Fishless Cycle Log/aesthetic Setup

[Schmill]

Bio-film, don't worry about it, it's just organic 'muck' and it will grow like anything during the cycle
I've got the white/clear jelly growing on all my pipes, bogwood, filter tubes, heater suckers, everywhere it can get whilst I am cycling - lol

 

[Paavn]

thanks guys, i just get curious about things i havnt come across before. i should really look into which fish i want to get for sure now

 

[Paavn]

so here is the new update
1/9
water is clear, pH:7.9, ammonia:2ppm, nitrite: 0-.25ppm, temp:82

1/10
Clear water, pH:7.9, ammonia2ppm, nitrite: 0-.25ppm, temp:82

1/11
Clear water, pH:7.8, ammonia2ppm, nitrite:.25-.5ppm, nitrate: 5-10ppm, temp:82

1/12
clear water, ammonia: 1.5ppm, nitrite: 1ppm, temp:82

1/13
clear water, pH:7.9, ammonia: .5ppm, NItrite: 2-5ppm, nitrate: 10-20ppm, temp: 83

going to top up the ammonia right now.

my tank still looks the same as above just without the white pebbles on the black slate, im still looking into which plants would work best for me
if i plan on having a pleco should i have potted plants so that it has room to roam around the bottom? or keep it mostly empty?

by the way if anyone is wondering how much ammonia they need to use if they purchase the walmart brand its 1ml per gallon to get to about 5ppm.
(i tried searching it but i couldnt find it)

 

[Miss Wiggle]

excellent, certainly making progress on your cycle!

it's good to leave some floor space for plecs however don't feel you need to leave it all bare, you can even have areas of dense planting if you like but be aware that plecs can be a bit clumsy and tend to swim into your plants and uproot them!

 

[Paavn]

excellent, certainly making progress on your cycle!

it's good to leave some floor space for plecs however don't feel you need to leave it all bare, you can even have areas of dense planting if you like but be aware that plecs can be a bit clumsy and tend to swim into your plants and uproot them!

thats what i read in the plec section of the forum in one of the posts, so i just wanted to make sure lol

 

[Paavn]

And one more update lol hopefully in the next one im done cycling and find some java moss so i can plant in on the slate
ps: all the ammonia top ups are done that same test, but after i take the tests

1/14
pH:7.9, ammonia:4ppm, nitrite: 5ppm, temp:83

1/15:ammonia top up
pH:7.8, ammonia:.25, nitrite: >5ppm, nitrate:20ppm, temp:83

1/16
pH:7.9, ammonia:1ppm, nitrite:>5ppm, nitrate: 5ppm?, temp:80

1/16:ammonia top up
ph:7.9, ammonia:0, nitrite:>5ppm, temp:82

1/17
pH:7.8, ammonia:0ppm, nitrite:>5ppm, nitrate: 5-10ppm, temp 82

1/17:results after water change and ammonia top up
pH:8.3, ammonia: >4ppm, nitrite: 1ppm, temp:81

1/17:removed filter cartridge that came with the filter (had the carbon in it)
pH:7.8, ammonia:1.5ppm, nitrite:>5ppm, nitrate:5ppm, temp:84

1/18: 12hrs after media removal
pH:7.8, ammonia:0.25ppm, nitrite: >5ppm, temp:79

1/18:ammonia top up
pH:8, ammonia:0, nitrite:>5ppm, temp:80

1/19:ammonia top up
pH:7.6 - 7.8, ammonia:0-0.25, nitrite:>5ppm, nitrate: 5-10ppm, temp:86