Nitrates

[jonnyc88]

Pandas aren’t very hardy. I would steer clear of them. Your tank is overstocked and will continue having nitrate problems until it really gets established. Mine took about 9 months because of the large size of my fish. Keep up the large water changes. I even had to do a mid-week one for a couple of months.

Yes, seems like constant water changes is on the cards for me looking at the Nitrite and Nitrate today.

 

[seangee]

Ah, see? This is why I'm glad I asked! Thank you

Do you think if trimmed shorter, say, cut it half, then the top half replanted among the others, it would look less straggly and more like a shrubbery type thing, since the other stems would fill in the gaps where the first ones don't have leaves?
More like this?
View attachment 113487

Yes it will. Managed to find some at pro-shrimp, they had both Tropica and Dennerle. Needs to be in-vitro because I want to fill a gap in the nano (shrimp) tank. May use some to create a hedge in the office tank as well.

 

[jonnyc88]

So I gave my filter another rinse in tank water as they contain quite a lot of plant matter, probably from my last tidy up.
The tank water that I rinsed the filter media in turned green.

It's been 2 days now and the parameters looks good.
pH 7
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate about 20ppm (which I'm told is good for planted tanks)

The only thing is that the water looks very slightly cloudy, especially if viewed length-wise (from the side).
I'm not too worried about the cloudiness as long as the water parameters looks ok.
Would be nice if I can get crystal clear water though, so will keep monitoring. I'd probably give the filter a good rinse every weekend during water change.

In the meantime the fishes looks pretty happy

 

[FishGuest5123]

It looks nice. Actually, the plants should help lower the nitrates even lower.

 

[jonnyc88]

It looks nice. Actually, the plants should help lower the nitrates even lower.

That’s if the Barbs don’t eat through them lol. Never noticed this before but perhaps because I’ve greatly reduced feeding now. Just need to get feed right.

 

[mbsqw1d]

That’s if the Barbs don’t eat through them lol. Never noticed this before but perhaps because I’ve greatly reduced feeding now. Just need to get feed right.

I'm having to entice mine out with food. You wouldn't think I had 13 barb in the tank

 

[jonnyc88]

I'm having to entice mine out with food. You wouldn't think I had 13 barb in the tank

They are really a cheeky bunch, very interesting to watch. Fearless too as they will nip at anything in the tank they think is food, my hair arms included

Slightly concerned about the tetras as barbs seem to be getting most of the food.

 

[mbsqw1d]

They are really a cheeky bunch, very interesting to watch. Fearless too as they will nip at anything in the tank they think is food, my hair arms included

Slightly concerned about the tetras as barbs seem to be getting most of the food.

Do you have Odessa's? In think they could hold the record for fastest fish in the hobby, they seem to teleport across the tank! Not had my arm in there with em yet haha What tetras do you have in with them? I'm looking to get tetra next

 

[jonnyc88]

Do you have Odessa's? In think they could hold the record for fastest fish in the hobby, they seem to teleport across the tank! Not had my arm in there with em yet haha What tetras do you have in with them? I'm looking to get tetra next

Yes, they are indeed Odessa’s and yes they swim really quickly. They are also very curious and explore every nook in the tank.

I’m lucky that the place I ordered from sorted ratio of male to female as I’ve only found out that you need more females to males. I have 10 Odessa barbs and I think 2-3 of them are males. Males are slimmer and have more pronounced orange colouration.

I have neon and cardinal tetras and they play nice with the barbs. Also have peppered and panda corydoras.

 

[mbsqw1d]

Yes, they are indeed Odessa’s and yes they swim really quickly. They are also very curious and explore every nook in the tank.

I’m lucky that the place I ordered from sorted ratio of male to female as I’ve only found out that you need more females to males. I have 10 Odessa barbs and I think 2-3 of them are males. Males are slimmer and have more pronounced orange colouration.

I have neon and cardinal tetras and they play nice with the barbs. Also have peppered and panda corydoras.

Yeh I can't figure out what ratio i have yet. What temp is your tank kept at?

 

[jonnyc88]

Yeh I can't figure out what ratio i have yet. What temp is your tank kept at?

About 25C

 

[FishGuest5123]

They are really a cheeky bunch, very interesting to watch. Fearless too as they will nip at anything in the tank they think is food, my hair arms included

Slightly concerned about the tetras as barbs seem to be getting most of the food.

My cherry barbs are the same way.

 

[BelaSmith]

I know some plants that could help to reduce nitrates in the tank like moss ball, duckweed, sungrow,...