1st cycle

[BGK21]

Thanks. I will keep that in mind. I think i have most of them but there are many eggs so the lettuce trick won't work. I bought some assassins so hopefully they will clear everything up.

As for the cycle, after roughly 29 hours, nitrites are now 0 so I will dose tonight with the expectation of 0s Tues morning when i wake up (hopefully im wrong and its tomorrow night instead )

 

[BGK21]

I think I'm almost there. After 24.5 hours:

Temp 82
Ph 7.8 need to watch this in the morning in case of crash
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 30-40

I will dose to 4 ppm tonight if i get the 0 before i go to bed or in the morning. The new question, how many times should i dose before i can say success?

 

[jlk]

Your just about done! We want to see your tank zero out 4ppm of amm in 24hrs for a few days in a row steadily. You should be able to get fish this weekend!

 

[BGK21]

Thats what i was thinking. I am leaning towards a young cichlid tank, can i add the majority at once or should i stagger?

 

[rotorhead22]

I would add at once. That way they set up territories all at once. You may encounter some aggression towards new fish if adding fish later.

 

[BGK21]

Success!!! After 23 hours:

Temp 82
Ph 8.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40

Dosing to 4 again.

 

[jlk]

. Look forward to seeing pics soon!

 

[BGK21]

After two months, i think I'm there! After 21 hours, nitrite are 0. My plan, lower temp to 78 overnight, dose tonight, add fish Fri? Perform a WC prior to fish if nitrates are over 50.

Temp 82
Ph 8.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40

 

[jlk]

That should be fine but you want to do atleast one 100% wc before adding fish. Your nitrates should be as low as the level in your tap reads (whatever this number is). You also want to restore your buffers & other vital minerals & electrolytes before adding fish. Just think, unless you have to move this tank at some point in the future (or some other reason), you likely will not have to do a 100%wc again so consider it a small sacrifice. Congrats!!!!

 

[rotorhead22]

Good plan and congratulations. How is your other filter working out? Do you have pics of your tank?

 

[BGK21]

Should i do a WC and then add or a WC, dose, and add the next day?
I appreciate all of the help.
Filter is running well. I've tried to take some pics but the site keeps crashing on me. I'll post some tomorrow or Fri.

 

[BGK21]

Haha...and then they post

 

[jlk]

Wc then fish. Skip the ammonia. Your fine to do the wc the night before- your bb will be fine for one night with no ammonia.

 

[rotorhead22]

What did you fill the 2 empty baskets with in your 400? Your tank is looking nice.

 

[BGK21]

Thanks. I tried to pit a couple of the bio balls in but failed, user error. Not sure if there is a need to or not. Is there something beneficial i should think about?

 

[jlk]

What type of filter is it?

 

[BGK21]

Emperor 400. I tried to put the filter into the shells but eventually figured it out.

 

[jlk]

Lol! I have 2 of these. I stuffed the grey cartridges with polyfill (filter floss). One I slit the blue cartridges & dumped out carbon & stuffed with poly. The other, I cut off the blue part & just use the black plastic part with filter foam (sponge) in front of it. Just some ideas!

 

[MossyOakMama]

Congrats!!! I am still working in fish less cycle.

 

[BGK21]

Thanks, I just put some fish in and will share some photos.

I would've been lost without jlk and roto, among some others. Thanks!

Good luck on your cycle.