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10 gallon starting over build

8K views 74 replies 10 participants last post by  ChrisK 
#1 ·
Well since my tank got either a case of ich or NTD. So I took everything out and let it soak in a bleach/water solution including the heater, filter and all the parts. Then i also put a bleach/water solution in the tank and let it soak till the next day. I had 2 kyoto plants, a crested java fern, some moneywort, and a java fern. I dipped each of them in the water/bleach solution and rinsed them all off but Im still kind of iffy on weather or not I should or can put them back in the tank.

Here is what the tank had looked like:


I have already ordered:
1 - Bag floramax midnight
1 - T8 aqueon floramax bulb
3 - Dwarf subulata
3 - Corkscrew vallisenaria
1 - Rosette sword
and some dwarf hairgrass. All of which should be here Tuesday! :-D

As of right now i have the tank empty with water in it the filter running along with the heater. I've added some microbe-lift and here's what my parameters look like so far.

Ammonia: 2.0ppm
PH: 7.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

Something doesn't seem right with the cycling. It has been running for 3 days thought I might see something already but im probably wrong lol. I also tested the water in the tank for chlorine which showed up as 0. Which is awesome!

Here is the tank now!


Any suggestions would be awesome!
 
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#3 ·
What is your ammonia source ....and even with a constant source of ammonia, it takes some time to establish the bacteria colony(ies) necessary to properly manage Ammonia to Nitrites and Nitrites to Nitrates of the ensuing bio-load to become an established system.
 
#5 ·
Hi! If I could, I have some unrelated (to the cycle, at least) thoughts...

I would trash the kyoto grass. My understanding is that it is not a plant that can be grown fully submerged, and will just die in a few months. So you might want to look that up and then toss it in the trash.

Also, is the rhizome buried on the Java fern? I believe that they must have the rhizome attached to a rock or wood with fishing line above the substrate. If the rhizome is buried, I think it will rot and die.

I hope that helps, and I hope things go smoothly for you from here on out!
 
#8 ·
If you intend to have live plants, my suggestion would be to plant the tank on day one and add a couple fish. With sufficient live plants, if some are fast growing, they will handle the ammonia. Messing with ammonia when you have plants is only adding problems. I can explain further if you ask.

Byron.
 
#10 ·
With sufficient plants, there will be no "cycle" to speak of. Bacteria will still establish, but minimally due to the plants grabbing much of the ammonia. So there is no cycling problems for the fish. Fish must be minimal though, I can suggest possible ones when I know what fish you are planning. Also, the tank must be fairly well planted. A floating plant is especially useful as floaters are always fast growing.

The idea is that plants grab much of the ammonia, and they assimilate it as a nutrient (nitrogen). Nitrite is not a by-product of this, so there is no cycle. However, some nitrosomonas bacteria will colonize surfaces, but with enough plants they will be very few, and the secondary nitrite will be so low as to be undetectable with a test kit.

Byron.
 
#16 ·
Awesome best info so far thanks Byron! I just received my floramax bulb and substrate I have the substrate soaking in a bucket right now and I put the bulb in. It actually looks a bit dimmer than the original light I had in there. Is that how it's supposed to be? I plan on putting in about 2-3 inches of the floramax and a 1 inch layer of the play sand on top. Once I get my plants and driftwood ill be on business! Now another question I got some dwarf hair grass coming now will that spread out with good setting/parameters?
 
#17 ·
Don't know what the substrate you have is, but be careful not to have too much depth. Two inches of the substrate with about half an inch of sand will be sufficient. And as they will mix if they are disturbed, lay the substrate first, add ythe woiod and plant the plants, then when everything is where you want it, sprinkle the sand on top. Planting through both will certainly mix them.
 
#22 ·
Ohhh well that makes sense. I have never used flormax just heard of it. I don't know what the texture of it is like but if it is as rough and sharp as eco-complete. Corys wouldn't be a good idea. Though from looking at pics of flormax it didn't look that way to me?
 
#24 ·
LoL ok then I don't blame you for trying to put sand on top. I just took my eco-complete out altogether since it was shape and was still having to use root tablets(for my jungle vals.). So didn't see the point of it anymore and wanted sand so went that way.
 
#27 · (Edited)
Well here is what I did today first i received this!

and did some of this

and here is a picture of the floramax for reference


I figured i'd make kind of a hill/rise in the back right corner to make it a bit different also it will make a good spot for the driftwood i ordered and the plants/driftwood should be here Thursday!
 
#30 ·
Ok so all my plants arrived today which makes me happy!

Plants and driftwood all from mikes wet pets on ebay great guy to have the pleasure of doing buisness with!


And after an hour of moving stuff around I came out with this

I know I know it doesnt look amazing or even good lol but hey its my first real planted tank attempt
 
#32 ·
Thanks! I got the driftwood soaking right now it should be ready for the tank tomorrow. I definitely recommend mikeswetpets on ebay i have never had a smoother transaction he even wrote out personal instructions for each plant I ordered and for the driftwood.
 
#33 ·
it looks good for a start, i bet it will look great once the plants start to grow in some more.
 
#36 ·
Tanks is looking. May I make some suggestions. Hope you don't mind. I think if you add some more driftwood or some rocks to the right side of the tank it would look even better. Also might suggest moving the sword to the middle kinda like a show piece plant. Also once the plants grow in and fill out they will look even better. Have you thought about a background? Solid black will help everything pop the colors of the plants and fish.

Now as far as the dwarf cichlids goes. There are many different types. That need different care. Do know what kinds they are? Also knowing your water parameters will help on deciding on the fish.
 
#38 ·
Knowing the GH and KH will help a lot not just hard or soft water. The best advice I can give ya is fine them out. Then find out what kind of fish they are for sure. Then research research research. LoL I don't really know a whole lot when it comes to certain fish species. So fine out that information and I am sure someone on here can help you out with.
 
#39 ·
For the background, the cheapest is plain black construction paper. You can buy a sheet (or two, depending upon size) at a hobby, arts or craft type store and cut it to fit the back and tape it on. I use this on several of my tanks. It is black so it "disappears" making the tank look deeper, and being non-glossy it is un-noticeable.
 
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