Cycling, Plants, Driftwood.

[dredgy]

Hi all,

After far too long, I finally have my tank partially decorated, filled with water and with the heater (eheim jager) and filter running fine that I can tell.

So its time to start cycling. The tank came with some Seachem stability so I threw the recommended dosage of that in until I can run out tomorrow and pick up an ammonia solution. However, while I wait until I can put fish in, I'd like to start adding plants. Is that safe to do? I'd like some form of moss and some reeds and bushes...if anyone could provide any recommendations that would be great. I'd like to grow the moss over driftwood and rocks.

Talking of which, I have a piece of driftwood that won't sink. Is there anyway to expedite the process of waterlogging it? I know its a weird request, but its taken so long to get everything to where it is now I would just like to be able to get on with the aquascaping.

Thanks all for your help, and I'll also take any general advice, tips and recommendations.

 

[techen]

So long as this Seachem stabillity says it's fine with plants I see no problem adding plants in as you cycle your tank. Moss, drifftwood and rocks should not effect the cycle.

Soaking your driftwood in a bucket of water for a week or so will make it sink and also remove the tannis inside it.

 

[the_lock_man]

The high ammonia levels can promote algae, which is why I always cycle with a bare tank, not even a substrate. Frustrating, deffo, but in my eyes worth it so that I don't have to clean everything thoroughly at the end of the cycle.

 

[dredgy]

Unfortunately I've already put my substrate in (which wasn't really an easy matter). I also had to replumb most of my apartment to be able to fill the tank, but algae isn't a huge concern for me, I'll just settle with cleaning it out. Lack of a pet or fish store anywhere near me is also phenomenally annoying, but enough griping.

The driftwood is weighed down in my bathtub as we speak.

Do I have to run the heater during the cycle? Its not exactly cold weather here (insanely hot actually), but I don't know the specific requirements for the bacteria to grow so I was gonna leave it on.

And also, how do I know if my filter is adequate? I am using the overhead filter included in my tank at the moment, which should be fine for cycling, but once fish are in I want the tank to be as low maintenance for me and as least stressful for the fish as possible.

The model of my aquarium is: http/www.aquaticsu...arium-200l.html

Sorry to be asking so many questions, and thanks again

 

[David J]

Hi there

Have a read at the guide on cycling in the beginners resource centre. It's a sticky in the new freshwater tank forum. It'll tell you everything you need to know but yes, you need the heater on as heat encourages the bacteria to grow.

Good luck, I'll be starting my first cycle in the next few days so know its a bit daunting.

David

 

[daizeUK]

The bacteria like a temperature of around 28 deg best, but I've also seen advice to have the tank at the same temperature you will be running for the fish. Personally I'm running mine at 26 deg and then I expect to turn it down a degree or two once the fish move in.

Good luck to you both Dredgy & David with your cycle! I know how exciting it feels to get your tank initially set up and then that daily feeling of waiting for something to happen once you start cycling. I'm currently on day 6 of my cycle and there's absolutely nothing happening except my lovely tank acquiring a suspiciously green tinge lol. I'm waiting for some sign of nitrites but there's not even a hint of a smidgen of them yet, I'm trying not to expect too much but I will probably go bonkers when that tube finally turns from blue to purple. I feel like I'm doing nothing but carefully cultivating a tank of algae at the moment

 

[dredgy]

Haha cheers, I'm running mine at 26 ATM as well, though nowhere remotely near me sells an ammonia solution so I have to make a full day trip tomorrow to get some. While I'm there I'm also gonna try and get some cycled filter media. Also, is the one filter I have sufficient for a well stocked tank?

Thank you,



Haha cheers, I'm running mine at 26 ATM as well, though nowhere remotely near me sells an ammonia solution so I have to make a full day trip tomorrow to get some. While I'm there I'm also gonna try and get some cycled filter media. Also, is the one filter I have sufficient for a well stocked tank?

Thank you,

 

[Colonials66]

I'm no expert on the matter of filters and the capacity they should hold, as I'm fairly new to the hobby myself. However, I have always been told that for a well stocked aquarium you should be looking at a rate of about four times the volume of the tank. Meaning that for a 60l tank you'll want a filter capable of 240 l/ph for example.

Hope this helps.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

To cut down the algae - just remove the light.

No light = no algae, even with ammonia in the tank. It might be upsetting to see the tank covered, but keeping out the light will keep the tank free of algae, if that is your concern.

 

[dredgy]

Hi all, thanks for the advice.

I still cannot for the life of me track down ammonia (or anything that even contains ammonia). I've ordered some from a fair distance away but it will take its time to get here with the holidays. In the mean time I've been dosing with fish food, which has gone mouldy/growing algae which I thought was good, but the ammonia reading is still 0-0.25 parts per million. The one place that has said they will sell me cycled filter media is closed until the New Year, so no luck on that front.

At the moment I have a box with a bit of sand and a lot of water. Not a great deal I can do about it until my ammonia arrives I guess, but I'll keep dosing with fish food.

 

[leighton_87]

Where abouts do you live? UK, US, somewhere else?

If people know roughly where you live they might be able to help you track down some ammonia

 

[dredgy]

Australia. Gold Coast. I can't even get the household ammonia at a supermarket. I have ordered an Ammonia solution from Perth once it seemed that online was the only viable way to do it. I went to nearly every pet store in the Gold Coast and Brisbane area and when I asked each one tried to sell me Seachem Stability or something similar.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yeah, fish stores don't generally carry ammonia (which makes some sense since its a poison), but carry a bunch of products that generally don't work.

I got my ammonia at a hardware store chain. You might want to check some hardware stores... or cleaning supply stores.

 

[dredgy]

My hardware stocked cloudy ammonia and that was it, I bought some as a last resort, as I have doubts about this powdered stuff rocking up. Would it be safe to use? I know it has detergents and all that.

I did get my cycled media though (a lot of it) and I replaced the tubular things in the filter. I have plenty of cycled stuff left over so should I replace the round balls as well? The cycled media is in pebble form.

Thank you

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The ammonia probably is the wrong type. You need pure ammonia. If it has any surfactants then it isn't the right stuff. If it foams/bubbles when shake, it isn't the right stuff. But if you have cycled media you can add fish immediately. Add some food to provide a source of ammonia until the fish come.