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It is next to impossible to tell the intensity of light these day unless you have the data or a way to measure it, which most of us do not have. The "watts" per liter/gallon is useless unless one is using a known entity. I used to use two 40w tubes over my larger tanks, then they became 32...

There is some black brush algae, and you want to control this from the start. What is the light (duration, spectrum), and are you using any fertilizers? Do you have floating plants.

For most of the tetras and rasbora the number should be around 10 (or more, the Green Neon is one that like more, it is a delicate fish). The Cories I would go with 10-12.

Thank you.

First, I do not think this is wise. After all, a 20g long has the same footprint as the 29g (30 inch length presumably) so there really is no value. The fish however...these fish are shoaling and they need more of their own species. Fish deprived of a decent-sized group do have serious stress...

You cannot get more beneficial bacteria this way, and you cold risk worse. Tropical fish and temperate fish are not the same. Obviously beneficial bacteria is present, as it is in tap water, even with chlorine/chloramine levels as high as they are for health, more than half the bacteria get...

There is a cancer danger. It involves how one handles the UV, but this is too much for me.

A few observations. First, you have very soft water, so none of what is occurring is in the least "strange." The GH and KH are buffers for the pH but here they cannot prevent the lowering of the pH. Regardless of what in the past may have done or not done to the pH, it is going to become more...

This is in my view not accurate. I won't argue, just pointing out that in freshwater a UV is of very limited effect. I would not waste my time, and risk my health.

Observing the individual fish's interactions is usually a better way to judge. Having said that, all males are territorial but not all males will be the same in tolerating other rams; and some females can get more nasty than others. But it is generally a good guide.

If it is just one or two leaves, let it go. The Seachem Flourish Tabs are good every three months. And I assume you have had these longer than just acquiring them; older leaves often weaken and die when the plant is moved from emersed to submersed growth.

It is less useful in freshwater. Yes, it will kill "x" but only if all the water goes through the UV. Ich for example I will guarantee can get past this. And no algae will be harmed except green water.

Just noticed you are in Portland, Oregon. This means you probably have soft water, this is the case along the coast of Oregon, Washington and into BC where I am. If so, then your livebearers are not going to last long because the water is much too soft. This brings up another point, if the...

The Frogbit was not the issue. Plants do change the GH/KH/pH but minimally, not like here. To assess you need the numbers for your source water on its own, the GH, KH and pH. Remember to out-gas the CO2 from fresh tap water or the result may be off. Also, pH can change with seasons...

Well, with so little it probably won't cause issues, but then it also won't do anything beneficial. "Mature" tanks do not involve adding dirt or whatever. That is just how the author of the linked site happens to define it.

There is nothing wrong with a different period of day/night. When I was working, the tank lights came on in the mid-afternoon and remained on until say 9 pm. The period is up to you, but it must be sufficient combined with the nutrients to provide only what the plants require.

I would not do this. My experience comes from knowing the species' expectations and behaviours. I would consider five or six the minimum, and this needs a 20g long tank minimum.

Main question, what are the water parameters, particularly GH and pH? Second, is the substrate soft sand (cories need this)?

You will get differing opinions on most things. And that is an old thread, I don't recognize any of those members. Not that that matters. Most gourami need a group, the small and medium sized species anyway. This allows them to "be themselves."

I'm confused here. If you have live plants, they will likely keep nitrite and nitrate very low. What has Prime to do with it...answer, nothing. Prime onlyhides these things, they are still there. And you should never use Prime every day as some sort of tonic.

For what it is worth, I would not keep pygmy gourami in this small a tank. They really are at their best in 5-6, with more females than males. Kept like this they have natural interactions. Males are territorial, but a 29g (length 30 inches/75 cm) is about minimal. How do you intend telling...

I agree. The species is Trichopodus trichopterus. There are many varieties like Blue, Gold, Marble, Three-Spot, Cosby, and probably others. They are incredibly rough.

Just to add to @Essjay post...Prime detoxifies ammonia by changing it to ammonium, but it still shows in ammonia tests. And it is temporary, about 36 hours according to Seachem, after which it will, in basic water, revert to ammonia again.

Emperors can be nippy, so not a good idea. What you want are the species in Hyphessobrycon. Not all of them, there are well over 200 in this genus, but several are disk-shaped and peaceful. There are several with a basic reddish/purplish background, like the Rosy Tetra (below). But research...

It really is a matter of the light and nutrient balance. I had this algae and after a period I got the light to 7 hours and it balanced the nutrients and that was it, no more black brush algae in more than six years. It can be encouraged by the longer and brighter days in summer, which shows...

It is likely an issue with light intensity. And red leaf plants need more intense light than green, because the leaves appear red due to reflecting red light. But red is also the primary photosynthesis wavelength (along with blue) so this means the plant needs more red light. Now, do not take...

Here we go again...the individual is just plain wrong when he says water changes do not occur in nature--where has he lived all these years? No fish in any tropical stream lives in the same water from second to second. The flow however small changes the water. Nitrates have nothing to do with...

Pearls can be good/bad, according to members on TFF. As a basic condition, gourami and cichlids should not be together, and there should be only one species of either. This paractice provides what the fish "expect" in their habitats. Now, having said this, it is possible to combine some of...

Mollies are too large to be in anything under a 30-inch or preferably 36-inch length. That is the issue. And with two mollies spawning every month, they cannot possibly eat all of the young. Besides, this is not the way to go with fishkeeping.

I concur. I had a group several years ago, and they spawned. The females are mouth-brooders. They were in a 4-foot 70g tank very thick with plants.

First, you do not want to combine cichlids and gourami, they are too much alike territorially. Angelfish are shoaling fish, so why would one keep them different? They need a group, but this has problems should a pair form. They should not be combined with linear fish; initially all may be...

There are no plants that need soil, all will grow in inert sand or fine gravel. And there are serious issues with any soil, bacterially and water quality. Substrate must be suitable to the fish. Substrate fish like cories, loaches, cichlids are best with sand. All fish will be fine with...

Substrate and Plants There are no plants that need soil, all will grow in inert sand or fine gravel. And there are serious issues with any soil, bacterially and water quality. Substrate must be suitable to the fish. Substrate fish like cories, loaches, cichlids are best with sand. All fish...

Not sure what species black palmeris is--there is an Australian fish, but I suspect you may mean the darkened Emperor Tetra, Nematobrycon palmeris. ?? As for cherry barbs, this is a gentler barb but it is longitudinal so I wouldn't.

That is fine, you can move up to 75 so if it hovers around 74-75 OK.

I have no way of judging the size from a photo, but I would not think that any of these angels are even close to their expected size. That is one of the biggest problems in this hobby...false information from so-called "experts." And when a pair of angels decide to spawn, look out. The...

Like all animals, fish have evolved over thousands of years to function in very specific water parameters. Fish are more closely tied to their aquatic environment than any terrestrial animal. If anyone thinks these fish can "adapt" to vastly differing parameters, they should do some research...