Good afternoon all. I have been doing a fishless cycle now for about 2 and a half weeks. Thanks to the "almost complete guide" from Eric Ogilive on this board, I am now in what i think is the "downhill" of the cycle. The tank has been reducing Ammonia to 1 PPM every few days after being dosed to 4. The other day nitrites showed up at 2 PPM. Going to check them again today and start checking for nitrates and prepare myself for a 50-60% water change when they are off the chart. While this is all new to me, a few questions have come up. I would appreciate anyone's help with any of these.
1. I have driftwood that has been in the tank since the beginning, it is has been getting more and more covered with parts of a white fuzz and other brown green algae looking material. From what I have researched this could be normal, just want to make sure. Should I leave it and the tank will clean it when it has inhabitants or should it be removed by hand?
2. I have noticed the fake plants that I have and the filter tube have become quite dirty with some brown residue. Is it safe to remove them and rinse them off in tank water? Or should I wait until the cycle is complete? I have not washed the filter at all. I am assuming that is something I should do in tank water, but again don't want to mess with the cycle at all.
3. I have been monitoring my pH and have been consistently at 7.8. I am concerned that the pH may be too high for the fish i am looking at.(Listed Below) I am assuming I may see some pH drop with the arrival of Nitrite/ate. Thoughts?
4. Finally, when the tank is complete what fish should be added first. I don't want to fully stock right away, but not sure about how many and which fish should go first. These are the fish I am thinking of stocking -
8 Neon Tetra
6 Harlequin Rasbora
4-5 Cory Cats(thinking sterbai)
Perhaps 1 Dwarf Gourami
According to AqAdvisor that would give me a stock level of 85% when done. Also has a pH recommendation of 6-7.5, which i am outside of.
Tank details - 20 Gallon Wide, Aqua Clear 50. sand substrate.
Thank you for any input. I came into this 2 months ago, not knowing anything and have gained a decent amount of knowledge by reading through the forums here.
1. I have driftwood that has been in the tank since the beginning, it is has been getting more and more covered with parts of a white fuzz and other brown green algae looking material. From what I have researched this could be normal, just want to make sure. Should I leave it and the tank will clean it when it has inhabitants or should it be removed by hand?
2. I have noticed the fake plants that I have and the filter tube have become quite dirty with some brown residue. Is it safe to remove them and rinse them off in tank water? Or should I wait until the cycle is complete? I have not washed the filter at all. I am assuming that is something I should do in tank water, but again don't want to mess with the cycle at all.
3. I have been monitoring my pH and have been consistently at 7.8. I am concerned that the pH may be too high for the fish i am looking at.(Listed Below) I am assuming I may see some pH drop with the arrival of Nitrite/ate. Thoughts?
4. Finally, when the tank is complete what fish should be added first. I don't want to fully stock right away, but not sure about how many and which fish should go first. These are the fish I am thinking of stocking -
8 Neon Tetra
6 Harlequin Rasbora
4-5 Cory Cats(thinking sterbai)
Perhaps 1 Dwarf Gourami
According to AqAdvisor that would give me a stock level of 85% when done. Also has a pH recommendation of 6-7.5, which i am outside of.
Tank details - 20 Gallon Wide, Aqua Clear 50. sand substrate.
Thank you for any input. I came into this 2 months ago, not knowing anything and have gained a decent amount of knowledge by reading through the forums here.
