🐠 Aquarium Journal

Weekly maintenance recap:

• Performed routine maintenance and a partial water change.
• Pre–water change nitrate levels tested between 20–40 ppm (below 40). The display tank was drained approximately 50%, less than usual, due to additional filter maintenance performed during this session.
• All filter media were temporarily removed and gently squeezed out in tank water, and the filter chamber was cleaned to remove accumulated detritus and suspended particles. This was a maintenance-focused reset rather than a corrective water change.
• Newly added shrimp (introduced 2–3 days prior) are acclimating well and showing active, exploratory behavior throughout the tank.
• Inkbird temperature probe(s) were moved from the sump back into the display tank to improve temperature monitoring and regulation during water changes. A dedicated sump heater may be added in the future.

SUMMARY

Updated display and sump lighting schedule to gently increase photoperiod using split timing and intentional overlap, with the goal of promoting soft green algae growth for snails while maintaining overall system balance.

DETAILS (RAW RAMBLE)

I decided to refine the light increase instead of adding the full 30 minutes all at once. I’m splitting it into 15 minutes at the start and 15 minutes at the end of the display photoperiod to create a longer dawn and dusk rather than a harsher light extension.

I’m also extending the sump/refugium lighting and intentionally overlapping it with the display lights. I’ve noticed the moss in the refugium has been growing rapidly even before this light change, which tells me the system is already responding well and has the capacity to handle a slightly longer light period.

The goal here is not to cover the tank in algae, but to encourage soft green film algae as a natural, constantly available food source for my snails and shrimp. I’d rather have them primarily grazing on naturally growing food and supplement with algae wafers, instead of relying on wafers as the main food source.

UPDATED LIGHTING PLAN

Display Tank (Photoperiod Increase via Split Timing):

• Previous schedule: 12:00 PM → 8:00 PM (8.0 hours)
• New schedule: 11:45 AM → 8:15 PM (8.5 hours)
• Change method: +15 minutes at start, +15 minutes at end

Sump / Refugium Lighting (Extended with Overlap):

• New schedule: 10:45 AM → 9:15 PM
• Overlap: 1 hour before display turns on and 1 hour after display turns off

INTENT & OBSERVATIONS

• Glass is very clean, indicating low natural algae availability
• Snails may be running out of grazing surfaces
• Refugium moss growth has been strong prior to this adjustment
• System appears stable with strong nutrient uptake and filtration

GOALS

• Encourage soft green algae growth for snails
• Maintain a clean display without nuisance algae
• Improve invertebrate nutrition through natural grazing
• Use algae wafers as a supplement, not the primary food source

New year maintenance recap:

• Performed the first water change of 2026 as part of routine system maintenance.
• Pre–water change nitrate levels measured approximately 10–20 ppm, remaining within the stable target range; drained roughly 90% of the sump and about 75% of the display.
• Fertilizers were dosed only once during the past week, reflecting lower nutrient demand and overall system stability.
• No additional adjustments were required during this maintenance cycle.
• The system continues to show steady balance heading into the new year.

Weekly maintenance routine with minor system adjustments:

• Performed a scheduled water change as part of ongoing system maintenance.
• Pre–water change nitrate levels measured approximately 20–40 ppm. Completed a normal water change with the usual large drain from both the sump and display.
• Carried out light plant trimming, removing older or declining growth.
• Moved a cuttlebone from the sump into the display tank to provide a more direct calcium source for livestock.
• Dosed Prime during refill as part of the standard water-change routine.
• System remains stable following maintenance.

Weekly maintenance checklist during the post-BBA stabilization phase:

• Performed a scheduled water change as part of ongoing post-BBA stabilization.
• Pre-water-change nitrate levels measured approximately 10–20 ppm, within target; drained roughly 90% of the sump and about 80% of the display.
• Completed a moderate plant trimming, focusing on overall shape and removing older growth.
• Replaced one filter sponge as part of routine filter upkeep.
• Dosed Prime during refill and added Stability to support beneficial bacteria after introducing new filter media.
• System remains stable following the end of Excel treatment, with ongoing focus on balanced nutrients and steady biological filtration.

Highlights from this week’s maintenance cycle:

• Performed the weekly water change with ~90% drained from the sump and ~75% from the display.
• Pre–water change nitrate measured around 20 ppm.
• Loss of one Celestial Pearl Danio — first loss from the newest group; age at purchase unknown and losses can occur unexpectedly with small schooling fish.
• Completed light moss trimming in the display and moved trimmings into the refugium for continued growth.
• Finished maintenance with a standard cap dose of Seachem Excel.
• Overall system remains stable.

Completed December's first water change on December 7, 2025, kicking off the weekly recap cycle for the month.

Each weekly recap will track:

• Nitrates and key parameters
• Plant health and growth
• BBA control spot-checks
• Any livestock changes or observations

Current status: Tank stable at 5 ppm nitrates, BBA nearly eliminated, all fish healthy with bright colors.

December 2025 logs will focus on confirming long-term stability after the successful BBA control push.

Conducted the first weekly check-in after the December 7 water change. Nitrate held steady around 5–10 ppm with clear water and no new algae patches forming.

Fed flakes and bloodworms; fish responded with strong appetite and normal behavior. Plants are pushing new growth where older leaves were trimmed back, and flow remains consistent after the sump sponge rinse.

Dosed a maintenance cap of Seachem Excel and deferred any additional water changes. Continuing to monitor BBA-prone spots while keeping nutrients stable.

Lost one of the original cherry barbs from the 2017 crew today due to natural aging. At approximately 8 years old, this fish far exceeded the typical cherry barb lifespan of 3-5 years, demonstrating the tank's long-term stability and quality care over nearly a decade.

This crew has been with me since the beginning—survivors of countless water changes, equipment upgrades, and my own learning curve as an aquarist. Losing a fish to old age after 8 years isn't a failure; it's proof that the fundamentals are working.

Tank Legacy: This cherry barb witnessed:

• Setup and initial cycling (2017)
• Multiple equipment iterations and improvements
• Transition to planted tank setup
• Recent BBA treatment success (2025)
• Hundreds of water changes and maintenance cycles

All other fish from the original 2017 crew remain healthy with bright colors and normal behavior. The tank's long-term stability continues.

After two months of targeted Excel spot treatments and flow optimization, BBA has been reduced to almost nothing. The November campaign was highly successful—what started as medium patches covering hardware and high-flow zones is now barely visible.

Treatment Strategy That Worked:

• Daily Excel spot dosing on problem areas throughout November
• Removed restrictive poly-fil from refugium chamber
• Added coarse sponge to improve flow patterns
• Maintained stable nitrates (5-10 ppm)
• Amano shrimp grazing on weakened algae

Current Status: Only trace amounts remain in isolated spots. Nearly all visible patches eliminated. Continuing routine Excel maintenance doses (1 capful) to prevent recurrence.

From approximately 50% coverage in early November to nearly 0% in early December. This validates the Excel + flow optimization approach for BBA control without plant damage.