Opinon And Advice On Cycling Tank

[fatmarley]

I'm sure you see these posts all the time, but I would really like to know
A. What is happening
B. Is all going well

I had an established tank with various fish running for a couple of years, so I am sure that my filter, wood, rocks and plants all have established bacteria. Last week I liquidated my fish (sold them off) and I bought some ADA Power Sand and Amazonian Soil. I setup the tank and placed all my decor back in the tank.

I have let the tank filter pump away for the last 3 days and I just did a 50% water change on the tank, plus I did a test of the water.
These are my readings.

Ph 6.5
KH 2
CO2 21 mg/l
NO2 0.3 mg/l
GH 5
NH3/NH4+ 5.0 mg/l (Possibly higher, the color was a dark green)

I know very little about the cycling process but my intention is to create a suitable environment for a harem of Cacatuoids and Borelllis to breed and spawn in a 40 gallon breeder. I am wondering how harm along I am, and if the parameters stay the same, such as the PH, KH and GH will this be suitable. I know the PH is on target, but I am unsure of the other two.

Thanks for the patience!!!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

you need to be careful with the ADA Amazonian soil, it gives off massive amounts of ammonia at first which can be toxic for fish so don't go adding anything yet. However this ammonia will be keeping your filter colony alive so in a way it's a good thing, you just need to keep checking your levels and when ammonia and nitrite both read 0 then you can add fish.

I explained the nitrogen cycle in this post which could be of some use to you, obviously if you have no fish in you can ignore the second part but the explanation of cycling should be some use.

Also this topic about pH, gH and kH should be useful to you.

 

[fatmarley]

Thanks for the pilthera of replies.

Figured it out!

 

[Dave Spencer]

I take it you are going for a planted tank.

I have a new tank to which I have just added ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia, and it has played havoc with the pH and NH3/4. I think you will need to give it a month before you even consider adding fish. Planting straight away will be no problem.

Dave.