10 Gallon Tank 3 Month Old Newbie Tank What Am I doing Wrong

Hey guys, new to the hobby, thanks for your help!
A little summary, I have a 9 gallon fluval flex, set it up 3 month ago with plants, a month ago added cherry shrimp to the tank.

Here's a picture of my tank, did some modification with polyester sponge as the flow was too strong and it kept sucking the shrimps to the back originally.




-Using caribsea eco complete plated substrate
-Pearlweed in the foreground.
-Hornwort, Jungle Val in the back, Duckweed floating on top.
-Bought 20 Cherry Shrimps and a few snail got in from the plants I purchased from people.

Question 1,
I'm now pretty sure there're a lot of detritus worms in the tank, when I did water change/gravel vac last week. There were probably 20+ of them floating around. Normally you'd be able to see 1 or 2 if the gravel is not disturbed. Does this mean I'm feeding the shrimp too much? I feed them shrimp pellets, 1 tiny pellet(1cm length, 0.5 cm width) every 2-3 days.

Question 2,
3 of the cherry shrimps have eggs in their belly now, should I be feeding them more or just stick to regular routine, once again I'm worried that I'm overfeeding already

Question 3,
Duckweed turns brown and kind of disintegrate, I pick out the bad leaves weekly to prevent them from messing up the water parameter.
Hornwort and Jungle Val are not growing well, turning yellow, some of Hornwort just comes out from their root and float to the surface.
Only pearlweed is growing steadily.





If there're additional advice you guys can give, that'd be great appreciated.
Thanks so much!

 

I wouldn't feed them more. Your light might be too close to the water surface, which isn't good for the floating plants. why the plants aren't growing might be because they don't have enough nutrients. What substrate are you using?

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

Do you have a test kit? What are your parameters.? Are you using any ferts?

 

I think you have frogbit. Mine does pretty well using Thrive liquid ferts.

 

I wouldn't feed them more. Your light might be too close to the water surface, which isn't good for the floating plants. why the plants aren't growing might be because they don't have enough nutrients. What substrate are you using?

My light is about 2 inches to the water, it's the 4w LED that's provided with the fluval flex kit, it's actually really bright. Using the caribsea eco complete planted substrate

Welcome to Fishlore!

Do you have a test kit? What are your parameters.? Are you using any ferts?

Thanks, i'm using one of those test strips with colors.
PH is 7, Alkalinity 80, Nitrite and Chlorine at 0, Hardness around 50
And no ferts as some google results said ferts will cause ammonia spike and kill the shrimps easily.

I think you have frogbit. Mine does pretty well using Thrive liquid ferts.

Aww yes frogbit, heard ferts will kill shrimp so I didn't add any yet. Will look into this today

 

My light is about 2 inches to the water, it's the 4w LED that's provided with the fluval flex kit, it's actually really bright. Using the caribsea eco complete planted substrate

Thanks, i'm using one of those test strips with colors.
PH is 7, Alkalinity 80, Nitrite and Chlorine at 0, Hardness around 50
And no ferts as some google results said ferts will cause ammonia spike and kill the shrimps easily.

Aww yes frogbit, heard ferts will kill shrimp so I didn't add any yet. Will look into this today

Do you have something to test ammonia?

I have a Flex 9 also and the light is great actually.

Dwarf water lettuce is the only floater I have kept alive in my tanks. I think those go a lot by your water.

I use ferts in my tanks with my cherry shrimps. Thrive S is made for shrimp tanks. It is a really easy "all in one" fertilizer.

 

Do you have something to test ammonia?

I have a Flex 9 also and the light is great actually.

Dwarf water lettuce is the only floater I have kept alive in my tanks. I think those go a lot by your water.

I use ferts in my tanks with my cherry shrimps. Thrive S is made for shrimp tanks. It is a really easy "all in one" fertilizer.

Awesome thanks will check out Thrive S. I don't have ammonia test kit, but i've been using seachem prime since day 1, every week after water change I drop in 1ml or 2

 

Awesome thanks will check out Thrive S. I don't have ammonia test kit, but i've been using seachem prime since day 1, every week after water change I drop in 1ml or 2

The ammonia test is most important with a young tank. When it rises change your water. Basic rules for a new tank. Using the Prime is good!

 

The ammonia test is most important with a young tank. When it rises change your water. Basic rules for a new tank. Using the Prime is good!

If you don't mind me asking, how often do you feed your shrimp and how much.

I've googled a bunch and folks say keep your light on 12 hours a day you'll have algae for the shrimp, mine is set to 12 hours and I don't see any on my glasses after 3 month