Who Gives A Fish Forums

Yep, over-fertilizing is a no-go. I nuked my first tank with too much Excel. Lesson learned. Now I stick to half doses until the plants settle in.

Dude, RO water is a game-changer. My tank was sketchy until I switched. Also, don't freak out if the melt keeps going for a bit. Plants are weird like that. They'll come back stronger.

Yep, new tank melt is a real vibe. My Crypts did the same thing, but they bounced back after a few weeks. Just chill and let 'em adjust. Maybe add some root tabs if you're using inert substrate.

Beantown Aquatics in Massachusetts is top-notch for African cichlids - the owner's a total expert, only deals with these fish. It's a small, hobbyist-owned business, possibly home-based (don't quote me on that), but what they offer is top-tier: healthy, sexed specimens, no exceptions. You pay a bit ...