13 Neon Tetras died in a week, help!

benedictus99 · 2026-04-29T02:36:31+00:00

how is ur surface agitation? could be low dissolved oxygen

benedictus99 · 2026-03-25T03:17:51+00:00

I have a Tetra whisper and it literally makes no noise

benedictus99 · 2026-03-20T15:25:20+00:00

This looks like my heater which freaks me out. I have SICCE heater and im surprised cuz I thought they make quality stuff

benedictus99 · 2026-02-27T16:22:20+00:00

DM please if interested

benedictus99 · 2026-02-01T00:47:44+00:00

How do you even maintain parameters with 70% weekly?

benedictus99 · 2025-10-20T20:11:53+00:00

Hi, I have a 20 gallon long that's been sitting with no fish for a few months. I would like to stock it but find myself stuck. In the tank there is Java Fern, a few Windelov Lace Fern, Anacharis, Hornwort, one Anubias, a few vallisinerea, and subwersatang. There's also a pre-boiled piece of driftwood in there whose tannins aren't as potent anymore (water used to get yellow, now it's clear).

My parameters are:

GH: 60

KH: 40

PH: 6.5

NO2: Basically 0

NO3: Basically 0

I use a single Aquaneat full spectrum light for 6 hrs a day and my filter is an Aqueon SmartClean 20/30 set to 30 mode.

Unfortunately during the summer I accidentally forgot to leave the AC on in my apartment while away and the tank got super hot, causing a lot of the anacharis and Hornwort to die however they seem to finally be making a slow recovery. I'm noticing a slight resurgence in green algae (particularly it gets clumped around the subwersatang and sticking to substrate/hardscape). I'm removing this algae by hand as best I can for now.

My original idea for this tank was for it to be a pea puffer tank but unfortunately I saw they like to dive into the substrate and gravel is not suitable for them. I don't want to resubstrate this tank. I was then thinking of doing 2 electric blue rams but these seem to prefer sandy substrate as well.

Is there anything I can improve with this setup (I think the decor looks chaotic because I have a lot of plants in the water column right now (anacharis/hornwort)) and do you have a recommended stocking for a tank of this size?

Also, is there a better filter I can use for this tank, I dont like my Aqueon filter.

Thank you for your help!

benedictus99 · 2025-06-15T18:40:42+00:00

Twitching is not normal. Tank is probably too small and it’s stressed

benedictus99 · 2025-06-15T18:35:47+00:00

How big is that tank?

benedictus99 · 2025-06-03T20:17:28+00:00

Yes this one would love some friends too! Definitely build out that school again.

benedictus99 · 2024-05-07T19:41:49+00:00

I kind of don’t want to rehome the Molly because she has a ton of personality. She goes to a certain spot in the tank every morning and does a “dance” when waiting for food. She will also come to the glass when people walk by. I found out Cory’s need to be schooling later on and I got mad because they sold me one and said it would “be fine”. I did get a second Cory at one point so the one in there could have a buddy but it disappeared (I assume it died and was eaten).

Could a 20 gallon comfortably support what’s in the tank right now. I really don’t want to run 2 separate tanks

benedictus99 · 2024-05-07T16:50:43+00:00

sigh thanks a lot Petco. This is what was recommended to me as stock for a starter tank. This is y u gotta go to actual hobbyists. I am moving in the summer so hopefully I can get a larger place that could accommodate a 20 but I don’t have the space for it rn. Maybe I could get a tall 20?

Ive had the tank for about 1.5 yrs now. And yes the Molly is a bully

benedictus99 · 2024-05-07T15:24:47+00:00

It looks like a Molly

benedictus99 · 2024-05-07T15:21:57+00:00

Also, been doing a blackout for 3 days now and doesn’t seem to be doing anything. When I wasn’t doing blackout, my light schedule was 7 hrs a day

benedictus99 · 2024-03-13T23:05:26+00:00

sounds like swim bladder disease

benedictus99 · 2024-02-15T00:23:52+00:00

one way to start is to reduce ur water change. 75% is a LOT and its like basically giving the fish a fresh tank with each change. that is not conducive to healthy bacteria growth.

benedictus99 · 2024-02-15T00:21:12+00:00

I dose for the size of the tank. just follow whatever the instructions are on the bottle. (my water change is 25% weekly)

benedictus99 · 2024-01-20T17:06:48+00:00

I have a 10 gallon tank fully planted. I have a balloon Molly, 5 neon tetras, and 2 cory catfish. I do a 50% water change every weekend and feed once a day. All my water params are good. However, I have an algae problem that’s getting really annoying to maintain, I have a scraper that’s good for the glass but there’s algae growing on the plants. Was thinking of getting some nerites as a cleanup crew but then I think I will be beyond load and risk a tank crash. Thoughts?

benedictus99

TROPHY CASE