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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| new photos
Here is a photo of the tank so far. The driftwood is still in the tub, its taking me forever to clean it, but I have to make sure that all the tannins and loose wood is off it first. Since it may take awhile, I went ahead and started the other decorating for now.
Today I will add a established filter with lots of good ole sponge in it. A few bags of established gravel and a few more decorations from the other tank.
The heaters are turned on and its about 75* so far, once the heat gets to 80* I will add the filter. Then its a wait for the cyle to begin from there...
I wish that bigAls had tetra safe start when I put my big order in.. uggh.. I may end up trying to find it somewhere else tho.
I really like the coralights... they are great! Nicely lit up the tank. 
The doors are off the stand right now, waiting on the hinges and door handles. Still have to buy stain... | 
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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
|  It's looking really super Kate! I can't wait to see it with the driftwood in it. | 
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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| very nice tank Kate | |
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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy  It's looking really super Kate! I can't wait to see it with the driftwood in it. | Quote:
Originally Posted by midnightwolf very nice tank Kate | thank you Lucy and Midnightwolf... 
The temp is on the rise at almost 77* I believe I can start the established filter w/media now. I think that I may also add some pure ammonia, and will have to research just how much I should use. I dont want to over do it and kill off any BB in the media and decorations...
Thank you for stopping by and checking out my tank progress.. Im pretty excited about it and cant wait to be able to move my fish there.Im also thinking of adding an established piece of driftwood w/java moss from the other tank. | |
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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Start off slow with the ammonia. A lot of people make the mistake of adding too much and overwhelming the amount of bacteria in the established media.
I would probably bring the ammonia up to 1ppm.
test in 12-24hrs. If you get a 0 reading, bring it to 2ppm, test in 12-24hrs. | |
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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy Start off slow with the ammonia. A lot of people make the mistake of adding too much and overwhelming the amount of bacteria in the established media.
I would probably bring the ammonia up to 1ppm.
test in 12-24hrs. If you get a 0 reading, bring it to 2ppm, test in 12-24hrs. | I was reading in the forum's cycling the tank articles. For using ammonia to cycle, it says to add 5 drops per 10g of water. repeat til I see a nitrite reading, then cut down to 3 drops per 10g continue daily til I get a nitrate reading, then do a 30% w.c. and add fish.
I also read up and knew about adding established media etc. But what I cant find is where it is suggested that I can use both methods together?
I will start using the ammonia today and will try to bring it to 1ppm. But not sure how many drops that will take.
Im hoping that it is a good idea to try both methods at the same time and not cause a failure of the established media if I do.  | |
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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Well, your not really trying both methods at once. Just keeping the bacteria fed.
If you weren't seeding the tank you'd want to add a lot more ammonia because there wouldn't be any bacteria to overwhelm.
If you're ready to add your fish, you can skip the ammonia, the fish waste, as you know will give the bacteria ammonia to feed off of. | |
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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Hi Lucy,
I was just doing yet some more reading in the nitrogen cycle forum..
I came across an old thread of yours where you cycled your tank with filter media and ammonia and you had a chart there as well. I believe it was a 5g hex?
Anyway... I was happy to see that it cycled quickly for you. I think that with the filter w/BB sponge, plus adding more BB sponges to the canister and adding the established driftwood to the tank I may very well be on my way to a cycled tank w/o the ammonia. But I dont want to loose any of the BB without any ammonia source such as fish waste either.
So maybe I will just add a touch of pure ammonia along with the rest and test it daily and see where it is. Or with all the filter media etc in the new tank maybe I should add my three rainbows for the added ammonia waste they will produce?
Im confusing myself more and more as I type hehehe....  | |
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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| LOL, your post made sense to me. Your choice of which ammonia source you'd use. (fish or ammonia)
That 5g cycled fast didn't it? | |
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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Hi Lucy
I have been away trying to figure out the canister filter... uggh where is that hair pulling smiley? lol...
I tried adding a HOB filter to the tank edge, but the tank edge is too wide for the flow tube. So Im going to take the media and put it into the canister, and decided to go ahead with the driftwood that I have in the other tank for more established BB, plus bags of gravel. Then I will probably go ahead and take the rainbows and put them in the tank and continue with water testing from there. At least I have the python for any water changes I will need. | |
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March 3rd, 2009
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| | Moderator
| This one?  It's under generic smilies. lol
That sounds like a great plan. I'm sure it's going to work fine.
Can't wait to see the pics with the drift wood and fish | |
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March 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
|  LOVE IT! Nice going with the sand substrate.. and with the driftwood, it'll be wonderful 
soooooo..hmmmm..what kind of fish you getting to add to the parrots? | |
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March 5th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by mare2009 LOVE IT! Nice going with the sand substrate.. and with the driftwood, it'll be wonderful
soooooo..hmmmm..what kind of fish you getting to add to the parrots? | Thank you!
I do like the sand substrate. Always wanted to try it in a tank.
LOL.. I really have not thought about it to tell ya the truth haha...
So not sure... will wait awhile anyway before I decide IF any to add... | |
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March 6th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| The BR parrots have been moved to the 125g and everyone is doing fine. Here are a few photos of the tank and fishies.
Last things I need to do is buy some tall silk plants for the background area, more quartz rocks and eventually add the large long driftwood that is still in my tub! lol.. good thing we have another shower to use in the meantime this is going to take me a long time to do! hahah... Also going to add some low light live plants as well. But this is a start...
Its been a very long day .... Im exhusted, think I will watch the rest of Ghost Whisperer and head to bed very soon... zzzzzzzzz..... <yawn> | |
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March 6th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Your tank looks great Kate. Your hard work has certainly paid off. Get some sleep | |
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March 6th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMTS Your tank looks great Kate. Your hard work has certainly paid off. Get some sleep | Thanks Kate, it sure has been a long day! Not only moving these guys, wrapping the 55 in a black out due to the green water, cleaning out Phoenix's tank and putting the convict there to keep him from continually picking on the JDs that are in the 29, waiting for the 55 to be ready for them.
Yep.. a looooong day.... Im exhusted
have a wonderful evening! ~ kate | |
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