Tank cycling - normal?

[JPW003]

Hi all
I'm a newbie to this and regrettably started the cycle with fish last Saturday. I did "think" I was cycling during the first two weeks prior to adding fish but my previous post and great advice from essjay proved otherwise.

So I'm a week/8 days in, 54l planted aquarium with 5 neon's. Some of my plant leaves are a bit brown and algae is producing as normal, i think.

I'm testing 1-2 times a day. Amonia is 0.5ppm (and appears to be falling slightly), nitrite is 0 and nitrate is 10. Does this sound normal for 8 days in and/or am I to expect a spike over the coming days/week. The main reason I ask is I'm away on business from Monday morning till Wednesday night and I'm concerned that all my efforts might be in vain.

I've done 20% water changes for the 5 out of the 8 days and 50% water changes for two of these days, at day 2 and 5. I've done no water changes today as, despite understanding ammonia should be at zero, the results don't appear horrific to me?

I've been conscious on feeding, a pinch once a day and they go a bit mad for the food. I don't think I'm under-feeding and I feel less is more at the moment.

The fish are quiet mostly, spending time alone or in groups close to the bottom which suggests some stress to me but I'm unsure what else I can do at the moment while I get through this tough period. I'm delighted that I've still got the five and want to keep it that way of course so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

J

 

[JPW003]

Just to add, I'm adding Prime at water change, measured to the fresh water (not full tank water) and Seacham Stability (again, measured to the new fresh water). I've also added Seacham Flourish Comprehensive to support the plants, just the once so far. Incidentally, how often should you add Flourish to a 54L tank, with 8 plants (3 small, 3 medium and 2 large)?

Thanks,

J

 

[Retired Viking]

You could add some live floating plants like hornwort or anacharis. You can also plant them in the grave. Moneywort and water sprite work also to absorb the ammonia. I did a silent cycle on two of my tanks with fish. That will help keep the levels down. Need to do water changes at the 50% level or even up to 75%. I would do a 75% before you leave on your trip.

 

[JPW003]

Thank you, I will do that. Appreciated.

Do plants generally go brown at the very start and then recover or will they get progressively worse and cause damage to the water/fish and worth replacing?

Thanks,

J

 

[Retired Viking]

I have only been having live plants for 6 months or so, I had plastic for many years. It depends on the plant, some turn brown if you give them too much or too little light. Others need additives added like Flourish which I have also started to use.

 

[JPW003]

Just started using Flourish yesterday - how often do you add it? Hope your plants are thriving

 

[Retired Viking]

I just added it for the 1st time after my last water change Wednesday for my tetra tank(55 gallon) Some of my Java and African water ferns were getting a little brown. Before that my fish seemed to be doing a good job "feeding" the plants. I only plan on doing it twice a month. I also adjusted my lights in case they were getting too much light. My 30 gallon guppy/shrimp tank is located on the sunny side of the house and the plants in there are growing like crazy. It does not have any ferns in it but has moneywort, hornwort and anachris.

 

[JPW003]

I just don't know if I'mm giving them too much light or not enough light! I'm at 8 hours at the moment and the lighting is the standard 6w 6500 Kelvin that came with my Aquael Leddy 60. THe water is very clear, as are the tank sides but the algae is very visible and the plants going brown - I'm thinking of trimming down a couple of the bad leaves and hope they'll grow back.

What with the plants and the fish cycling issue, it's not the easiest hobby to succeed at but I am enjoying it! Green plants would be a nice to have!

 

[Retired Viking]

What types of plants do you have?

 

[JPW003]

That's a good question, and one I really should know the answer to. Guess who threw the packaging away without writing them down...

Here's my plants, in all their green and blown glory.

Good luck!

J

 

[Retired Viking]

Pictures 2 and 3 look to be Java Fern or some type of fern, someone else who is better at plants hopefully will notice your post and say for sure. I would pick up some fast growing plants like the floating plants I post before. You need plants that absorb ammonia at a higher rate. There is also tetra safe start you could use, I tried it in my bother-in-laws new tank and it worked.

 

[JPW003]

Thanks, I agree. I think number 1 is dwarf hairgrass, which just leaves the number 4. God knows what that is!

I'm just Seacham stability at the moment, but might try SafeStart instead/too.

Thanks for your help.

J

 

[Essjay]

Plant 2 looks like Java fern to me. But it should not be planted in the substrate. The thick root like thing which the leaves grow from is really a rhizome which will rot if buried. The thin hair like roots are OK to go down in the substrate but the rhizome must be above the substrate. Java fern, like anubias, should be grown attached to decor. It can be attached with superglue or tied on with thread - by the time the thread rots the roots will have attached the plants to the decor.
Plant 2 is not Java fern, but I don't know what it is.


The brown on the leaves - does it come off if you rub the leaves? If it does, the brown is diatoms which is common in tanks which have ammonia in the water.




AquaEl's lighting does confuse me a bit. Their 6500 K lights do not have red in them but their 8000 K lights do. From things I have read on here, surely that's the wrong way round?
Sunny LEDs are 6500 K and have a blue peak around 450 nm and a broad hump through green and yellow from 500 to 600 nm then it tails away to nothing.
Plant LEDs are 8000 K and have a blue peak at 450 nm, a broad hump through green and yellow from 500 to 600 nm, and a red peak at 650 nm.

Why does the 8000 K light have a red peak while the 6500 k light does not?