Hi,
I really need some help and advice to sort my tank out as my plants are dying (being smothered) and some of my livestock has died.
After being I'll my tank was in a bit of a mess with diatoms smothering everything, I've done twice weekly water changes, have stopped EI dosing and have kept my lights at 60% and have added Indian Tree Fern, ludwigia acute and limnophilia hippuridoides but things have gone from bad to worse.
What appears to be diatoms is smothering and killing my plants, I have what I think is BBA on branches and some plants, I can see what appears to be cyno bacteria and string algea.
I gave my tank a big clean on Sunday, I cleaned all substrate, rocks and branches, used toothbrush on leaves as best I could to remove the diatoms, planted the indian Tree Fern and did a large water change. 48 house later the diatoms are starting to cover the leaves again and even the newly planted tree fern is going brown from the diatoms. The plants are getting smothered before they even get a chance to grow.
I'm not sure what to do now and would look for some advice.
I've attached some images and you can see how much my tank has deteriorated.
Doug
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