Hard to tell from a still image (a bit of video would make it easier) but it looks like a lot of those bubbles are getting to the surface which won't be helping.
Yes, I am planning a second 'overflow-tank' into which I can move the endlers and x-ray tetras. At the moment, I have to keep the flow rate as low as possible, otherwise they become distressed. On the other hand, my rock and hovering gobies love the higher flow. I am not sure about the pygmy corys, their behaviour is a lot more natural, but they are more difficult to see. I think this is because they are no longer trying to school with the endlers and tetras.
a lot of those bubbles are getting to the surface which won't be helping.
Again yes, the more I think about it the more attractive an in-line diffuser appears. Are they difficult or messy to install?
Also unrelated, but what ferts are you dosing? There looks to be a little chlorosis on some of those newer leaves and floaters.
Again, you are correct.
At the moment, I am a total novice with a tank which I have now had for just over 3 months. In the last three weeks or so, the closest I have come to a major water change was when I topped up the tank after upgrading my filter. Prior to the upgrade, my nitrate levels were around 20mg/l. I just took time out to measure nitrates and as of now, a few days after installation, they are down to under 10mg/l.
This isn't some magical filter ingredient by the way, but rather an unexpected trophic cascade: Better filtration and flow rate make for healthier plants which are better at taking up nutrients. In addition, I am hoping the injection of CO2 will lower my nitrate levels even further.
Anyway, I am dosing just under 10ml of TNC Lite about once a week, and, so far, my priority has been to use only high quality fish poo as a source of nitrates. In fact, I was going to post a thread asking: "Is there a target level of nitrates for a heavily planted tank"
I think its a question that needs its own thread so that I can go into detail about what plants I am talking about, but.......
With regard to the red root floaters, you are 100% correct, they are in trouble, but now showing early signs of recovery
The reason they are in trouble is because of a classic noob mistake: Once I decided on the tank and its placement, I reinforced an alcove and installed a smart flood-light. Then. about a month or so ago, I saw a you-tube video about red root floaters, and thought: "Hey, cool!!".
After a quick search on Amazon, a few days later I had two small tubs of tiny leaves which were in terrible condition. Unfortunately for the poor we buggers, I got caught up in the idea of controlling the flow so that they would gently circulate under the flood light. They were not doing great, but they were spreading out and the leaves at the centre of the mass were a lot healthier looking. Even at its lowest setting, the flow is much faster with my new filter, and the entire mass was repeatedly driven under water by the spray bar before I could coral them in a corner. Thus, their current sad state.
Currently, I am using a bit of para-cord to make floating boom to contain the mass [which is now nearly 40% of the surface] and am giving it about 8 hours a day with a 40cm hygger light. Hopefully, this localised high intensity light wil not upset the rest of my low light plants. Eventually, I would like to replace the floating boom with either a tiger or banana lily [or similar],, unfortunately this would require a higher flow rate to get sufficent surface agitation in a much constrained space. Hence the urgent need to rehouse the endlers and tetras, (sigh)
