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Wood rotting

castle

Member
Joined
19 Dec 2015
Messages
1,325
Location
UK
Hello,

This tank: https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/its-not-much-but-im-happy-to-have-it.55689/ seems to be having some growing pains. The wood I think is the cause of it all - it’s shedding a lot - there is a constant supply of tiny wooden pellets across substrate. I think this is adding to the organics in the water, causing an oily layer on the surface and the plants look like they’re starting to suffer, or I can’t grow Limnophila sessiliflora very well. Algae is now becoming exceptionally happy on the glass. I remove it one day, it’s back the next. Lighting period is around 4 hours a day.

I have 3 lil puffers in here - I plan to upgrade them to a 45x30x45 tank I’ve got waiting to be setup, but that won’t be for another 6 months - will they be okay with possibly 50% water changes every few days?

Really, I’m trying to remove these excess organics. Syphoning isn’t too much of an option as the wood and plants have kinda of taken over, but I think I do get a good 20% of the stuff every time I water change. Filter can’t be turned up, fish won’t like it. Am I right thinking these wooden bits this could be the cause of my troubles? These issues certainly weren’t present before the rescape. On a plus, moss is doing very well.

This image is old, but the mini pellets can be seen on substrate:

20200112221001_IMG_2270.JPG
 
Yeah, in this case I'm almost certain it isn't animal waste - that photo was before the fish were added and the shrimp are 4 strong - I just don't feel like there is enough life in the tank to cause that.
 
Yes, I agree that's shrimp poop - they are pretty productive! Give the area a puff with a turkey baster or even just wafting your hand across will help lift it into the water column so you can syphon it out more easily. I've an identical size tank and I often use a bit of airline to do some syphoning in the tighter areas that it builds up in.

Are you fertilising the tank? Might be more a case of the plants aren't doing well, so they are dying back - which can contribute to the scum, and the reduction in plant mass also lets more light through and gives the algae more chance to grow.
 
Alrighty, could be shrimp poop.

I give the tank some of that green tropica stuff, probably once a week, I generally fertilise after a water change. I will do another water change Sunday, I've also ordered a turkey baster as I think that would be a good way to syphon from targeted areas.
 
The green tropica (specialised) should have everything in - might be worth just upping to twice a week and see if that makes any difference?
 
Guys/Girls I think you were right. I think it is snail/shrimp waste.

I have a new system in place now - I got a turkey baster today, which get the detritus moving, getting as much as I can towards the front of the tank, I syphon the water through a muslin cloth into a watering can, which I then returned 50/50 with rain water to the tank. Looks a lot cleaner now, will add this to the weekly maintenance schedule.

In the above image, I think snails were in the tank at that point :banghead:
 
When I change the substrate next week, I'll start a journal. I need the help ahaha
 
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