my water parameters after

[bobc4d]

I've been in the hobby for six months and have had my 36g tank up for 5 months now, these are the water parameters

nitrate 0
nitrite 0
ammonia 0
pH 8.57
sodium 184 mg/l
alkalinity 500 mg/l CaCO3
hardness <25 mg/l CaCO3

stocked with:
4 Sunburst Platy's w/2 fry (maybe more to come lol)
5 red blue Tetra's
4 Cory Cats

planted with Anubus and Java ferns
I do 5 gallon water changes per week

I really enjoy this hobby, it is relaxing to just sit and watch the fish do their thing. My tank is doing well from a lot of the advice I have had from many here. THANKS !!

 

[fort384]

0 Nitrates is not necessarily a good thing in a planted tank. Granted, you have some very slow growers in there so you might not notice a nitrogen deficiency right away, but you might want to consider starting to supplement with some fertilizer in the tank.

 

[bud29]

0 Nitrates is not necessarily a good thing in a planted tank. Granted, you have some very slow growers in there so you might not notice a nitrogen deficiency right away, but you might want to consider starting to supplement with some fertilizer in the tank.

+1 to that.

Also, I think bigger water changes would be of help. 5 gallons out of 36 isn't a very large percentage. I am on a water change schedule of at least 2 50% water changes per week. Depending on the situation, I sometimes do even more. Your parameters are very good, but more water changes definitely will not hurt. I would say 1 25% water change a week would be fine, considering you are not that heavily stocked. I do a lot more because I can't stand the look of fish poop on the sand.

 

[bobc4d]

thanks for the input, I will start doing larger changes. Also, I wasn't aware zero nitrate was not so good thing, so I will start adding a supplement.

 

[bud29]

Yeah, plants like nitrates. One way to get more, though, without supplementing, would be to add more fish. IMO that is the most fun way, and you definitely have some room.