Hi everyone,
I have a new 20 gallon long planted tank, with bog wood and a couple pieces of ceramics (a creamer jug and a tea cup). I started a fish-less cycle 8 weeks ago and when my tank cycled after 6 weeks, I put in 3 neons. They had the place to themselves for a week, and then I added two cories. The cories have been there for a couple of days. The plan is a small school of tetras, 5 cories, and an oto or two.
I do 20-30% water changes weekly. I test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates almost daily, using liquid tests. Today's numbers were 0, 0 and 10. *I haven't been testing pH as often because I tested it religiously for a month and it didn't change once. Steady at 7.0.
When I went to get the cories I asked my LFS to test my water, just to make sure everything was good and my tests were accurate. Well, she tested my pH too and it had gone up to 7.4. She suggested I try something called Neutral Regulator to bring down my pH. She also said that it would be good with my water changes because that should keep the pH down. But, it didn't last 3 days. The levels are back up again today. (7.4 again)
I also seem to have a bit of a Cyanobacteria bloom. I thought it was algae at first, but a bit of research showed me that was wrong. It was focused on my heater, so I wiped that down. I've been wiping my plants and I even had to remove a bunch of my java moss because it started getting into that.
Is it possible there's a connection between the two problems?
Any advice would be welcome!
Cheers,
Erin
I have a new 20 gallon long planted tank, with bog wood and a couple pieces of ceramics (a creamer jug and a tea cup). I started a fish-less cycle 8 weeks ago and when my tank cycled after 6 weeks, I put in 3 neons. They had the place to themselves for a week, and then I added two cories. The cories have been there for a couple of days. The plan is a small school of tetras, 5 cories, and an oto or two.
I do 20-30% water changes weekly. I test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates almost daily, using liquid tests. Today's numbers were 0, 0 and 10. *I haven't been testing pH as often because I tested it religiously for a month and it didn't change once. Steady at 7.0.
When I went to get the cories I asked my LFS to test my water, just to make sure everything was good and my tests were accurate. Well, she tested my pH too and it had gone up to 7.4. She suggested I try something called Neutral Regulator to bring down my pH. She also said that it would be good with my water changes because that should keep the pH down. But, it didn't last 3 days. The levels are back up again today. (7.4 again)
I also seem to have a bit of a Cyanobacteria bloom. I thought it was algae at first, but a bit of research showed me that was wrong. It was focused on my heater, so I wiped that down. I've been wiping my plants and I even had to remove a bunch of my java moss because it started getting into that.
Is it possible there's a connection between the two problems?
Any advice would be welcome!
Cheers,
Erin