Brian ÓMy little desktop tank at work has struggled ever since I started it 3-4 years ago. Plants won't grow, and lately the water has been a murky green soup that I haven't been able to clear no matter what I try. I have a tank at home with the same approximate volume and the exact same light fixture, and it does great, both in terms of water clarity and plant growth.
Then recently I skipped a weekly water change, and the water started to clear. I think it must be the tap water here. It comes from Lake Champlain, which is pretty heavily polluted by agricultural run-off. At home I'm on a a different water supply and all of the water I use in my tanks goes through a 3-stage carbon block filter. I never have water quality issues. So, I guess the new regime calls for fewer water changes, and toting in filtered water from home.
The tank still slightly hazy, but it's hard to overstate how much clearer it is now. A week ago, the back on f the tank would not have been visible in a photo. Hopefully now with better light penetration the plants will begin to grow.
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