New boy doing a fishless cycle. Any tips?

[Vinnykh]

Hi all. So I got my first 33 gallon juwel and decided to do a fishless cycle.
Have I done it right so far? Any tips or pointers please?

Filters in, sand washed and in 2 inch deep, water treated and in, left for 2 days, added 4 live plants and driftwood that was soaked for a week.
Put some evolution pure bacteria balls in. Left for 5 days. Seems all good although a couple h
Of plants have brown spots. Is this normal.
Now after 1 week I added 4ml of ammonia calculated online. I aim to do my first test tomorrow.
So what's the next step?
Thanks


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[sidgolding]

Can I just say WOW!!! That is one center piece beauty!!! That tank looks amazing. Good job on that. And to be honest if all the tests come back okay get 3-4 hardy fish and you should be all good


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[Vinnykh]

Thanks. The ammonia was 1.5 today. May aswell do nitrates later



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[jasonfishaddict]

Bacteria should begin converting the ammonia to nitrite, so begin testing for it. Are you dosing fertilizer for your plants, brown spots aren't normal.


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[icydeath]

Yeah I agree dose some fertilizers. I suggest some florapride? Maybe your lights are the wrong spectrum. Or your plants where grown out of water and are unused to normal growing.

Also you could grab a bottle of tetra safestart which can really speed up the fishless cycle.

 

[Vinnykh]

Cheers. I put some tetra aqua safe in yesterday and after 6 days I also put fertiliser in for plants. Maybe I left it too long or there getting use to the tank. Attached a pic of the brown spots.


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[icydeath]

If the brown spots take out the leaves, just remove the ones that are brown.