Hello all! Iām new to the aquarium hobby and a couple of weeks ago I got my first tank. Itās a 60 litre planted tank. I just want to make sure Iām doing things correctly to cycle it before I add fish.
1. Iāve been adding some fish food and bottled bacteria every other day to cycle as I havenāt been able to find pure ammonia. The food has developed a white hair like bacteria around it. Is this normal?
2. My test results so far show I currently have 3ppm ammonia 0 nitrites and 10 nitrates. Iāve never had a nitrite reading. I tested my tap water and it shows 5ppm nitrate so Iām assuming the nitrates are just directly from my water source and not because of the cycling process. Am I right in thinking my tank is cycled when my ammonia levels lower and I get a nitrite spike and then a nitrate spike?
3. Iāve been adding plant fertiliser twice a week and in particular Iāve noticed my limnophila heterophylla has been growing fast. Iāve been reading about the silent plant cycle and have heard that you know your tank is cycled when you see plant growth. Is this true for my case?
I hope someone can help out as Iām a bit confused with everything.
1. Iāve been adding some fish food and bottled bacteria every other day to cycle as I havenāt been able to find pure ammonia. The food has developed a white hair like bacteria around it. Is this normal?
2. My test results so far show I currently have 3ppm ammonia 0 nitrites and 10 nitrates. Iāve never had a nitrite reading. I tested my tap water and it shows 5ppm nitrate so Iām assuming the nitrates are just directly from my water source and not because of the cycling process. Am I right in thinking my tank is cycled when my ammonia levels lower and I get a nitrite spike and then a nitrate spike?
3. Iāve been adding plant fertiliser twice a week and in particular Iāve noticed my limnophila heterophylla has been growing fast. Iāve been reading about the silent plant cycle and have heard that you know your tank is cycled when you see plant growth. Is this true for my case?
I hope someone can help out as Iām a bit confused with everything.