u/ExcitingPiece9277

▲ 8 r/Neocaridina+2 crossposts

Does this aqaurium look like it has a safe amount of alage/mulm

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I started this 6 gallon about a month ago and had some issues earlier but I changed the light cycle to only 6 hours and I'm nkt sure what kthe factors could cause this gross stingy algae from forming. Had some issues from adding new plants which causes some of my shrimp to freak out. But added active carbon and verified with the store that I got the plants from that there wasnt any harmful pesticides that could of leeched from the plants. My shrimp seem fine now but I only see a few of them from time to time. I added close to 20 babies and 5 adults. One was berried and had the babies. Though I've noticed several dead ones. The adults seem normal now but the babies occasionally jerk around or just float without moving and them come back to normal.

Important to note also that I have started to notice a decent number of little white hydras in there. Bought a couple different versions of no planaria only to find out that the one that actually works to actively kill them has betel palm nut extract. I ordered some that should arrive tomorrow.

Also these are the parameters via drop test

GH:11

KH:5

PH: 7.2

Ammonia:0 ppm

Nitrite:0 ppm

Nitrate:0 ppm

Copper (dissolved and chelated): 0ppm

I used tap water treated withtabk first aqaurium water conditioner and added appropriate amounts of GH/KH+

u/ExcitingPiece9277 — 3 days ago

I added new dwarf baby tear plants from my local fish store today and immediately my thai micro crabs and neocaridinas started panicking. And some came towards the surface and tried escaping. I then realized that apparently I was supposed to rinse the plants thoroughly and stuff because they add copper and pesticides to them when cultivating.

I'm so upset at myself for not researching but also upset that I should have to take such precautions. I put active carbon in hopes it might absorb the toxins and stuff but I'm worried it might be too late. Is there any hope still or are my aqauriums inverts going to die?

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u/ExcitingPiece9277 — 12 days ago

There's some hair algae growing on my java fern but I've decreased light cycle to 8 hours a day. All other parameters are good. Hoping after melting phase it start blooming more

u/ExcitingPiece9277 — 15 days ago