Bruce410
Aquarium Advice Freak
Looking for help in finding a path towards better water quality for my Betta in a 5 gallon planted aquarium. Water source filtration a solution?
Tank Details:
Fish: 1 Betta (Male Hmpk / blue fancy marble)
Snails: 1 zebra nerite
Plants: Alternanthera Lilacina & Vallisneria Nana
Substrate: Fluval Stratum base + SuperNaturals top layer
Filter: Dennerle corner filter (interior to tank)
Water change treatment = Prime
Light = Fluval Nano Freshwater - sunrise/sunset programs - daylight is only set to 4 hours to assist with reduction of algae growth.
Water Parameters after 20% water change (15-20% change done weekly for a while now)
- Temp = 78 deg F
- pH = 7.6 (tap = 7.9)
- GH = 6 dKH (tap = 9 dKH, 160 ppm)
- KH = 5 dKH (tap = 6 dKH)
- Ammonia = 0.0 ppm (didn't measure tap)
- Nitrate = 5 ppm (tap = 0.0 ppm)
- Phosphate = 1.0 ppm (tap = 1.0 ppm)
I believe I need to reduce Nitrate and Phosphate, but the high phosphate levels are also present in tap water... so a water change won't help the Phosphates.
Given my high pH from the tap and in the tank along with the GH/KH levels, what do you all recommend I do for getting my parameters more in check (and helping reduce algae that I have to deep clean out every week)?
Would a fix all solution be to get RO system (seems overkill purchase for one 5g tank...) or is there another filter I should use for the faucet I get my aquarium water from? If RO, what's the best products to add minerals back to water?
Long post, sorry - but wanted to get you all the details. Thanks in advance.
Tank Details:
Fish: 1 Betta (Male Hmpk / blue fancy marble)
Snails: 1 zebra nerite
Plants: Alternanthera Lilacina & Vallisneria Nana
Substrate: Fluval Stratum base + SuperNaturals top layer
Filter: Dennerle corner filter (interior to tank)
Water change treatment = Prime
Light = Fluval Nano Freshwater - sunrise/sunset programs - daylight is only set to 4 hours to assist with reduction of algae growth.
Water Parameters after 20% water change (15-20% change done weekly for a while now)
- Temp = 78 deg F
- pH = 7.6 (tap = 7.9)
- GH = 6 dKH (tap = 9 dKH, 160 ppm)
- KH = 5 dKH (tap = 6 dKH)
- Ammonia = 0.0 ppm (didn't measure tap)
- Nitrate = 5 ppm (tap = 0.0 ppm)
- Phosphate = 1.0 ppm (tap = 1.0 ppm)
I believe I need to reduce Nitrate and Phosphate, but the high phosphate levels are also present in tap water... so a water change won't help the Phosphates.
Given my high pH from the tap and in the tank along with the GH/KH levels, what do you all recommend I do for getting my parameters more in check (and helping reduce algae that I have to deep clean out every week)?
Would a fix all solution be to get RO system (seems overkill purchase for one 5g tank...) or is there another filter I should use for the faucet I get my aquarium water from? If RO, what's the best products to add minerals back to water?
Long post, sorry - but wanted to get you all the details. Thanks in advance.