tigermoth2
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- Jan 16, 2008
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Things are really starting to look up with my first ever fishless cycle.
Day 6 saw a batch of plants from Greenline added (about 120).
Day 13 saw the ammonia drop to zero.
Day 18 (today) saw the nitrite drop to 1 ppm. Had a suspicion things were moving because since the nitrite went shooting up on day 10, by the time I had put the stopper on the test tube for the test the colour was turning purple. Today it only had a hint of mauve before mixing and waiting.
Plants are now really starting to look settled in - some leaves have reached the surface, which is no mean feat in a 70 cm deep tank! Even the floating plants are looking healthy and have replaced there roots and are now producing side-shoots.
Nitrate started at 5 ppm from the tap and seems to have settled at about 20 ppm. I think the plants are probably absorbing some of it.
Have tested the pH as well and it's about 7.4 - higher than I had hoped it would be. May try a bit of lowering once everything is settled.
Have to admit that I have been very impressed by the API master test kit. Praise indeed from a retired chemistry teacher who has never used any of these kits before!
Gave the tank a small ammonia boost today after the water testing just to check that everything is OK.
Hopefully I should be ready for first fish in about 10 years by Monday.
Just as well I'm away for the weekend, otherwise I might have been tempted to start early.
Photographing this tank is difficult because it is opposite a window (north facing, so no sunlight problem) and the window reflects light into the front of the tank. Will try again in the evening if I can move my wife from her chair!
Have been very impressed with the Rena Calvados package except for the XP3 filter - have not managed to silence it, in spite of carpeting and polystyrene. Will get an Eheim when funds are released and transfer the filters and ceramic rings.
Bob W
Day 6 saw a batch of plants from Greenline added (about 120).
Day 13 saw the ammonia drop to zero.
Day 18 (today) saw the nitrite drop to 1 ppm. Had a suspicion things were moving because since the nitrite went shooting up on day 10, by the time I had put the stopper on the test tube for the test the colour was turning purple. Today it only had a hint of mauve before mixing and waiting.
Plants are now really starting to look settled in - some leaves have reached the surface, which is no mean feat in a 70 cm deep tank! Even the floating plants are looking healthy and have replaced there roots and are now producing side-shoots.
Nitrate started at 5 ppm from the tap and seems to have settled at about 20 ppm. I think the plants are probably absorbing some of it.
Have tested the pH as well and it's about 7.4 - higher than I had hoped it would be. May try a bit of lowering once everything is settled.
Have to admit that I have been very impressed by the API master test kit. Praise indeed from a retired chemistry teacher who has never used any of these kits before!
Gave the tank a small ammonia boost today after the water testing just to check that everything is OK.
Hopefully I should be ready for first fish in about 10 years by Monday.
Just as well I'm away for the weekend, otherwise I might have been tempted to start early.
Photographing this tank is difficult because it is opposite a window (north facing, so no sunlight problem) and the window reflects light into the front of the tank. Will try again in the evening if I can move my wife from her chair!
Have been very impressed with the Rena Calvados package except for the XP3 filter - have not managed to silence it, in spite of carpeting and polystyrene. Will get an Eheim when funds are released and transfer the filters and ceramic rings.
Bob W
