Pumba Tank Cycle

[LilyRose Tank]

I am about to cycle a 64L interpet fish pod tank, so I thought I would include all the preparation I have done. Firstly, I spotted a large piece of bogwood in my LFS so I purchased it (£7.50/kg) in Maidenhead aquatics, swansea. ( total price £45)

http/s723.photobucket.com/user/Tigerslady85/media/fish/45CBB62E-D596-4025-A633-A4FD5F4FB141.jpg.html

Then placed in the tank at home to see if it would fit

http/s723.photobucket.com/user/Tigerslady85/media/fish/C983A36B-7722-43DE-81C4-FEA631B0B350.jpg.html

I have placed this bogwood in dechlorinator water to soak in an old bin, which I covered with a large plastic bag to stop insects laying their eggs in it and spoiling the wood

http/s723.photobucket.com/user/Tigerslady85/media/fish/185A8F19-4C9D-4449-BBE2-A5E217F8B2F1.jpg.html

I waited for an aquarium cabinet I had ordered to arrive, and then proceeded to build it and place the washed and dried tank into position. The interpet PF2 filter media arrived so that was installed in the tank , as was the100w heater.
 
http/s723.photobucket.com/user/Tigerslady85/media/fish/0B5DF3EF-9241-4726-B2DD-6440A6E35E9E.jpg.html

http/s723.photobucket.com/user/Tigerslady85/media/fish/CAA662EC-236B-45AD-BD61-B7F1E3DB9147.jpg.html

So this is where I am at , at the moment, hoping to get the rest done in the next few days to start the cycle

 

[Ch4rlie]

Looking good.
 
Will be excellent to see this fully set up and that wood is divine!
 
Look forward to seeing more pics!
 
(Btw - 4th link does not work!

 )

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Thanks for that charlie, how do I edit it?

Ok this evening I have added this substrate

http/s723.photobucket.com/user/Tigerslady85/media/fish/CC3A2A39-BADC-444F-A9D4-99F9E9B7160B.jpg.html

And filled the tank with a hose,

http/s723.photobucket.com/user/Tigerslady85/media/fish/19C02ADC-0188-459A-8DF5-F4A1BA421822.jpg.html

So now it looks awful!!

http/s723.photobucket.com/user/Tigerslady85/media/fish/B0A1538A-98D6-47DB-B2D9-697D0866692A.jpg.html
I have turned everything on, and phew it's working.
So I shall wait until the temperature is at 28degrees and then add Dr Tim's one and only, followed by a 3ppm dose of ammonia

 

[Ch4rlie]

 A admin mod can change the link for you if you request it and give an alternative link.
 
Tank will clear up eventually and will be good.
 
And yes, i'd wait until tank clears up, at at 28C before adding Dr Tim's and 3ppm ammonia dosage.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Did you rinse the substrate before adding it? Hope it clears up quickly. Can't wait to see more of this.

 

[LilyRose Tank]

The instructions say not to rinse it in big capital letters lol

 

[Ninjouzata]

Oh I see. Is it a plant substrate? Maybe they don't want you washing away nutrients..or something..

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Ammonia level at the moment, without adding any is 0.25 so the substrate definitely leaches it. So how do I calculate to make ammonia up to 3ppm, as per instructions for Dr Tim's one and only
So I used the calculator and 3ppm is 1.86ml of 9.5% ammonia, so as tank is reading 0.25ammonia already, add 2.75ppm instead at 1.71ml..... Is this correct?

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Today the tank is much clearer
I dosed dr Tim's and ammonia last night, so let the cycling commence!

 

[misterpro]

Nice, looking forward to seeing that nice piece of wood with some plants contrasting it...
 

 A admin mod can change the link for you if you request it and give an alternative link.

 
That 4th pic's link ends with ".htm" if you change it to ".html" (like the others) it works just fine (I had a look at the pic).

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Thanks, but I can't get in to change it now

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Ok link been sorted by forum mod,...thank you, you know who you are

 

[LilyRose Tank]

Ok, nearly the end of first 24 hours since dosing with 2/3 ppm, and it's now reading
Ammonia .5/1ppm
Nitrite0
NitrAte 20ppm
Is this possible using dr Tim's?
Plus the substrate is leaching ammonia too

 

[Ch4rlie]

Looks good readings for this stage imo.
 
Florabase substrate does indeed cause ammonia spike. Mainly due to the substrate containing ammonium in which reacts when water is added as well as containing nutrients for the plants
 
This ammonia spikes should last perhaps two weeks so would suggest not stocking this tank for at least two weeks and regular checking of water parameters  for the cycle process.
 
The only cause for concern is that I do not know if you have seen any nitrite spikes, the ammonia and nitrates may well be from the substrate itself and not part of the cycle. So would be wary of saying if this is on way to being cycled without any further test result yet to be done.
 
And yes, results like these are possible using Dr Tim's One and Only since these bottles usually contains both forms of bacteria needed to be able to convert ammonia to nitrite and from nitrite to nitrate, this is why Dr Tim's is highly recommended.
However this is largely down to how the bottles were handled, transported and shelved since the bacterias in the bottles are vulnerable to temperature and light,

 

[LilyRose Tank]

So, after much discussion with forum members, I have been advised to put the wood in the tank and plant it up to use up the ammonia and nitrate from the substrate leaching process. So today I placed the wood in the tank and tomorrow I plan to plant it up. But for now, here is a picture of the tank with wood installed. Today's water test results are the same ammonia 0, nitrite 0 , nitrAte 20