Is this Algae?

Boredomb

OMG!! Yes still have ammonia but it has spiked since I check it on Monday now is like 1 ppm got do a water change Soo I need to get off of here and take of that
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Boredomb

Okay soo I did about a 50% water change and got my lvls down
ammionia =0
ph=7.4? (High test shows about that and the lower test shows 7.6 still kinda confused on that one)
Nitrates=5
KH=7
GH=7

plus after doing the WC I found a snail in my tank guessing that was a hatchhiker being I didn't put any in there LoL. So with that said what is the best way to keep the snails in check don't really want too many in the tank. I don't mind some LoL

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Boredomb

I also cut some of my vals that had the hair algae on them

Boredomb

On further inspection I have a snail infestation LoL

Boredomb

Okay after reading some on snails I have no clue what this snail is maybe a pond snail? but thinking at the same time they are probably not at bad thing to have in the tank and I will just adjust my feedings to try and control them

Boredomb

Okay I check my ph with a ph probe just now and I got 7.35 soo I am going to go with that answer LoL I have a hard time matching up the colors on the test kit!

Mikaila31

Its a bladder snail, I have those along with like 3 other types of hitch hiking snails lol. Diatoms are called brown algae. It shows as a brown dust on plants. Very common in any newly setup tank. Good thing about it though is lots of fish find it tasty. Diatoms tend to show up within the first few weeks of setup and will often go away on their own after a few weeks. You can also get some otos once your ammonia is under control.

Boredomb

Thanks for the info! I have another question. Should I be using fertilizer at this point or do I need to wait because of the algae? I got some flourish comprehensive have used it once . Also I think I have alittle of the diatoms already on some of my sword plants. I will keep a closer eye on my ammonia lvls for now on don't wanna kill anything. Though today is the first I have seen it at zero since I put plants and fish in last week Soo I hope I am heading in the right direction!

Boredomb

Will otos be okay to have with Colombian tetras? I think I have heard or read that Colombians and catfish are okay but was just wondering?

Mikaila31

they should be AFAIK. With the fertilizer, I would definitely cut back or stop until ammonia is under control.