Confirmed parameters before adding anything alive — GH 8, KH 6, pH 7.2, holding steady at 26.2°C. Repositioned the spray bar along the back pane, angled just under the surface, enough flow to move the whole column without flattening the Cabomba.
The equipment plan changed later as the tank developed, but the principle held: establish stable water, useful circulation, and consistent temperature before asking livestock to adapt to the system.