callisto9
Aquarium Advice FINatic
After starting with a 4 gallon, I got excited and got a 6.6 gallon (sold the 4). Then a 20G (sold the 6.6). Then another 3. Then sold the 3. No matter what I did, I had diatoms. Brown crap everywhere. Months passed, and then a year, and still, brown crap. It's easy enough to wipe off aquarium walls, not so easy to get off of plants.
Over the course of the year, I really began to hate aquarium keeping. I killed over 6 apple snails (not on purpose, of course) and over 20 fish. I couldn't get any fish past six months except my glowlight tetras. I did the API test, sometimes dosed meds, but aquarium keeping was just NOT. MY. THING. I read and read and read and read. More light, less light. I lost over $100 in live plants.
So, I started breaking down my remaining 20G tank. This tank STILL has diatoms and it's been running for about a year.
I got rid of most of my plants and all of my fish except one. My Betta. I came to realize that I was happiest when I had a small tank with a few snails. I really, really liked the snails. And I became attached to my Betta. She's healthy and hearty and is doing well.
So, I bought a glass picotope - 3 gallons. I know most people recommend 5 gallons for a Betta, but it is what it is. Stella the Betta will be going into her new home this weekend. She's already been in a 3 gallon and the 20 gallon over the past six months.
My question is this: is there any hope to ever get rid of these diatoms? Should I put new substrate into the picotope instead of bringing over the Eco Complete? Is the problem my water?
Any advice is greatly appreciated. I hope that by keeping it simple, I can enjoy aquarium keeping and quit throwing my money down the drain.
Over the course of the year, I really began to hate aquarium keeping. I killed over 6 apple snails (not on purpose, of course) and over 20 fish. I couldn't get any fish past six months except my glowlight tetras. I did the API test, sometimes dosed meds, but aquarium keeping was just NOT. MY. THING. I read and read and read and read. More light, less light. I lost over $100 in live plants.
So, I started breaking down my remaining 20G tank. This tank STILL has diatoms and it's been running for about a year.
I got rid of most of my plants and all of my fish except one. My Betta. I came to realize that I was happiest when I had a small tank with a few snails. I really, really liked the snails. And I became attached to my Betta. She's healthy and hearty and is doing well.
So, I bought a glass picotope - 3 gallons. I know most people recommend 5 gallons for a Betta, but it is what it is. Stella the Betta will be going into her new home this weekend. She's already been in a 3 gallon and the 20 gallon over the past six months.
My question is this: is there any hope to ever get rid of these diatoms? Should I put new substrate into the picotope instead of bringing over the Eco Complete? Is the problem my water?
Any advice is greatly appreciated. I hope that by keeping it simple, I can enjoy aquarium keeping and quit throwing my money down the drain.
