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10-20 minute nitrite test comment came from the cycle moving along as I expected. Early on it would stay the deep purple for hours, later it was going to the powder blue (0) in 5 min, then longer than 5 min. Now I'm back to stuck on purple. 50% change tonight. But I think I need a new test kit...

Keep dosing the ammonia, once it's turning over daily you'll have a better idea where you are at. Which also means you have to test daily, mainly ammonia & nitrite. Yes, since there's not fish in there, dose that ammonia back up high. And much applause for going fishless, I started again at the...

Possible disaster about to occur. Nitrite tests aren't going powder blue even after 10-20 minutes. Can plants suck all the Nitrate out that would cause this rise in Nitrites? Doing immediate PWC. Please help.

.25ish Nitrite rise since adding the fish. No lost fish yet. Not really happy since I considered myself to have been over cautious. I can't do anything tonight, but if I get the same result tomorrow I assume the best bet is a PWC? Edit: Actually, after 10 minutes I'm down to the light blue (0...

Yup, just looking for fish. All else comes from online as well. Scales looks to be under an hour, I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

Got any good fish store recommendations? I'm still new to the area. Found Rick's in Frederick, MD but I'm not entirely thrilled (ever find yourself at the store hearing advise the employees are giving a customer and feel like 'oh my ****, you're not telling them that') Then have to find the...

Yay, I can blame you for making it a 30+ day cycle. Which just felt longer than it really was. Probably because of the woman continuing to ask why I heat, filter & constantly test 'plain' water for so long.

Home & Happy so far.

My later test(s) gave me hesitation. But today it's on like donkey kong. To the fish store we go.

Coincidence the New Year completes my cycle? Did a PWC mainly for the DW tinge again, plus helped me to do some re-arranging. Fish store is open till 9pm. Thinking of getting the Corries & Ottos today as long as another water test is all good in a few hours. Does 4 Corries & 6 Ottos sound good...

I would bet on it being that leaking tannins. You can try taking it out and boiling it to see if it stops.

Any driftwood in there?

I understand and appreciate the advise. It is level and plumb on every side/face except the rear left front high to low in the back. It's small and if it ever leaked I'd take action. Leaking on hardwood would not make me happy. Thanks again.

Now way, it's the floor! OK, maybe it's the tank. Result of a first time wood project being the stand. It's unnoticeable when kept topped off.

Still can't get it done. Ammonia still turns over in less than 24 hours. But Nitrites will not drop. Added some crushed flake the other day to see if that helps. Nitrates are plummeting too, not exactly what I want for the plants which were doing good.

Some odd readings this morning put the fish on hold. While Ammonia is still turning over in less than 24 hours, Nitrites spiked, dropped and now have spiked again (or so the test shows). Since I'm in no rush for fish I'll just try to test more often to see what is going on. Is it possible I...

Oh, and a 'well this is common sense, but I was too dumb to think before acting'. If you buy Eco-Complete this time of year, and it arrives frozen, don't just throw it in a 80 degree tank. The sounds were terrifying and I thought the tank was going to shatter.

Think I made it. Ammonia is being turned over in 24 hours. Nitrites 0 and Nitrates around 40. Another test tonight will confirm hopefully. Probably a PWC tomorrow to get the Nitrates down slightly and help alleviate the water tint since I apparently didn't soak the DW enough. Then maybe I'll go...

Thanks, dosed.

Cherry Barbs are cool, had them originally if you had followed the link. Thanks for the recommendation. But immediately I'm concerned with getting cycled. Obviously I'm in the middle of it. To finish, do I dose ammonia and risk algae outbreak to keep the nitrites alive. Or let it go and risk...

Nitrites are high (5+), Ammonia is now gone, Nitrates around 10. I have a couple plants in. Should I dose ammonia?

Woo-hoo, looks like I'm on the way. Figured it would take longer. Started by dosing amonia on 11/30, probably dosed too much as it stayed in the 8+ range. Today, 12/9, Ammonia still high, but nitrites have showed up in the 2-5 range and nitrates are showing around 10. Some plants will arrive in...

If you have anything that would work in a 30gal with 65w & no CO2, I'd be interested. Thanks

Zero

Thanks! This time around should be much better since the tank will be in MY house and cared for daily. Wouldn't be suprised if CO2 enters the picture quickly. Still figuring where the plants will come from. Had good and bad experiences last time buying/shipping, still figuring where they'll...