Hey everyone, thanks for checking this out and for whatever you can contribute.
So I have set up my 10 gallon tank. I've got the a flourite substrate in the and 3 plants (H. difformis, M. pteropus, and A. nana). Here is the story. So its day 3 now of the tank being set up. I am trying for the first time a fishless cycle. My ammonia source is food, slightly less than half a tablespoon of freeze dried plankton to be exact. It is wrapped up and tied to the driftwood. (there appears to be a transparent goo growing on it, which i believe to be a bacterial colony establishing itself.) BUT test results over the past three days are confusing.
I am using old API liquid test kit. Any results shown in brackets "[XX]" are the results from old Jungle test strips - I know, shame on me, but I don't have liquid test kit for nitrates and the hardness instructions are missing I thought it would be good to have 2 opinions either way.
Day 1
Substrate placed in tank, no ammonia source added. Water was treated with Prime prior to entering the tank.
Day 2 - Plants added, 0.5 mL dose of Aqueon Plant food and 2 Jungle Plant tabs added within 1-3 inches of plants
Ammonia = 0.5 - 1.0 ppm
Nitrites = 0 ppm [0.5 ppm]
Nitrates = Did not test
pH = 7.0 (relatively low and odd reading from what is consistent. I think it is from my hands being in the tank for so long during planting.)
Hardness = [>300 ppm]
Chlorine [0.5 ppm]
Day 3
Ammonia = 2.0 - 3.0 ppm [0.5 ppm]
Nitrites = 0 ppm [0.5 ppm]
Nitrates = [40 ppm]
pH = 7.5
Hardness = [>300 ppm]
Chlorine = [0.5 ppm]
Day 4 - Today
Ammonia = 0.5 - 1.0 ppm [0.5 ppm]
Nitrites = 0 ppm
Nitrates = [80 ppm]
pH = 7.5
Hardness = Did not test
Chlorine = Did not test
So. First, should I be expecting to see results in the first 3 days? Is the ammonia source sufficient to produce results? Am I not seeing ammonia because the plants in the tank are using it?
I have pictures and extra information posting under my tanks aquarium log, but I will post it here so you don't have to make the trip.
AquaClear Mini
15 watt life-glo II, 6700k
50 watt heate
75 degrees fahrenheit
So I have set up my 10 gallon tank. I've got the a flourite substrate in the and 3 plants (H. difformis, M. pteropus, and A. nana). Here is the story. So its day 3 now of the tank being set up. I am trying for the first time a fishless cycle. My ammonia source is food, slightly less than half a tablespoon of freeze dried plankton to be exact. It is wrapped up and tied to the driftwood. (there appears to be a transparent goo growing on it, which i believe to be a bacterial colony establishing itself.) BUT test results over the past three days are confusing.
I am using old API liquid test kit. Any results shown in brackets "[XX]" are the results from old Jungle test strips - I know, shame on me, but I don't have liquid test kit for nitrates and the hardness instructions are missing I thought it would be good to have 2 opinions either way.
Day 1
Substrate placed in tank, no ammonia source added. Water was treated with Prime prior to entering the tank.
Day 2 - Plants added, 0.5 mL dose of Aqueon Plant food and 2 Jungle Plant tabs added within 1-3 inches of plants
Ammonia = 0.5 - 1.0 ppm
Nitrites = 0 ppm [0.5 ppm]
Nitrates = Did not test
pH = 7.0 (relatively low and odd reading from what is consistent. I think it is from my hands being in the tank for so long during planting.)
Hardness = [>300 ppm]
Chlorine [0.5 ppm]
Day 3
Ammonia = 2.0 - 3.0 ppm [0.5 ppm]
Nitrites = 0 ppm [0.5 ppm]
Nitrates = [40 ppm]
pH = 7.5
Hardness = [>300 ppm]
Chlorine = [0.5 ppm]
Day 4 - Today
Ammonia = 0.5 - 1.0 ppm [0.5 ppm]
Nitrites = 0 ppm
Nitrates = [80 ppm]
pH = 7.5
Hardness = Did not test
Chlorine = Did not test
So. First, should I be expecting to see results in the first 3 days? Is the ammonia source sufficient to produce results? Am I not seeing ammonia because the plants in the tank are using it?
I have pictures and extra information posting under my tanks aquarium log, but I will post it here so you don't have to make the trip.
AquaClear Mini
15 watt life-glo II, 6700k
50 watt heate
75 degrees fahrenheit