Cycling almost done! And cute DIY

**Suda Nim** · 03-07-2012, 02:53 PM

5-gallon lightly planted tank, preparing for a betta:

1. Ammonia almost gone! Yay!

2. I got tired of the tubes falling over, so I whipped out a little rack in the basement. Took a piece of 1x2, drilled 1/2" holes centered 3/4" apart, with 3/4" from the center of the last hole to the edges.

**Lady Hobbs** · 03-07-2012, 02:57 PM

Handy little thing you made there. That solution also strains white kitchen counters, I've noticed, so this is a good thing you come up with.

**Suda Nim** · 03-07-2012, 03:10 PM

I didn't stain or seal it because (a) that takes time and (b) I figured with time it'll develop artistic colorful stains from the solutions.

I think I'll also put a notch in the back to store/display the card.

**pjaldave** · 03-07-2012, 05:37 PM

Not to discourage you but, i don't think it is "almost" done. Your nitrites is just spiking and the nitrite eating bacteria (nitrsomonas i believe) is the longest to take in the process.

But hey, nice thing you made there. Though, doesn't the kit have test tube holder with them?

**Suda Nim** · 03-07-2012, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by pjaldave

Not to discourage you but, i don't think it is "almost" done. Your nitrites is just spiking and the nitrite eating bacteria (nitrsomonas i believe) is the longest to take in the process.

But hey, nice thing you made there. Though, doesn't the kit have test tube holder with them?

Yeah, I know I still have some time to go. "Almost" in the sense of "One step done, one to go," but that next step's a doozy.

The kit came with holes for the tubes, but no separate rack.

**CrunchyLeaf** · 03-07-2012, 08:40 PM

Sweet! Make me a test tube holder! : D

I don't like the one that came with the kit.

**kurly** · 03-08-2012, 12:27 AM

First thing I noticed was the test tube holder and immediately thought to myself.. Wow, wish I had one like that!

Every day in your cycle is one step closer to being finished so congrats on another day completed

**Suda Nim** · 03-18-2012, 07:20 PM

I was out for a few days getting My First Colonoscopy (yay for turning 50...), and a co-worker tended the cycle for me. Look what happened while I was gone!

I'm headed out right now to pick up a betta and apple snail!

(I'm curious, though. The nitrates were very high when I left (about 20-40 ppm), and have plummeted to 5. I'm not unhappy about this, but can those few plants munch up that much nitrate?)