swapped in a new fluval e200 since the old one started acting up, temp was drifting a degree or two more than i liked. wasn't cheap but a heater failing on a shrimp tank is not a risk i wanted to take. everything's holding steady again.
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moss is finally doing something
the java moss has thickened up a ton the last few weeks, actually looks like moss now instead of sad little strands stuck to the wood. carpet areas are filling but still a few bare patches i'm eyeing. nerites have been grazing the glass nonstop which helps keep things in check.
Grow-in progressPhoto Date
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algae, of course
getting a decent algae outbreak on the wood and some of the older anubias leaves, kind of annoying but not shocked.
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chili rasboras are in
added a small group of chili rasboras today. tank feels totally different now, they're darting through the anubias and hovering near the moss whenever i walk by. still such a plain looking scape but having something actually alive in there makes it feel like a real tank instead of just water and rock. holding off on anything else for now.
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two weeks in
water cleared up fast which is nice but the plants are not doing much. anubias just sitting there, moss is thin and see through in spots, way more bare stratum showing than i'd like. no melt at least, just slow. trying not to touch anything and let it ride out.
Cycling, still sparsePhoto Date
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filled it
water's in, filter running, cloudy like always.
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setup day
got the stratum and the ADA light this week, cost more than i wanted to admit but the fluval heater i already had from a spare tank so that helped. hauled the substrate bags up three flights of stairs and my arms are done. dry scape is in, same rock and wood placement i kept staring at, no water yet. letting it sit dry for a bit before i fill.
