Wary Excitement

I think I might actually know what I'm doing sometimes (knock on wood). I checked the nitrites in the planted tank, and they're at zero. I'm tentatively declaring it cycled! Stuff actually happened as I would expect!

I went to Home Depot after work (because Fintique is closed on Tuesdays) and scouted parts for my DIY Python gravel cleaner. I had previously gone and declared it hopeless, but after re-reading the directions, I'm convincing myself I can do it. I forgot my faucet attachment, though, so I'm going to have to go back and start buying stuff depending on the connecting threads to the faucet.

Tomorrow, then, I need to get those parts from Home Depot, but I'd also like to swing by Alamo Aquatics and get three more oto catfish to supplement the two I have. They seem to be doing fine, but the tank's just too big for the two of them. I think the snails, ironically enough, may be helping, but it's hard to say. I don't have a problem with algae in and of itself, but a lot of times it seems to be chocking out and harming the plants on which they grow. I'm suspicious by what I've read that since it's only growing on a few different plants, those may not be healthy enough to ward it off. AlgaeFix may be helping to an extent, but green spots are multiplying on the uptake (whose filter I cleaned) and appearing on the front glass.

Speaking of plants, I noticed the CO2 bubbles had significantly slowed down (perhaps contributing to this algae problem), so I replaced the contents of the bottle. The insides smelled like beer and bread, but looked pretty much like clear water. Too bad my garbage disposal's not working. I think whatever I poured down there will have plenty of stuff to munch on.