floaters into substrate

Trying to get my window tank looking better again. Still plenty of brown algae. I put in new filter sponges- the prior ones didn't fit right, there was a leak and it made an irritating noise (my husband said it sounded like a distant car alarm). It was a size II sponge I had cut in half to fit these two filters, and the cut was uneven. Only- the replacement sponges I mistakenly ordered size I when I should have got size 0. Annoyed, not wanting to bother to send back for exchange, I just trimmed some material off the sides to make them a bit smaller. At least they fit tight around the housing piece, so the air flows properly now. Prior sponges I cut in half and wedged behind new ones again, will stay in the tank a few weeks again for bacteria transfer.

Then on a whim, I stuck into the substrate many of the hornwort pieces, which have been doing great as floaters. Suddenly the tank is quite a bit brighter. I wonder if the amount of floaters was making the light too dim, when it's already dimmer in winter? Have to see if this changes anything. I don't think I want to leave the hornwort like this long term, but maybe just until summer sun is stronger again, then float them again to use up the light...

Right now it's kind of nice to see the light through their green needles.

Can see how shabby my crypt Moehlmanii (?) is getting. I just rubbed a lot of algae off the broad leaves.

hello, Lady

I didn't take a picture of it, but the coleus cuttings on this tank are not doing well. They are very pale, and I keep removing leaves that have dried, crispy edges. The roots don't look very healthy- lots of brown. As soon as I can, will swap them out for sweet potato cuttings, maybe then things will improve in here (if the coleus have been functioning sub-par, not pulling up nitrates like usual, thus giving algae a foothold . . .  so many different factors I really don't know which one it is)

Note: I've recognized finally that Perry just doesn't like NLS pellets. He eats anything else readily enough, but spits that food out. I guess fish can have individual taste, too.