Recent content by Spyro

If you have high nitrates and phosphates + source of light = you will have algae bloom. You can't cheat death, taxes and algae bloom in above conditions. You might test water and it will show low phosphates. That's only because algae will try and gobble up as much Nitrates and Phosphates as it...

Phosphates levels are easy: If you have lots of algae growing on glass, plants, decorations, green water = you have high phosphate levels If you don't have lots of algae blooming = your plants are using most of Phosphates and levels are OK

You need to dose Potassium, Phosphates and micro-elements ferts for Java Fern and Anubias to take care of nitrates for you. Otherwise they'll just grow slower as per limiting factor of Potassium, etc. They don't compensate by producing lower quality leaves and steam when having deficiency and...

You can't really overdose Potassium to have real negative effect. So start with small dose and increase accordingly. You just need to monitor your Nitrate levels to not get too high. I would also stop using any algae killers (if you do) as algae competes with cyanobacteria for nutrients and...

In the wild it can survive in a puddle with almost no oxygen, wild temp swings, rotting vegetation, high/low PH for weeks, etc (the wild variety, not the ones from the pet shop). The shop variety can probably take the most abuse before it kicks the bucket, out of the fish on the list. Good luck...

You need to dose with potassium nitrate and do regular water change. Most likely cause is high dissolved organics and lack of nitrate/potassium in water. (from personal experience) Antibiotics will just slow it down temporarily.

Betta is hands down the hardiest of all the fish in your list (in the wild)

They are just fine like that, people just blame Pet shops for their own ignorance and poor care. But that fish is perfectly healthy and fine like that and it will have 0 effect on it's well being. To quote someone: "Unfortunately, the internet is awash with those who really don't know what...

You are right. Curved plastic would make fish look bigger and image distorted. It's not fine to look and choose

I know right. Fish is well cared for by breeders and definitely not inbreed for traits, transported in healthy conditions and looked well after Pet stores. Anyone who says different is ignorant of healthy care of animals between the egg and their fish tank. You couldn't be more right if you tried.

It's very hard to see fish properly through curved plastic but more convenient to carry then plastic bag. I guess it's fine

I can't remember exactly, but that comment was some sort of controversial joke. Don't pay attention to it

Don't get obsessed with copper. Copper in food, most fertilizers, etc is just fine. Especially if you have carbon in the filter. (just use fertilizers sparingly). You'll only have problem with copper if overdosing with fertilizers, meds or have high concentration in tap water. Shrimp's blood is...

You've done all you can now. Cherry shrimps aren't very good at recovering once things start going down hill. GL

Yeah, you can use GH powder. But drop all the stabilizers. Plant fertilizers should be ok (make sure they don't have copper and iron) but use sparingly. From what you said: You probably have buildup of copper from tap water. Use dechlorinator, leave water with declorinator sit for an hour or...