Starter 10g planted Questions

[Z Fish Man]

So last night I picked up 5 diamond tetra, a nutrafin mini-master test kit, and some new life spectrum "community" 1mm pellet food. While the fish were adapting to the temperature I did all the tests. I found I had 0 ammonia, 5 nitrates, 0 nitrites, and a pH of about 7.5-8. Unfortunately, I don't have a hardness test but it was tested at petsmart a couple weeks ago and it was within acceptable range. The guy at my lfs said that all of San Diego tap water is very hard though. Are these results normal? I had been doing about a 30% WC weekly.

I had 3 zebra danios in there for about 2 weeks but took them back and the tank only had 3 ghost shrimp in for a week. I'm not sure if my tank is cycled but I did have some old filter media and gravel when the tank first started but was never properly cycled. Should I be testing at least the ammonia everyday for awhile?

The fish look like they are doing well but I read they like more of an acidic water closer to 6 and soft water. Will they be ok with water around 7.5 and harder water? Is there any other considerations I should be thinking of?

I fed them some of the new life spectrum pellets. My tetras are still pretty small only about an inch long and can't really eat the pellets that well. They can suck them in but then spit them out and nibble on them until another fish comes by to try and take it so they suck it in again. The pellets also get bigger after expanding from the water. Is this pellet size ok? Should I try and make them smaller?

Finally, I noticed some reddish algae starting to grow on the walls. I am kind of happy about this because I want to get an oto to help with the clean up. I was just curious if anyone knew what kind of algae this might be.

Thanks for the help and advice in advance :22: and sorry for the barrage of questions I just don't want to screw anything up.

[smaug]

Hi there.Diamonds get a little bigger then 2 inches so you are currently at your stocking limit.They also prefer s bigger tank so they werent your best choice.All tha being said,you have them now so lets keep them healthy.The best food for smaller fish is hikari micro pellets,they are about the size of salt grains and I feed them even to my bigger fish.As for cycling,keep an eye on your ammonia levels and if they start to rise then you are not cycled yet.Keep up with good water changes and dont add any more fish as long as you have the diamonds.

[Z Fish Man]

Hi there.Diamonds get a little bigger then 2 inches so you are currently at your stocking limit.They also prefer s bigger tank so they werent your best choice.All tha being said,you have them now so lets keep them healthy.The best food for smaller fish is hikari micro pellets,they are about the size of salt grains and I feed them even to my bigger fish.As for cycling,keep an eye on your ammonia levels and if they start to rise then you are not cycled yet.Keep up with good water changes and dont add any more fish as long as you have the diamonds.


OK thanks. Yeah I know they get bigger so perhaps in the future I might get a second bigger tank throw them in there. I'll be sure to keep an eye on the ammonia.

[Auratus001]

You can also try grinding those palettes you have there. I personally like NLS pellets over other food so those are my staple food for all my fishes.

Your tank reading suggests that the tank has been cycled. But you should continue to measure the water parameters. You may experience a mini-cycle in which case, water changes would be good.

[Z Fish Man]

You can also try grinding those palettes you have there. I personally like NLS pellets over other food so those are my staple food for all my fishes.

Your tank reading suggests that the tank has been cycled. But you should continue to measure the water parameters. You may experience a mini-cycle in which case, water changes would be good.


Yeah I have been trying to break the pellets up just with my finger nails before feeding. Seems to be working much better.

[Auratus001]

Yeah I have been trying to break the pellets up just with my finger nails before feeding. Seems to be working much better.

Great! Good luck. thumbs2: