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Full Tank Log
· 7 entriesUpdate
Secondary sponge filter and updates
A second sponge filter has been added to the tank to increase filtration and help stabilize the water parameters. Also, plants doing well. Tiny fish doing super well.
Update
Added tannins.
Added Fritz Blackwater additive plus cattapa leaves and alder cones, attempting to lower PH levels safely.
Trim & reshape
Trimmed plants
Trimmed hornwort and duckweed back. Removed some algae growth but minor. Seems to be in response to current fertilizer schedule. My betta is still a fry so constant water change is needed due to anabantoid growth inhibitor hormones.
Update
New heater!
Added new 50w heater to replace the slightly janky one I had before. The new one is far more stable. Also trimmed and seeded tank with nitrifying bacteria and cattapa leaves.
Milestone
Eureka
Key moment
So I think I may have turned a corner with the cycling. I ended up inoculating the tank with media and plants from my solid ten gallon tank. It really seems to have helped. The substrate is still leaching ammonia fairly badly but parameters are now n…
Observation
Bacterial bloom
This tank has had a horrible bacterial bloom over the last 3 days, so cloudy you couldn’t see the back of the tank. It randomly cleared totally at about 10 pm last night. No idea why or how since params are still stalled out. Maybe progress?
Update
Cycling and initial planting
Tank is undergoing an empty cycle right now, no fish until proper parameters are established. Just started planting today. Added nitrifying bacteria solution, root tabs, and ferts.