[Dina-Angel]

Well, with the Nitrite being that high it is out of question i guess...

Got the last piece of wood in, now i just need more background plants and i think i am done for now

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

He will say no

Using fish to cycle is mean

Lookin good, is your dhg not doing so hot?

 

[Dina-Angel]

What is dhg? Sigh lol

And i don't want to bring my fish into a death trap... just tried to avoid adding ammonia but i guess that is what i have to do

 

[CheyLillymama22]

Dhg is dwarf hair grass.

Adding ammonia is actually way easier than keeping uo with constant large water cjanges to avoid killing the fish youre using to cycle.

I love your wood! Looking great.

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

^^^^^Yeah what she said

 

[somewhatshocked]

I'm always afraid of harming fish when putting them into tanks that aren't cycled. Many consider it cruel. But you may be able to do it.

Just usually easier to add a few drops of ammonia each day until your tank is ready.

 

[Dina-Angel]

I'm always afraid of harming fish when putting them into tanks that aren't cycled. Many consider it cruel. But you may be able to do it.

Just usually easier to add a few drops of ammonia each day until your tank is ready.

Yes, it does seem cruel and will be therefore out of question. Ammonia drops it will be

And about the dhg, its actually doing ok, still has some moldy stuff on it, but I saw some new leaves coming, so I guess its alright?

 

[somewhatshocked]

Yep! Sometimes it takes a while for DHG to do its thing but it eventually will - even in low light.

 

[Dina-Angel]

That's what i thought... If i pull the stuff off the leaves, i can see a healthy bright green how it is supposed to be, so time will tell... Got 2 more plants today as a filler in between the stones, Pogostemon helferi and Telanthera reineckii (not sure if it will survive), but i got them from somebody for free and thought it will be worth a shot.

 

[somewhatshocked]

When the time comes for me to give you some Cherry Shrimp, I'll also give you some nicer mosses that you can spread throughout the tank or glue to wood.

Looking great so far.

 

[Dina-Angel]

Thank you I spent a lot of time on this tank and now i really hope everything will fall into it's place once the plants are growing...

And i surely will appreciate the moss! I have so many holes in the wood now that i was planning on using them to stick it in, lay it out, so it can attach to the wood. That should work, or am i mistaken?

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

The dhg just looked pale in the last picture when everything looked good, was just wondering

I love the xmas moss i got from somewhatshocked... Just fyi (better than my other 2 mosses)

 

[Dina-Angel]

Yes, it does look pale right now, but i think it is just from the mold. Definitely not easy to get it off atm

Here is a picture, hope it is good enough to see

 

[somewhatshocked]

Have you tried using an old toothbrush to remove that stuff?

Usually works pretty well.

 

[Dina-Angel]

No, I did not. Will try that out, thank you

 

[Dina-Angel]

Did another round of testing today, readings are:

Ammonia 0.25 ppm
Nitrite 0.25 ppm
Nitrate 0 ppm

I did not add Ammonia yet, still need to buy that stuff...

What would you say, is the tank on the right way with its cycling? Inhabitants are only a few pond snails (i think that is what they are, pulled them from my 55 g) and nothing else

 

[Dina-Angel]

When can I do a water change? It's been really dark with the tannings and I would like to make a small change but don't want to interrupt the cycling

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

Technically I guess when your readings are 0 then its cycled... but that doesnt mean you will have a big colony because theres so little ammonia right now to cycle with

make sense? It might cycle itself now but that doesnt mean the system wont be shocked and cycle again once you add more inhabitants

 

[Dina-Angel]

Readings today:

Ammonia 0.25-0.5 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 5 ppm

All wood is finally soaked and in position, plants are growing moderate. The water is just still Brown from the wood

 

[Dina-Angel]

I understand it right that Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0 before adding the shrimp, right? How about Nitrate? Under 20 or even lower?