Hi BTT, thanks for your reply
To be honest I only switched to 12 hourly adding of ammonia because it was the weekend and I was wanting to keep an eye on the readings, as from today I shall be switching back to 24 hour additions, (but 12 hours tests).
I'd be happy with it being cycled if I wasn't now having issues with the tank itself
At the moment I have an issue with the condensation proof hood. The water does condensate on it, and it doesn't affect the hood, the problem is some of the water is finding it's way around the hood, and managing to slowly trickle down the outside of the tank. This is really concerning me as I don't want the cabinet below being affected. I'm currently in contact with Aqua One as they say that other than the hood the tank does not need a condensation cover, so I'm trying to get them to explain to me why then my tank is wet on the outside - lol
At the moment I can't even put my background on my tank, because of the little trickles of water that keep running down the outside back
Combining that with the fact that one of the reasons I bought this tank was because of the blurb on the website about T5 lighting, (which on a tall tank I think is quite important for a planted tank?), but recently after actually 'looking' at the hood I realise that I have the older T8 style. It's only recently that I found out the physical size differences of the T5's and T8's so realised
So YAY to being cycled, but NAY to being ready to put fish in it
After speaking to them a little yesterday it seems their website / sales blurb got updated with all the new stats, but they had only just started shipping the newer items, so a lot of stockists still had the 'older' items. My fault I guess for not knowing enough and thoroughly checking what I received against what I had seen on the Aqua One website, but still not happy about it, (especially the now dripping hood), so will wait to see what they say when they call me back.
As for the stocking, I will be moving my current stock from my 60L tank into the 300L and adding to it. So that will be:
4 Cardinal Tetras
1 Juv. Male Guppy
1 Female Guppy
7(?) Guppy Fry
2 Male Rainbow Praecox
1 Female Rainbow Praecox
2 Albino Corys
1 Bulldog Pleco
However as I don't yet have a quaratine tank, I'll probably put the new fish into the 300L tank first, and then move my existing fish over a month or so after that.
The new fish are basically just going to be 'additions' to my current stock, as I like a quantity of smaller fish, with perhaps a couple of larger ones, rather than just a few large fish.
The additional fish I want to get are:
+6 Cardinal Tetras - (10 total)
+3 Male Rainbow Praecox (5 total)
+4 Female Rainbow Praecox (5 total)
+4 Albino Corys (6 total)
+1 Bulldog Pleco (2 total)
Perhaps +2 BristleNose Pleco (2 total)
Then later either 2 or 4 Denison Barb's (Torpedo Barbs), as 'center piece' fish.
As for plants I've got loads of camboba(sp?) in my 60L tank so I'll be transfering some of that over as it seems to grow like mad, (well, certainly in the 60L tank).
I'm also thinking of some Java Fern and / or Amazon Sword as taller plants, and I need to find / decide on some low level carpet plants too. I had looked at Java moss for this, but everywhere I read about it seems to say it has a horrible habit of breaking free and getting everywhere, including into filter media etc.
My main issues with the plants is that I don't have a CO2 system, and ideally would like to not need one. As for lighting I think the lighting I have at the moment is 2 30W (or 35W) T8 tubes, but obviously I'll have to wait and see whether I can get this changed to a T5 twin tube system.
Suggestions always welcome
Thanks again
(but you should do a 'qualifying week' in case of any blips). I would say work out the amount of ammonia required and assume that it is 4ppm. You can roughly check it with your test kit.
I nearly fell off my chair! Most LFS owners don't know about fishless cycling, and here was someone from the tank manufacturer seemingly fairly well clued up on it!
