u/KikoTheWonderful

this better end with a tsunami of a storm

I've asked for help with this before and got some good advice, but I still haven't found a root cause or anything in my tank that is off.

Since my last post, I've deep cleaned the substrate by blowing water into it with a turkey baster and a lot of filth was released from it, but within a week the substrate was covered in a layer of mulm I think? it's especially abundant around stem plants.

I've also scrubbed the unknown substances off my driftwood, but it grew back almost immediately looking like Blue-Green Algae. It blows off with just a little puff of water.

It looks like I don't have enough flow and waste is building up but I'm not sure how that's possible since I have an aquaclear 50 running and an air stone in the opposite corner.

Could it be lack of nitrates? I read that if there aren't enough nitrates algae can take over because they're more adaptable. Should I try dosing nitrates? I just don't know what else to do

size: 20g long

ammonia: 0

nitrites: 0

nitrates: <5

fertilizer: easy green all in one, 2mg/week

temp: 78⁰F

stock: 13(?) Blue Eye Furcatas

The stem plants in this tank are growing much slower and smaller leaves than they used to. My anubias has holes in the leaves, everything is covered in diatoms (I think?), and my tiger lotus isn't growing new leaves and the biggest one rotted. Everything used to grow like in the last 2 pics. I have tested everything and it all is normal I think.

at the time of this post, 3 days after 80% water change:

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrite: 0ppm

Nitrate: <5ppm

pH: 7.7 (rises up to 8.2 if I slack on water changes)

pH from tap: 7.4

GH: 10⁰

KH: 9⁰

TDS: the digital pen thing I have says 95ppm and in the corner it says x10

fertilizer: Easy Green All-in-One and Seachem Flourish root tabs

Tank age: ~2 years

substrate: Activ Flora

Inhabitants: Rabbit snail died very young recently (concerning?), bladder snails (recent appearance, probably a hitchhiker), ~13 Blue Eye Forktail Rainbows (Pseudomogil Furcatus)

I can provide additional information but I think I covered everything