monsteridea
Aquarium Advice Regular
Alright, as I said in my introduction I'm doing a fishless cycle to ready a tank for fish existing in another tank (it's old an beat up, wanted something new with a stand).
Ive been running the process for a week now, and I'm happy to see some results finally, though far from over. But I've now had readings of nitrAtes and no nitrItes. Is it really possible to skip the nitrIte part of the cycle if it's been seeded with established material? Here are my notes and logs so far:
Started: 7/6/12
Used PRIME as water conditioner
"bacteria supplement" *to the filter, temperature is cranked up around 87, water is low enough so the filter waterfall creates bubbles.*
Using liquid testers for ammonia, and strip testers for everything else.*
pH level has been 7-7.5 through the whole process.*
7/6
Added fish food
Amm. 0 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/7
+Fish food, + small filter material from another tank added to filter media.
Amm. .25 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/8
+ food, + ACE ammonia
Amm. 4 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/9
+food, +amm
Amm. 4-5 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/10
+food
Amm. 4 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/11
+food, + amm, + 2 marimo from petsmart fish tanks later that day.
Amm. 5-8 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
Small water change
Amm. 4 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/12
-wait- added no ammonia, because I read to not add to it while waiting for it to drop.*
I did, however, add new seeding material- several rocks, some gravel and a plastic plant from old tank.
Amm. 4 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/13
+ nothing, *no amm.*
Amm. 3 - 4 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/14
+some food, no amm.*
Amm. 2-3 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0-10ppm (maybe? It was only a little more pink than original)
7/15
+ food, no amm.*
Amm. 2 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 20-40 ppm
Also, because Marimo grow so slowly, what type of plants would you suggest adding for beginners? Or should I not add any more plants yet?
If I can hack it, I'd love to have live plants in the tank. I'm sure the tetras and barbs would appreciate it!
Thanks!
Ive been running the process for a week now, and I'm happy to see some results finally, though far from over. But I've now had readings of nitrAtes and no nitrItes. Is it really possible to skip the nitrIte part of the cycle if it's been seeded with established material? Here are my notes and logs so far:
Started: 7/6/12
Used PRIME as water conditioner
"bacteria supplement" *to the filter, temperature is cranked up around 87, water is low enough so the filter waterfall creates bubbles.*
Using liquid testers for ammonia, and strip testers for everything else.*
pH level has been 7-7.5 through the whole process.*
7/6
Added fish food
Amm. 0 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/7
+Fish food, + small filter material from another tank added to filter media.
Amm. .25 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/8
+ food, + ACE ammonia
Amm. 4 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/9
+food, +amm
Amm. 4-5 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/10
+food
Amm. 4 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/11
+food, + amm, + 2 marimo from petsmart fish tanks later that day.
Amm. 5-8 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
Small water change
Amm. 4 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/12
-wait- added no ammonia, because I read to not add to it while waiting for it to drop.*
I did, however, add new seeding material- several rocks, some gravel and a plastic plant from old tank.
Amm. 4 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/13
+ nothing, *no amm.*
Amm. 3 - 4 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0 ppm
7/14
+some food, no amm.*
Amm. 2-3 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 0-10ppm (maybe? It was only a little more pink than original)
7/15
+ food, no amm.*
Amm. 2 ppm
NitrItes. 0 ppm
NitrAtes. 20-40 ppm
Also, because Marimo grow so slowly, what type of plants would you suggest adding for beginners? Or should I not add any more plants yet?
If I can hack it, I'd love to have live plants in the tank. I'm sure the tetras and barbs would appreciate it!
Thanks!