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I have had good luck so far with the Root Tabs from Aquarium Co-op. My swords are planted in sand and I put about 4 of these around the base of each plant and they are growing quickly which I did not expect considering the substrate...

I used bacteria in a bottle and also did not ever see nitrite - just ammonia, then nitrates. So that might explain 0 nitrites. The ammonia I'd be concerned about. If you have something like Seachem Prime I would dose that. And do a larger (maybe 30 - 50%) water change to get the ammonia...

1 - wow those are some hardy fish 2 - good on you for wanting to take such good care of them 3 - with regards to getting the gunk off the substrate, you can use a gravel vac. This is a video showing a gravel vac and how to use it to clean your substrate.

conditioning the water or dechlorinating?

This just happened to me too and it completely freaked me out. I believe mine are detritus worms. They look like little white pieces of thread. If they have triangular shaped heads, they are probably planaria which I think might be harmful to shrimp. Try to get close up pictures when you can...

Here's a video to show how to set up and break down a quarantine tank when you need it using a bin:

Some folks get plastic storage bins and use those for QT / hospital tanks. It's a good idea as they are fairly inexpensive and when not in use can be used to store supplies - even if just the extra filter, heater and other things for the QT tank.

Trio of meds (from Aquarium Co-op), spare heater, spare HOB filter, Seachem Prime, spare tank in case emergency QT/hospital tank needed. Also spare intake filter sponges.

If you want a small, low profile hang on back filter, I am a big fan of the Marina Slim filters. There is a Marina S10 for 10 gallon tanks which would work for you. It is very slim but allows some spots for extra filter media like bio rings and extra pads. It is SUPER quiet. I have one in...

You're doing a great job taking care of your fish! As previous poster mentioned, if this one has parasites it is likely in the tank so you could treat the entire tank. In terms of quarantining, you don't need a separate tank set up at all times. Lots of folks keep an extra nano heater, a...

Yes, plants will help absorb nitrites. Just re-reading your note about food - you are feeding flakes and Hikari sinking wafers, correct? The flakes might not be enough by the time they reach the bottom and that fish may not like the Hikari wafers. I heard great things about these Hikari...

Looks amazing! Beautiful betta!

It's an amazing hobby. I never realized how much goes into it before doing it myself. I never understood the appeal. It's incredible to create and maintain a beautiful ecosystem and see your fish thriving because of your effort and dedication. Don't ever feel stupid for something other...

Sounds like you are doing a good job taking care of your fish. Nitrites might be a cause. Best course is to do larger water changes - maybe 50% or more and try to keep the water quality as good as possible. Can you get a test kit or take your water into a nearby pet shop to check parameters...

It may be your nitrites if they are at .5. Even at .25 over a period of time that would impact a sensitive species. I think corys are pretty sensitive to water parameters. Are you using the test strips? If so, you may want to invest in the API master test kit. It uses a liquid and it is...

Wow that is an amazing photo!

That sounds amazingly easy!

That's what I kind of thought looking at photos online. I don't see the triangular head. Will shrimp eat these? I was planning to get a few amano soon.

Here's an extreme zoomed in close up. I don't think it has the triangular shaped head - so maybe not Planaria? From what I'm reading on the internet that's a good thing, right? It may be just detritus worms but can anyone verify? I don't have shrimp or fish in the tank yet and don't want to...

No, they are white and very small - about a half inch long, maybe less. They look like small pieces of lint or maybe thread? This is the best photo I could get.

I have a 20g newly planted (still fishless) tank. It's been set up about 3 weeks. Today. I noticed 3 small white things on the back wall of the tank. At first I thought they were little specs of lint. Then I saw one of them MOVING! What in the world is this? There are only plants and...

How to grow algae: 1) Be me

Great name for a great fish!

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I'm so sorry. It sounds like you gave him a very good life.

Does he have plants to lay on? Real or silk ones? One YouTuber I watch had an older (3 years?) betta and most of the time the fish looked dead - he just laid at the bottom of the tank motionless. Their big fins and tail make them tired so they do rest, especially as they get older. If you've...

I think the typical life span for a betta is about 3 years, give or take. It might just be his time? Can you post some info about the tank - size and water parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH)? Do you have a filter and a heater? Are you doing weekly water changes? Anything else in...

If you have someone who can stop in once a day ask them to just throw a set amount of food in the tank. Maybe have daily portions measured out so there is no risk of over-feeding. If your tank is established and you don't have issues with spikes in anything, you are fine to go that long...

I am cycling my first planted tank. It's a 20 gallon currently fishless with 3 amazon swords, 2 scarlet temples, 7 java ferns, 4 anubias nanas and a smattering of nana petites. So it's pretty heavily planted. I am dosing with Easy Green fertilizer and have some of the Easy Root Tabs around...

I think I did about 75%. Make sure to add a water conditioner if filling from the tap. Post pics when you get your fish!

As others have noted a 7 gallon tank is overstocked with your current fish load. That size tank should really just be for the betta at this point, maybe some shrimp. However, I would be prepared for the betta to turn your shrimp into an expensive snack at some point.

Precious bird indeed. Congrats!

LOL what a great gift that sign was (no offense to anyone from Cleveland). I must be a total freak because I love tank maintenance. Even with the bucket brigade. I look forward to it every week and it's so satisfying to see this healthy little ecosystem thriving due to your effort. I find...

The nitrate level is most likely from the addition of Tetra Safe Start. If you added the Tetra Safe Start then added ammonia, the bacteria in the TSS are showing up as nitrate which are 'eating' (sorry I don't know scientific terms) the ammonia. Sooner or later you should see the ammonia reduce...

Wow - what a beautiful tank!

We do own our home. Well, technically the bank owns it but they let us live here as long as we pay them every month. ? We do not have basements in my area of the country. We're deep south and below sea level so if we tried to add basements here they would turn into rather large aquariums...

SQUEEEEEEEEE! It totally worked on this mom!