underwater green

Still observing, still learning. I did not change anything this week- dosage of ferts, water change remains the same. Plants are continuing to improve- at least as far as growth rate and slowing down of decay indicates. I've also found that some stuff I read online is true- if the plants do better, the algae can't compete. In my ten-gallon tank, I worried that increasing the photoperiod would get hair algae on the plastic plants and anubias again, but it hasn't recurred at all. The lights are on nine hours a day now, in both tanks. Some general notes from this maintenance day.

I still worry about my aponos, but found something that made me hope. The smallest apono I thought was completely dead, I was thinking to take it out and throw away. But this time it had come free of the substrate (constantly comes loose and floats), and I saw there were a few tiny green leaves growing again, and white roots coming from the bulb! I planted it once more, and tugged the worst-looking, smallest ones up a bit to make sure they weren't buried too deep. Those must have good white roots growing finally as well- they hung on to the gravel! so I hope they do recover in time.

Looking down on the two biggest aponos:

Picture of the rotala, under low water level. Can see a nice apono leaf in the background.

Java ferns seem to be doing better in both aquariums. I only cut one dying leaf out in the bigger tank, didn't touch in the smaller one- when it gets depleted enough, the leaf will detach on its own. There are still new fiddleheads arising, and in the tenner, two of the plants have baby leaves.

When the water was low, for the first time ever I trimmed the java moss that grows in my twenty. It's a very small patch. I cut it back by half. Always thought it looked finer, smaller leaves than the java moss in the other tank, but I wasn't sure. I put this tiny clump in water jar with other moss trimmings, and yes- it is smaller. So either a different species of the moss? or different growth habit from slightly different conditions.

I tried to get a picture of the green threads of java moss clinging to the top of the skull, but that's hard to capture:

The anubias in my small tank seems better every week- some leaves are nice clean green, no mottled spots. Either they are healthier or the platies clean stuff off them- I see them picking at things. I also noticed when I gently squeezed out the sponge filter, not nearly as much mulm came out this time- and the tank water cleared quicker after refilling too. So either the debris from the driftwood is finally settled and filtered out, or the platies poop a lot less than the cherry barbs did!

Watersprite continues to grow-

side view for comparison to previous photo

I do want to get the rest of the recommended ferts to balance out the plant nutrients- they should probably receive potassium nitrate and phosphates too. And I think I should start dissolving the ferts before I put it in- I've noticed every maintenance day a few of the barbs will twitch and flash after I put the dry fert in. I think it irritates their skin.

I don't have much news on the fishes themselves- except that it's nice to see Sammy in the main tank. All three kuhlis were swimming wiggles up and down the tank during the water change (people call this "the kuhli happy dance"). Sammy still hangs out in the little rock cave a lot- it's cute to see his head poking out one side and his tail the other, or head and tail next to each other when he's curled into a loop. I'm not sure if this is because the other kuhlis don't let him share the driftwood space, or if he just feels more secure under the rock.