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Can you give us the actual GH and pH? "hard enough" doesn't tell us anything, and mollies need hard water. That aside, I personally think the tank is already crowded. Assuming you want these fish to be healthy they will grow--a lot. Males can easily attain 3 inches, and females five, with...

For the record, my earlier comments were from Neale Monks. I think the point is that nitrate is not good for fish, whatever the species, and the weakening effect can be stronger or weaker, but it is still there. I had tanks that ran in the zero to 5ppm range for years, and that should be the...

Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are all toxic to fish. The first two act much quicker than the third, but it is still something to keep as low as possible. There is increasing evidence that 20ppm is the upper limit. Cichlids are now believed to be more harmed by nitrates, responsible for hole in...

I believe those are Corydoras habrosus, worth remember to use this name so everyone knows what we are talking about. I will tag @Colin_T and @GaryE .

Linear fish such as rummynose are not advisable with angelfish. Other tank mates should be more disk-shaped as they are less likely to be eaten. And angelfish will grow. You do realize that they will get to six inches in body length, with an 8-inch vertical fin span? For cories, increase...

Photos of the fish would help as other members have more experience with disease. Also, I don't think you indicated the total number of fish (species and numbers of each) in the tank. I agree fully with @Essjay just so you know.

You posted with fish dying, and I have raised several issues that can contribute. Substrate is very important. With respect you do not understand how the substrate can affect fish; bacterial issues cannot be seen, they are there. Cories should be able to upend themselves by half, as that is...

First, Walstaf has nothing about temperature for cories, and I disagree with her on dirt. She makes a statement in her book (which I have and like) about "plants cannot grow in inert substrates" which is just false. Her scientific sources for most everythiong else is well worth having, but...

This is much too warm. Provide the sources for anyone saying 79, I have this info from Ian Fuller and no one knows more about cories. I will say here that things like this are not in themselves the issue, but they weaken the fish making them susceptible to other issues. And nitrates at 20ppm...

Can you provide some data. What is the substrate? Temp at 79-80 is too warm, the cories especially need it around 73-75 or 76 but no higher. Which rasbora? What fish are in the tank?

No one has yet mentioned the six angelfish. Assuming there are male/female here, a pair might well form, and that could (but not necessarily) mean the other fish will be decimated one by one. That was another main reason I said the tank was overstocked. You might have to remove four...

I would not add anything here, you are very heavily stocked now.

Ten is not bad, but this species is better with more. I would aim for around 15.

There is evidence in the photos of black brush algae, so you may have too much light. Java Fern is slow-growing, and in my experience does best with floating plants above it.

No to the last question. The only benefit, and I mean only benefit, to having some form of soil is the initial CO2 from the organics in the soil. But this is not permanent. Even Diana Walstad who is the champion of soil substrates admits in her book and articles that after one year, there is...

@Essjay covered it well. I had the space as I had a fish room, so a running 20g tank was not an issue space-wise. I kept it planted with runners from other tanks, and of course floaters. There were times when it ran for a year or longer like this, before I acquired new fish. I did notice the...

First, bloodworms are not a food for regular feeding. They are not good nutrition, and should only be fed once a week. Second point, the freeze dried are not really safe, they need soaking in tank water well before feeding, otherwise they can swell up inside the fish. I used to feed frozen...

Plants have differing needs when it comes to both light and nutrients. And these two are inter-related; if the light i insufficient, or too bright, to balance the nutrients, you will not be successful. You have some plants requiring more of both. Soil is not something I would recommend. It...

It might be my eyes, but any cyanobacteria I have had does not look like these photos. This looks more like algae. You will always have algae in a fish tank under light. Someone suggested floating plants...good. Or less light.

No one has mentioned where you collect the wood. Avoid any industrial area, along roads, or from gardens where pesticides, fertilizers, etc. have been used. There is no way to remove these whatever you do. I would never use branches taken to the mulch place, you don't know where they came from.

CaribSea sand covers quite an array of sands, whch one do you have?

CO2 is dissolved carbon dioxide. It produces carbonic acid, and the pH will lower. However, this has to be taken in conjunction with other factors, like the GH. Let a glass of tap water sit for 24 hours, then test pH (someone suggested this above). It is always possible that something in the...

For information this is Ian's comments on the "Black" Cory. Many people believe that the Black Cory is native to Venezuela and it is not. Even members of the trade make the mistake and perpetuate the misinformation. The story of the "Black" Cory started in the early 1990's with Hartmut...

It is impossible to not have a light over the tank to see what you and the fish are doing. Floating plants shade this. And obviously don't start out with bright light.

I had a group of this rasbora in with other fish (very small gourami, other rasboras) and it was much the same as in the last tank with tetras and cories. On their own, which was a 20g with just these fish, they disappeared behind wood every time I entered the fish room. But not after being...

OK. The dimensions are pretty much those of what we in NA term a 29g standard. And 105 liters is 27 gallons, so this makes sense. My experience with this fish was that in its own tank space, it was far more skittish. When I moved the group to a larger tank with tetras and cories, things...

Tiger Barbs are not advisable, due to tank space and cichlids. TB nip fins in small numbers, especially sedate cichlids. There are lots of tetras, just remember you need a group as all are shoaling fish, so that means around 10 minimum.

Good thinking. And before getting any new fish, we should determine your water parameters which refer to GH, KH, pH (and temperature, obviously that is under our control). See if this info is on your water authority's website. And, never but never take the advice from any pet store as...

It is always better to have more of each species if you mix them, but mixing is OK. This sized tank should have at minimum 12-15. Try to get five of a species, say three at 5 each. Believe me, the cories will be much happier. Or all Venezuelan if that is your preference. Or two groups of...

Yes, the first question is, what is the tank size? I've had this species for well over a dozen years, in a couple of different environments (with respect to tank size and other fish). You might be able to confirm the GH from your water authority's website, just to be certain, but if it is...

I've said all I can say to help. You need to get more fish, the pygmies are one aspect and need 10, the other cories are another. These issues really do matter to the fish.

There is no mention of tank size in this thread. But one should never have fish that cannot be kept in what they expect (the group) except when it comes to old age and fish dying off. There must be a group of cories, I would say around 8+ for the larger species in total, and 10-12 for the...

I do not think you will have much luck without a light over the tank. Relying on ambient room light probably won't work. Light is what drive photosynthesis, which is how plants grow. I did an experiment with a 10g for a year. It had no light, no filter. Well planted with easy plants, 20...

First, let's be sure of just what we are talking about here. I said that each species will probably be better for having a group of each, but cories do get along as my experience and Gary's indicate. I would certainly not return any of them, provided you have a decent number and I would...

There is a misunderstanding of how numbers affect shoaling fish, like cories. The fish expects a group, this is in their genetic code, and we are not going to change it. When it is lacking, the fish are stressed. Some fish show increased aggression, but this is a bit difficult for cories who...

I do not think this tank suited to honey gourami or any fish that size. In fact this small a tank is going to really limit your options unfortunately. The problem with gourami is the males are territorial, and they do best in small groups. When I had pygmy sparkling gourami, I had six in a...

Erosion is a gradual wasting away of the barbels on the underside of the catfish's mouth. There are two things here. Rough substrate can do this, especially if it is gravel and not sand. Food gets down in the gravel, and the cories naturally feed by sifting the substrate through their gills...

I suspect if you pull it up, you may find most of the roots have rotted. However, if there are still viable roots, it may recover. Any "roots" left will decompose as you say.