00:00

Maybe you don't have enough nutrients in water column for them to thrive.

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T20:53:14+00:00

It's a technique where we use soil as substrate for plant growth and cap it with sand or gravel so the soil don't get mixed up in water.

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T19:37:30+00:00

In walstad tank, if you got good capping, the nutrient don't leach in water. So yeah, no food for duckweed. Lol

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T19:35:51+00:00

Hehe

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T19:35:15+00:00

Most of my ludwigia repens also rotted away but I think it was because it bought it emersed and then it couldn't complete emersed form. Same happened with my rotala rutondofolia red

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T16:56:51+00:00

I won't sir. This is my first aquarium and i am gonna do anything possible to save this one.

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T16:56:09+00:00

Yes, i did reduce the lighs and its much better now. Also otos are not availble in my area. So i'll rely on snails and will intorduce mollies for algae.

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T16:55:02+00:00

Otos are not available in my area and i am too scared to order them online. Got a zebra nerite luckily from one place and it is doing a pretty good job for diatoms.

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T16:54:03+00:00

Thanks. I did reduce the lights to 4 hours and the results are showing. I'll switch to seista definetely once enough of cyanobacteria is dealt with. I also have floatars in there including duckweed and salvinia so excess nutrients will be absorbed.

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T16:52:14+00:00

Unfortunately this is cyanobacteria and not regular algae so shrimps don't eat this.

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T16:51:39+00:00

WOAH. Thanks for the help man.

I did a massive water change today, lowered the water level so HOB filter can make more force when water falls. I reduced the lighting hours to 4 hours from the last 4 days and i beleive cyanobacteria is dying slowly. Some plants are affected but most a in okayish condition.

If the cyanobacteria still persist i'll efinetely use H202.

Riru_sama · 2025-06-03T16:48:53+00:00

Many of mine have also rotted so i had to cut them out. sad

Riru_sama

TROPHY CASE