Help Me Get This Right....

[Katch]

Ok here's the situation as it stands; I'm cycling a 90 litre (holds about 80 after displacement) DD Nano Cube (basically an 18" cube tank with a big filter built into the back).

My cycle is about done but I'm still dosing Ammonia. I have 36w + 24w T5 lights over the tank - I had dropped to just the 36w but there is a very large piece of bogwood in the middle and the back of the tank was not getting very much light at all.

I have 3 x 1 litre yeast CO2 bubbling in at the moment through 2 airstones - (I'm trying to get the plants established fairly quickly before introducing fish). I also add 10ml of Nutrafin Plant Gro (micros) every day or so.

Plants currently - Christmas moss, Several tiny Java Ferns, small cluster of Amazon swords, 2 clusters of crypts. The crypts have really perked up after the CO2 was added and the ferns are shooting out long roots (but not growing much yet) - the christmas moss initially died back but is now turning bright green and growing. My swords are getting new shoots but don't look well.

I have a proper pressurized CO2 system turning up in a day or 2 complete with drop checker etc.

What is the best course of action for me? Get the CO2 running while still cycling with ammonia and then add fish? Add fish and settle them in then add CO2?

What ferts and how much should I supplement? I really need a weekly or twice weekly regieme given other constraints that make daily dosing difficult.

How long should I set the photoperiod for?

Tank shot - ignore the big javas they had rotted off at the rhisome and have been chucked.

 

[RadaR]

Well for starters, you're going to need to supply the tank with macro nutrients instead of just micro nutrients. The fish wont produce enough N+P.
Until you get this then dont start the CO2. You'll just run into problems. Why? Because, more CO2 means the plants require more nutrients.
Wait until you get some macro nutrients, then you can start the CO2. Also in the mean time, reduce the lighting.
If you concentrate on getting some fast growing plants in there (lots of em) then you can stop adding the ammonia. See this link.
If you are definetly going down the CO2 route then daily dosing really is the best idea. It ensure that the plants dont run out of nutrients. A nutrient rich substrate woudld help if you missed a dosing. You'll need soem root tabs that contain N+P. These should do the trick.

 

[stevereade]

I have this same tank and the 36W alone is plenty of light believe me.

Lovely bit of wood there, I might get a piece for mine now lol, will have to be lot smaller tho to many plants lol.