Decisions, Decisions, ==== Help!

[Bigman]

Sorry, Trying to upload an Excel file
 
No Joy
 
Tony

 

[DerpPH]

Do you use laterite?

 

[Bigman]

No DerpPH, Substrate is 1" of 'Tropica' Plant Growth substrate, topped with 1" of aquarium sand, 
 
Regards
Tony

 

[ech0o]

That is extremely pretty!

 

[Bigman]

Thank you echOo, If (and its a big if) all the plants take, it should look quite nice when the fish are in....
The sand area to the right of the picture is where the Willow moss is going, together with 2 x small bamboo hides for the shrimp,,,, should they decide to go in there lol
 
But over all, its not looking bad for my first planted tank..
 
Regards
Tony.

 

[Bigman]

Hi everyone, just a quick up date.
 
Since the photo yesterday, the sides of my tank are starting to get a brown algae bloom.... I read somewhere that this is normal during 'fishless' cycling' so I hope that's right?
 
Ammonia levels are going from about 4 ppm to very near zero in  24 hours, and nitrites are off the scale, so I'm assuming that the ammonia bacteria are 'getting there' and will need 'feeding' daily (up to me stocking the tank) and that the nitrite processing bacteria are still developing.. or asleep

. I'll do a nitrate test tomorrow just to check if any are doing there thing.
 
I just assume that I will have to put up with a dirty tank until cycling is complete, yes? 
 
Regards
Tony

 

[Bigman]

Sorry, forgot to ask about water changes.  Am I right in saying that no water changes are required until 'nitrates' go sky high, proving that the nitrogen cycle is complete......
 
Regards
Tony

 

[ech0o]

Exactly Tony, don't mess with the water until fish are ready to go in in which case you will do a nearly full water change to refresh the water, doing so before then will slow down the cycle.