Who Gives A Fish Forums

My 55 gallon planted tank has been struggling lately. The Java Ferns are melting, and my Angelfish are acting skittish. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Any ideas what's going on?

That sounds rough. I've had similar issues before, and it turned out to be a lighting problem. How long are your lights on each day?

Could be a CO2 imbalance. What's your pH and KH? If those are off, it might explain the plant melt. Also, check for any recent changes like new decor or water source.

Sketchy behavior from the Angelfish might mean something's off with the water temp. What heater are you using, and is it consistent? My guys freak out if the temp swings more than a degree or two.

I'd double-check the filter flow too. If it's too strong, it might stress the fish. Also, any chance you've overfed lately? Leftover food can mess with the water quality even if the params look fine.

Thanks for the suggestions. Lights are on for 8 hours, pH is 7.2, KH is 4. Heater's a Fluval M300, steady at 78F. Filter's a canister, flow seems moderate. Gonna test the CO2 levels tomorrow.

reefguy wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 4:41 pm Thanks for the suggestions. Lights are on for 8 hours, pH is 7.2, KH is 4. Heater's a Fluval M300, steady at 78F. Filter's a canister, flow seems moderate. Gonna test the CO2 levels tomorrow.

Those numbers sound decent. If CO2 is stable, maybe look at trace elements. Are you dosing any fertilizers?

Yeah, trace elements can be sneaky. I had a tank go sideways once because I forgot to dose iron for a month. Plants looked like crap, fish were pissed.

I'm with creek on this. If everything else checks out, it's probably a nutrient thing. Try a balanced fert like Thrive or Easy Green. They've worked wonders for me.

Lion wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 5:47 pm Yeah, trace elements can be sneaky. I had a tank go sideways once because I forgot to dose iron for a month. Plants looked like crap, fish were pissed.

Same here. Forgot about iron once, and my Anubias turned yellow. Took weeks to bounce back.