Who Gives A Fish Forums

I also picked up a plain red bowerbankii and it initially did great, developed some awesome color and split into two heads. But just like yours, it's been stagnant for the past 4-5 months.

What's the tank size you're working with, thinking that might help narrow down some catfish options for you.

Hey folkride, I got a few questions for ya.
What's the size of your tank?
What's the temp in there?
What are your water stats looking like?
How long has the tank been up and running for?
How often do you do water changes, daily, weekly?

I've been around planted tanks for ages, since joining this forum back in 2012. One thing I've learned is that most plant failures boil down to insufficient lighting. Those LED strips or bars might look and sound impressive, but trust me, they're not providing the kind of light plants need. The ...

I'd say go for T5 ballasts, they're actually pretty affordable. You can just get the bulbs and drill them into a wooden board, then just place it over the tank. That way, you'll have a solid setup without breaking the bank.

In my opinion, T5s are the way to go for a planted tank - you can grab a few T5 ballasts, whip up a lid, and you're golden. The growth is insane, but be prepared to add CO2 and ferts to keep up with the high light output.

I've found that cheap tropical LEDs are basically non-existent - some might ...

Honestly, the marine side's always been pretty quiet, but that's just how it is, I guess.

No nitrates, but some nitrite showing up - did you properly cycle the tank before introducing the cichlids. I'd be inclined to do a more substantial water change, around 40-50%, to ensure those levels don't get out of hand.

I concur with mikero, adding another filter isn't necessary. If increased water circulation is the goal, it's more about powerheads than filters.

Try putting it in lower light, might help bring out the green.