I'd like to go back to Natalia's narrative if I may, just to pull out entries for further clarity or for additional conversation.
Anyway – after re-reading the thread slowly I still am confused about what you are doing. You have created such a “mish-mash” of the different technics – it is simply amazing. It could have been a break through in the aquarium hobby if it worked but is not so far...
Well, you would need to explain what this "
mish-mash" you have read actually is. I don't believe I have done anything unusual, and certainly nowhere near a "
break through in the aquarium hobby". What is it you think I'm doing that gives you this impression.
First of all – you “silent cycle” was not really one
Granted, and as it was a mere blip it went away within days. I didn't expect to see it as I have never done this type of tank before.
you used dirt as a medium but you need at least 100% more rooted plants to neutralize the negative effects of putting highly “active” substrate medium – the more, the better.
That would be great, but it isn't going to happen with the budget allocated. It isn't a problem.
You have experienced Ammonia spikes – these would have not happen if you had more plants. You dirt substrate is leaching ammonia into the water BECAUSE there is no enough plant cover! The moss and Anubias will NOT solve this problem as their uptake of nutrients is very slow. I can predict that the Ammonia spikes will be less and less frequent and less intense as your dirt matures in the tank but you will still have a few more.
I have experienced one single Ammonia spike right at the beginning. It went away. There have been no other Ammonia spikes other than what I have manually introduced whilst preparing the tank for residents.
This is what caused you green water algae and the death of your tetra.
There is no way you could know why the Tetra died; even I couldn't know the cause. It is highly unlikely to have died from an Ammonia spike (because there wasn't any) or GWA (if it was pea-soup, my fish would never be in the tank anyway).
The rise of Phosphate in the water column is again triggered by so much of fresh dirt without enough of rooted plants.
Nope, there is no increase in Phosphates coming from the substrate. My tap-water contains a very high level, 5ppm or more.
Your extensive water changes may help against green water (not 100% guarantee and a lot of water changes before you see the permanent result). The water changes are necessary for the foreseeable future to help to keep you fish alive, though.
GWA is the only thing that concerns me at present, as noted in my previous posts. However, it appears I have found the right balance to sustain the clarity of the water for now.
The course of action (you may take it or leave it as you wish): immediately buy hornwort (ceratophyllum demersum), wash it and add to the tank (floating plant); continue with water changes; buy vallis and more of starogine, plant them; continue with water changes; as vallis and starogine grow, you may gradually remove hornwort. This will ensure that you tank will not go into a complete disaster but will recover and “perk up”.
That's super info, but it isn't going to happen on my budget, certainly not this side of Summer. You have made a prediction that if I do not follow this guidance my tank will fail. I can't really accept that based on what I'm observing in the tank. I think you are painting a unfairly dark picture.
That’s it. Take it or leave it – you decide.
Again, thanks for the input. You have made some interesting observations and suggestions, which of course are taken on-board to be used if needed in the future.