The Planted Tank Forum - View Single Post - planted cycling - how much how long?
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Old 01-30-2013, 08:33 PM   #46
Django
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To know when the tanks are finished cycling, between now and check Nitrates if you want to. When you are confident that the amonia-converting bacteria are eating all the ammonia in a small amount of time (it's really that ammonia = 0 when you test it. Number of minutes is good information but not essential. You just want that zero when you take 5 ml out of the tank and test it.

Then you will start to see a nitrite spike - same thing with that. Then test the nitrates. If there are nitrates present in the water, note the level and if it's above 20 ppm do a large water change, say 50%. After you have one of the 3 10s cycled do those levels on the onther two.
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10 planted gallons started on 4/18/12; 2x 13w CFL in "Brooder" dome reflectors; Substrate: BIG gravel; AquaClear 30 adjustable HOB;
Current Algae: Cyanobacteria, Black Brush?


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