I know why...

[PheonixKingZ]

I know why my 20g long looks sooo terrible. It’s the lighting. At first I thought it was because the glass wasn’t clear. (Because the lady used to keep guppies. Guppies = large calcium build up)

But, after I did this side by side comparison, I saw that the light I got froher was garbage:

The light I bought from her:

The light from my 29g tank:

So what my plan is, is to go to GoodWill and find another desk lamp like the one in picture #2 and put it on my 20g long. The plants have really taken off though. I can’t wait until this bad boy looks as good as my 29g!

Thoughts?

(Note: The camera doesn’t really capture what I’m seeing. Picture #2 looks WAY better. Also, the light wasn’t that well positioned)

 

[KevinZ]

A bunch of corys / Serpae Will looks good in that tank love it so much!

 

[PheonixKingZ]

A bunch of corys / Serpae Will looks good in that tank love it so much!

Believe me, I would love to get more. They are just sooo expensive here.

I will get more zebra danios for the lone one, when I can afford it.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Why would guppies cause calcium build up? Guppies don't produce calcium

 

[Retired Viking]

I like my 20 long better than my 29 tall tanks, easier to work in and just a better look to it. I am jealous of your annacharis/ I have a few pieces but I have to fight to keep the snails from eating the "leaves" off.

 

[EllRog]

If you have problems with hard water stains on your glass, I'd recommend stripping down the tank and cleaning it up with Barkeepers Friend. It's cheap and works a treat. Literally takes an hour at most to clean up a dirty tank. You can just rinse it off, dry it with a towel and set your tank back up, no extra bother of sterilising harmful chemicals etc. There's a few different types, I use the powder, made a crusty old tank I bought look brand new. I swear by it

 

[Colin_T]

Why would guppies cause calcium build up? Guppies don't produce calcium

I think the OP was referring to guppies being in hard water and that leaves calcium deposits.

 

[mbsqw1d]

Do you have any info for the the light fitting in the top pic? Looks like a light dedicated to plant growth? Does it have red and blue LEDs?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Why would guppies cause calcium build up? Guppies don't produce calcium

You need to have hard water in order to keep guppies. Hard water + calcium build up.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I like my 20 long better than my 29 tall tanks, easier to work in and just a better look to it. I am jealous of your annacharis/ I have a few pieces but I have to fight to keep the snails from eating the "leaves" off.

I had an issue with my pond snails eating the leaves off. That’s why I remove them as soon as I see any. No harm done... yet.

I actually have more Anacharis in my 20g long than I do in my 29g.

 

[Retired Viking]

I had an issue with my pond snails eating the leaves off. That’s why I remove them as soon as I see any. No harm done... yet.

I actually have more Anacharis in my 20g long than I do in my 29g.

I have been removing them too as soon as I see them on my anacharis, I have mostly bare stems now and I hope the leaves will grow back.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I have been removing them too as soon as I see them on my anacharis, I have mostly bare stems now and I hope the leaves will grow back.

As of right now, mine don’t grow back.

 

[Retired Viking]

As of right now, mine don’t grow back.

That is sad to hear, I have not been able to order any to replace what I lost.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

That is sad to hear, I have not been able to order any to replace what I lost.

Yes, it is unfortunate... all of those stems turned white and then rotted. I guess that’s what I get for adding pond snails to my tank.

 

[Retired Viking]

Yes, it is unfortunate... all of those stems turned white and then rotted. I guess that’s what I get for adding pond snails to my tank.

I found pond snails in my wife's rain water catching bin. I am using hornwort and moneywort but the hornwort just does not look as good as the anacharis