55g cycle diary

[country_boy454]

Day 1

PH=7.2
Ammonia=~5 ppm (test kit goes 4ppm - 8ppm and its a dark 4ppm) only took 80 drops of ammonia to get this.
NO2=0
NO3=0
KH=8 degrees
Temp: 80 degrees

So excited to finally have the cycle started on this tank. I have the HOB filter off the 42g on here, two nylon socks with established gravel in them also hanging in the 55g. I'll try to get a camera and take photos of it for everyone. This will be a day to day update!

[angelcakes]

glad youre cycles going good look forward to the pics

[Lady Hobbs]

Did you use a seasoned filter pad? That will help speed things up and so does wood. When I cycle, I move all the wood into the uncycled one. The wood is porous and holds lots of ucky stuff.

[country_boy454]

Did you use a seasoned filter pad? That will help speed things up and so does wood. When I cycle, I move all the wood into the uncycled one. The wood is porous and holds lots of ucky stuff.

Yeah I took the whole HOB filter from the 42 (haven't changed the filter cartridge for about 3.5 weeks....) and put it right on the 55g. The HOB for the 55 is on the 42 to get established. I'd take the wood out of the 29 gallon but then my clown pleco would go nuts without it. Thats all it does is hang out under that thing!

[Ryuu]

hmm a diary, sounds awesome I may make one in a note book I have

[country_boy454]

Day 2

PH=7.2
Ammonia= ~5ppm
NO2= .50ppm
NO3= 0
KH= 8 Degrees
Temp= 80 degrees F

NO2(nitrite) went up a little! Hopefully this cycle goes quick. In the 42g an Apisto Steel Blue female has turned a very vivid yellow color and wards off any fish that swim by her cave!

[country_boy454]

Day 3 before adding any ammonia

PH= 7.2
Ammonia= 1ppm
NO2= 2ppm
NO3= 5ppm
KH= 8 Degrees
Temp= 78 Degrees F

Is this my nitrite spike? Looks as if things in this tank are speeding along nicely. Hopefully everything works out that it cycles within the week.

Day 3 After adding 60 drops ammonia

PH=7.2
Ammonia= 5ppm
NO2= 2ppm
NO3= 5ppm
KH= 8 Degrees
Temp= 78 Degrees F

[letk0]

You'll have to wait a few more days to see if it increases further. It's very early for it to be a spike. Looks like it's going pretty fast though.

[donvichu]

Waiting to see the pictures very soon

[country_boy454]

The tank is heavily seeded. I have two nylon socks with established gravel hanging in the tank along with an already established filter with well used filter media. I'm trying to get this to go as quick as possible.

As for pics, I'll try to borrow someones camera to get a few shots of it. Our camera was stolen from us during our move into this new apartment.