Hi everyone!
This is my first post and I’m excited to be a part of this community. I am new to having a planted RCS only tank. My tank is one month old and cycled.
Here are my current specs:
JBJ 3G Picotope running stock filter with activated charcoal
Sponge prefilter
Seachem black fluorite substrate (like black sand)
RO water only
Plants: java fern, Anubis, anacharis, and micro sword
Floating spider driftwood
PH 6.8-7.2 range
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Temp 76-78 F
RCS: two adults and a dozen or so of one week old shrimplets
Food ; algae wafers & Shirakura Crystal Red Shrimp food
A week ago I noticed my PH being high at 7.8. An experience RCS keeper/family member said to check the rock I had in the tank to see if it was leeching. Sure enough, it failed the vinegar fizzy test. I removed the rock. Saturday, I took in a water sample to a LFS who has a variety of inverts for sale and the readings were the same there as at home. They said no new plants or RCS for a couple weeks. They said no water changes for a week until things balance out. I had been told to chance two measured cups out per day to help PH. I think I shocked the RCS because I had about 4 die. They suggested to put a piece of driftwood in and that will assist PH. They said I don’t need to cure their driftwood because it is already tank safe but will leech tannins but those will resolve. They said I would probably see a white film on the wood but that will also go away. All normal with waiting for wood to water log.
Got home, removed the activated charcoal and put the purigen pouch in (it didn’t fit well). My tank was crystal clear. Next day it was slightly tea colored. Sunday, the white film showed up. Yesterday I woke and it was foggy white with a hint of tannins, but more cloudy white. Then I noticed pests. I had these 1 cm white hairlike width wiggly guys swimming in my water. I would pull them out with my aquarium tweezers and in the sink they had a brownish coloring. Hot water down the drain. Then I noticed these teeny tiny worm like moving things on my glass. I can’t even begin to tell if they have the head of a planaria. So I got those out with the tweezers too. I have read they can be from overfeeding. I think I was overfeeding my tank and tried to get all remnants out as soon as I could. I then took the Purigen out because it is not helping the tannins at all. I put the activated charcoal back in last night and it does seem a little better today but it’s cloudy enough, I’m having a hard time finding my two living RCS.
Questions:
1)Should I worry about the cloudiness or will it resolve on its own with patience?
2)Should I do anything about the pests or will they resolve on their own since I’ve eliminated the majority of their food source?
3)Will they harm my RCS?
4)Should I change filtration systems?
5)Should I take the driftwood out and boil down or is this a waste since I’m mid-problem?
6)How often should I be feeding the RCS?
Thank you so much for all of you experienced advice!
Bump: Current Tank View Image
This is my first post and I’m excited to be a part of this community. I am new to having a planted RCS only tank. My tank is one month old and cycled.
Here are my current specs:
JBJ 3G Picotope running stock filter with activated charcoal
Sponge prefilter
Seachem black fluorite substrate (like black sand)
RO water only
Plants: java fern, Anubis, anacharis, and micro sword
Floating spider driftwood
PH 6.8-7.2 range
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Temp 76-78 F
RCS: two adults and a dozen or so of one week old shrimplets
Food ; algae wafers & Shirakura Crystal Red Shrimp food
A week ago I noticed my PH being high at 7.8. An experience RCS keeper/family member said to check the rock I had in the tank to see if it was leeching. Sure enough, it failed the vinegar fizzy test. I removed the rock. Saturday, I took in a water sample to a LFS who has a variety of inverts for sale and the readings were the same there as at home. They said no new plants or RCS for a couple weeks. They said no water changes for a week until things balance out. I had been told to chance two measured cups out per day to help PH. I think I shocked the RCS because I had about 4 die. They suggested to put a piece of driftwood in and that will assist PH. They said I don’t need to cure their driftwood because it is already tank safe but will leech tannins but those will resolve. They said I would probably see a white film on the wood but that will also go away. All normal with waiting for wood to water log.
Got home, removed the activated charcoal and put the purigen pouch in (it didn’t fit well). My tank was crystal clear. Next day it was slightly tea colored. Sunday, the white film showed up. Yesterday I woke and it was foggy white with a hint of tannins, but more cloudy white. Then I noticed pests. I had these 1 cm white hairlike width wiggly guys swimming in my water. I would pull them out with my aquarium tweezers and in the sink they had a brownish coloring. Hot water down the drain. Then I noticed these teeny tiny worm like moving things on my glass. I can’t even begin to tell if they have the head of a planaria. So I got those out with the tweezers too. I have read they can be from overfeeding. I think I was overfeeding my tank and tried to get all remnants out as soon as I could. I then took the Purigen out because it is not helping the tannins at all. I put the activated charcoal back in last night and it does seem a little better today but it’s cloudy enough, I’m having a hard time finding my two living RCS.
Questions:
1)Should I worry about the cloudiness or will it resolve on its own with patience?
2)Should I do anything about the pests or will they resolve on their own since I’ve eliminated the majority of their food source?
3)Will they harm my RCS?
4)Should I change filtration systems?
5)Should I take the driftwood out and boil down or is this a waste since I’m mid-problem?
6)How often should I be feeding the RCS?
Thank you so much for all of you experienced advice!
Bump: Current Tank View Image
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