I know most of us are focused on taking nitrates out of a tank, but I’m trying to naturally raise mine. I currently have a 10 gallon with a few very small bladder snails and my boy Charlie. Nitrates are always very low due to the tank being heavily planted. The tank is cycled. It was cycled for months with just bladder snails; the population exploded, ammonia, nitrites, then nitrates. The plants filled out and have reached an equilibrium and I rarely see nitrates in a test.
It’d take months before nitrates reach a toxic level in my tank. I’m looking to add more plant diversity to my tank, but that requires more nitrates to have them adequately grow.
I currently have duckweed, hornwort, micro sword, hygrophila, java fern and water sprite. I’d like to add some cabomba and bucephalandra. Currently debating between a mystery snail, amano, ghost or cherry shrimp. My boy Charlie is a bit of an angry guy, but he always leaves the bladder snails alone. Any recommendations for a tank-mate?
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1ob6k81
Posted by Aqnqanad
2 Comments
I personally would be very cautious if you add any shrimp to the tank. I have tried a couple times adding shrimps with different bettas and the shrimps always end up being killed. If you really wanted to add shrimp make sure they have lots of hiding places!! I have nerite snails in both my betta tanks (1 in a 5 gal and 2 in a 15 gal) and the nitrates are around 20 (I do biweekly water changes as well).
Pygmy corydoras. Stick to bottom feeders. If you get shrimp he may eat them