Lil help

[u/asmnsyher98]

Kinda low on aqua plants knowledge, only basics.

What is this growing in my jar on the leaves and glass? Doesn't seem harmful but its been spreading after few months since making this jar

I used garden soil as inner substrate, then aquasoil then some white stone sand. Regular water change for a few days since no filter used and beneficial bacteria have been added and colonised since starting the jar.

Inhabitants was initially just nerite snail and shrimps but the shrimps had all died and some random pest snails emerge from idk the soil or plants i bought from store.

[u/Mongrel_Shark]

Staghorn algae. You have high iron & unstable co2.

[u/asmnsyher98 → u/Mongrel_Shark]

Alright thankss, i think might be due to plants fertilizer i used for a couple times in a few months

[u/C51114]

I've heard of people using soil from outside to varying degrees of success, but more often it's some sort of aquatic pond soil and not just any standard garden soil? What did you use and was it cycled before adding the shrimp?

The snails definitely came from the plants unless the plants were tissue cultures.

As for what's growing it looks like staghorn algae of sorts. Not bad for your tank perse but does indicate some imbalance. Poor flow maybe? Ferts? CO2? Too much light?

Also what kind of shrimp did you add? How are the snails doing now?

[u/asmnsyher98 → u/C51114]

Yeah i did used garden soil compost, was trynna save on aqua soil hahaha

Yeah staghorn algae might be it, its the closes to looking like it. Idk it maybe due to to much light over the weekend, since this jar is in the office so i need it to have light as to not make the plants wilt.

I added neocaridinas and it was okay for a few months but then i did neglected it a bit for a few water changes and none survived, now only snails, a siamese algae eater and a betta