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brookleaf wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 9:11 pm Thanks, all. Nitrates are at 5 ppm, skimmer's a Reef Octopus. Tank's 6 months old. I'll move it up to a rock ledge and watch the flow. Appreciate the tips!

Solid plan. At 6 months, just keep an eye on alk swings. Newer tanks can be unstable. What salt mix you using?

Mid-level sounds better if it's stretching. I've got mine on a rock ledge about halfway up in a 50-gallon with similar lighting. They like moderate flow too, so avoid direct blast from your powerhead. What's your nitrate sitting at? High nitrates can make them sulk.

You'll likely need ferts if you have very soft water, but not if it's just soft or hard. Seachem Fluorish Comprehensive is a good choice, as it's got all the necessary elements for plant growth. Some other ferts might be missing key nutrients, which can cause issues.

Regarding your lighting setup ...

Your tank water parameters seem fine for plants, pH 7 and GH around 4 is a good starting point. I'm not a fan of CO2 boosters, in my opinion, they're more of a trend. Plants don't necessarily die from low CO2 levels, they just go dormant. In most cases, a lack of essential nutrients is the real ...

I had a similar issue in my 65-gallon tank recently, and it boiled down to water flow. The fertilizer nutrients just weren't being circulated effectively around the plants.

I've since adjusted the setup - the filter outlet is now a spray bar, and I've added a power head just beneath the water's ...

I've had a pretty mixed experience with Water Sprite, too. It's supposed to be one of the easier plants, but mine did alright for a bit then just kinda stopped thriving. No idea what went wrong, to be honest.


This issue is quite common and usually stems from nutrient depletion in the tank ...

I've also got a couple of other issues going on - one of the Anubis plants is dropping leaves daily, and some of my other plants have this dark green/black stringy algae growing off them.

It seems like you're dealing with algae, which can thrive even in low-nutrient water. Plants, on the other ...

My experience with a month-long absence from my planted tank has been mixed. I've gone three weeks without a water change, no problem. Before I leave, I double-check everything, including the fish feeder, to make sure it's working correctly.

However, I have had issues with the filter pump and water ...

When plants stop growing, it's often because they're lacking a necessary nutrient. The soil you're using will have some nutrients, but these will eventually deplete. A complete liquid fertilizer can help resolve this issue. I'm not clear if you're currently using a liquid fertilizer or not.

I'd ...

I'd advise against using Dwarf Hair Grass, as it's not a true aquatic plant and will likely struggle in your tank. It needs extremely bright lighting, CO2 and a lot of fertiliser to even stand a chance - and even then, it's a gamble.

If you're looking for low-growing options, I'd recommend Pygmy ...