Preston4479, it varies between bags as far as the ammonia spike goes. you will need to setup another container anyway. in the method above, there are NO inverts or fish in the tank during cycling, only plants and filter bacteria. you can just setup a couple of those rubber maid storage containers with some of your existing gravel and plants with filters and hold them that way till the tank is ready. unfortunately, with AS you just have to be patient. i havent had a tank take less than 14 days to cycle, and i leave most at least a month before adding any fish or shrimps. plants i add from day one. i found that by letting a good sized bunch of nutrient hogs like foxtail, and salvinia float helps keep most of algae at bay as well. at least till your plants can establish themselves and outcompete the algae for nutrients.
|