New's 29 gallon tank build

[New_b0401]

Well the sand settled but I've still been having issues with cloudiness I think it may be a bacteria bloom as my water looks "milky" not awful though. Added all the plants and left the light off today so hopefully it'll look better when I get home from having some of the excess nutrients beinf used. We'll see if not I'll be doing a large water change. Anything else I should be doing/trying? How long should it last and is it safe to add fish?

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[Fishperson]

The plants won't use much nutrients without lights on. And I'd wait until the water is cycled and clear before adding fish.

 

[New_b0401]

Oh I read in another thread that I should leave the lights off... should I not? I have a cycled sponge filter that I'm going to put in a day before I put in the fish. Then I plan to leave the sponge filter in my tank for around a month so my bio filter in my HOB can establish it self. Will this work?

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[Fishperson]

Not a big deal. I don't think the nutrient uptake would be big without lights. What are you worried about happening? Plant melt?

 

[New_b0401]

I just want to clear up my water lol I hate looking at my one foggy tank when all my other ones are crystal clear...

I've heard of plant melt but not exactly sure what it is or what causes it...

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[New_b0401]

Ok so here's what I have so far... opinions?

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[New_b0401]

Also here's my rotala any idea what kind?

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[New_b0401]

Ok moved a cycled sponge filter over today gonna let it run till tonight and then check my parameters
Aug 9th
Am 2.0ppm
Nitrite 5+ppm
Nitrate 10 ppm

Aug 10th
Am 1ppm
Nitrite 5ppm
Nitrate 5ppm

Testing with api freshwater master test kit.

In the tank now snails, plants added on the ninth I cut a small piece of my sponge filter and added it to my hob now moving the whole sponge filter over for 24hours see how it goes.

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[New_b0401]

Thinking about possibly getting a powerhead...? Thoughts?

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[New_b0401]

Im leaving in the cycled sponge filter for a month until my other bio filter can build up but put the sponge filter in at 8 and my readings are still high? How long should it take for them to go back down?

Am 1.5ppm
Nitrite 5+ppm
Nitrate 5-10ppm
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[Thumper828]

Are you adding ammo to help with your cycle..? Looks like your on your way since you have nitrates...keep the Ammo up to 3-4 ppm so you can add several fish when your ready. Tank is looking good. Don't worry about the bacterial bloom..it will clear up in a few..

 

[New_b0401]

Do I need to add ammonia since I already have fully cycled media (the sponge filter) been up for 2ish months...

I took the sponge from my 10 gallon with a DG a neon (others died overnight i think they were sick) and cory (rescued from a cichlid tank)...
Right now I only have an Austin running in their tank bc I figured I could move them to the 29 gallon soon since the sponge is cycled is that not the case?

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[Thumper828]

If you do not already have fish in the 29 you will need to add some ammo to keep the nitrite/nitrate fed...if you already have fish in your 29 you need to keep the ammo under .25 ppm...hope this makes sense...

 

[Fishperson]

I've heard some people say that BB can go for over a month without ammonia.

 

[Thumper828]

I've heard some people say that BB can go for over a month without ammonia.

wow..I hadn't heard that yet..sounds like a good experiment of some sorts..There is so much contradicting info sometimes... I believe it were me I would add ammo sense the tank hasn't cycled yet..try and increase the BB population..if it is a fishless cycle.

 

[New_b0401]

But there is a large source of BB so shouldn't the tank already be cycled?

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[New_b0401]

I've heard some people say that BB can go for over a month without ammonia.

I took some of the rocks out what do you think? I want to keep the rocks bc I want to breed the GBR...

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[Thumper828]

But there is a large source of BB so shouldn't the tank already be cycled?

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might be just a mini cycle...

 

[New_b0401]

might be just a mini cycle...

Even if there's less ammonia in tank?

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[Fishperson]

Ok. I'm confused. You don't really cycle a tank, but the filter. So the sponge filter is cycled? Whats the problem? Is that the only filter on the 29 or is there also a larger filter on the 29?