New to the hobby, I have a 64litre tank, about 8 weeks cycled. Currently 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, around 20-40ppm nitrate (but changing 20% of water weekly or more often).
I have 2 adult platys, 3 platy fry (surprise about 2 weeks ago, didn't know the platy was pregnant...) 3 small Endler guppies, and one ordinary guppy.
I also have 2 amano shrimp (?) and one bamboo shrimp (yes, I know I shouldn't have got him, he was an impulse buy before I understood about filter feeders).
My question is, what and how much should I be feeding this group of creatures? At the moment I'm giving a small pinch of the very fine Hikari micro pellets - no more than the fish can hoover up in a minute or two, once per day. Plus a cube or so of frozen rotifer dissolved in the tank water, so the bamboo shrimp and fry can eat. But I worry the amano shrimp are hungry, as there doesn't seem to be much for them to eat.
At the same time, the nitrates seem to rise quite quickly, so does that mean I'm contaminating the water with leftover food? Am I in fact feeding too much? I have also given a quarter cube of bloodworm once or twice (major feeding frenzy results!) and a squished half pea once a week (also results in great excitement!)
Sorry this is so long, just want to paint a picture and see if anyone can advise, since I've totally confused myself.
I have 2 adult platys, 3 platy fry (surprise about 2 weeks ago, didn't know the platy was pregnant...) 3 small Endler guppies, and one ordinary guppy.
I also have 2 amano shrimp (?) and one bamboo shrimp (yes, I know I shouldn't have got him, he was an impulse buy before I understood about filter feeders).
My question is, what and how much should I be feeding this group of creatures? At the moment I'm giving a small pinch of the very fine Hikari micro pellets - no more than the fish can hoover up in a minute or two, once per day. Plus a cube or so of frozen rotifer dissolved in the tank water, so the bamboo shrimp and fry can eat. But I worry the amano shrimp are hungry, as there doesn't seem to be much for them to eat.
At the same time, the nitrates seem to rise quite quickly, so does that mean I'm contaminating the water with leftover food? Am I in fact feeding too much? I have also given a quarter cube of bloodworm once or twice (major feeding frenzy results!) and a squished half pea once a week (also results in great excitement!)
Sorry this is so long, just want to paint a picture and see if anyone can advise, since I've totally confused myself.
