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Hello every one! I am getting back into planted tanks again after my last one failed due to large ammounts of diatom algea on all of my plants.

I have just changed the gravel on Sunday, so my tank is going through a mini cycle. (and I did save all of the old water.)
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: between 1-2
Nitrate: about 35
Can someone help me out with the mini cycle? should I do PWT or just let is run its course?

I am on a super tight budget ($10 weekly) so only a few plants will be added per week.

Specs:
20g tall (2ft long)
low light/tech: no CO2
Lighting: 1 15w bulb (8000K) 2 13w CF bulbs (4000K)
Ferts: will add some root tabs every 1.5 weeks for the crypts
Plants: crypts (current), java fern, more crypts, java moss, and some wisteria.
The java moss will be used in making a 'java moss wall' witch will come later in the process.

Stocking:
current: none; will get 5 or so glow lites to help cycle.
future:
1 Blue Ram
10 Glow lite tetras
5-6 False Juliies

As of right now, the scape is looking pretty bad. I have a rock cave on the left with rocks in front of it, a large rock in the center, a black rock 'trench' so to speak, and the crypts in the sand bed. What I hope to happen is a java moss (or any moss I can get my hands on) wall, cryps and java fern in the sand bed, wisteria in both corners to cover the heater and to add height.
Also: The filter intake cannot be moved completely out of sight because it is on the right side of the filter and not on the left.

Here is the tank Sunday afternoon:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m99/MoFish_11525/4-22-07001.jpg

Here is the tank Tuesday afternoon:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m99/MoFish_11525/4-24-07004.jpg

I would like to thank mughal113 and GobyFan2007 for helping me sort out my lighting issues!

Suggestions for the current aquascaping are quite welcome (just don't be too harsh! )

Thanks and enjoy!


~Morgan~

Diatoms have striked again! I don't understand, the tank has only been setup for 4 days! Could it be the lights?

Here are the params:
Ammonia: 0
NitrIte: 5
NitrAte: 10

The NitrAte really surprises me; on Monday it was 40-50ppm and now it is already 10. I did not do any thing between this time period except add a root tab fertilizer which I would think would make my "N's" increase. Is this the 'mini cycle' comming to an end?

What should the params be at for a planted tank?

Thanks.


~Morgan~

Nitrates don't drop during a cycle. They just keep rising until you do a water change or have alot of plants that take them in. IMO you don't seem to have enough plant mass to make them drop that much, so maybe your test kit was off or something. I'm not really sure why you had that significant of a drop.

Thats a good start. I would definitely add more plants, even if they are cheap fast growers. That will help get through the diatoms. Your lighting is low, but it isn't so low that I would suspect it to cause diatoms (usually its about 1wpg and under IME that causes it).

Diatoms almost always occur in new tanks, especially if your plant mass is low, or atleast thats my experience. Your tank isn't new, but its like you restarted it, since you changed the gravel out.

Are you adding an ammonia source now? If not, I'd get some fish in there quick or add some pure ammonia to finish out the cycle (although I'm not sure how it is with plants....).

With planted tanks, most people try to keep the nitrAtes between 10 and 20ppm. Fast growing plants will use up more nitrates, so with alot of fast growers, you may have around 10ppm or so. If it gets lower, say about 5ppm, then you'll want to start adding NO3 to the tank. Low light tanks don't usually need to add NO3 though, if you have a good fish load and a good plant load it usually balances out. I'd keep a check on them though, just in case. Ammonia and nitrIte should of course be 0.

*Kristin*

Thanks for the reply GirlieGirl! (Glad some one finally replied )

"Nitrates don't drop during a cycle."
Maybe it could have been that the NO3 could have been more open in the water because I use ALL of the same water and the organic waste was stirred up and suspended in the water. I will test again just to make perfect sure.
If the NO3 is over 20, should I do a PWC or just wait till the weekend when I normally would?

"Are you adding an ammonia source now?"
No I am not, but like I said in my first post, I am hoping to get 5 glow lites to help it cycle.

And I am sure in a couple of weeks, the diatoms will start to deminish!

Thanks again!


~Morgan~

Hi,
Diatoms are a normal occurrence in a new tank, and,
at times, in older tanks as well.

Diatoms thrive on Silica (SiO2). It is what their skeletons
are made of. They ingest it and grow. Now, the silica
comes from two sources. First, and normally, high silica
comes from our normal aquarium gravel. It is in the dust
that occurs from grinding the grains of Quartz (SiO2)
together during manufacture and shipping.
The Second source of Silica, is from our tap water. Some
locations, depending upon the source, have silica in the
water and we add that silica to our tanks during water
changes.

In general, diatoms, prefer slow moving water, and low
light. That's in general. However a large amount of
silica in the water will promote their growth even in
fast moving, brightly lit water.

The small catfish commonly called "Ottos" love the stuff
and will feast during an outbreak of diatoms. If your
source is not the tap (check with your town water company),
then regular water changes will dilute the silica in the
water and they will go away naturally.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks Frank for the info on diatoms. I never thought that they would be in the tap, but I don't think mine is: I have two other tanks and not a dot of diatoms!
I think it must be the new gravel I put in. All of my other tanks have old and used gravel.

As for the NitrAtes: they are at 10 for sure, I even took the water from the opposite end of the tank, so it must have been stirred up from the gravel change.
But since my nitrItes aren't at zero, how can I get them there? Water changes? Filter media change? (I think I am about due for that any way)

Thanks


~Morgan~

Hi Mo,
Since you have a nitrite reading, your tank is not yet
fully cycled. Remember, a cycled tank will give zero
readings for both ammonia and nitrate. Keep doing what you
are doing, and the tank will cycle. BTW, it is normal for
a cycling tank to have nitrite peak out around 10, and the
nitrate can hit 40. The nitrate reading of 40 is the point
where actions should be taken. Small water changes and
gravel vacuuming (not the whole tank, just a small section
at a time) should be done. We try to run our planted tanks
with a nitrate reading around 10 and fish only near zero.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks for the information on the Nitrogen Cycle Frank. The only real issure is, is that my NO2 will only go to 5...so I guess I will have to wait to 'take action' untill my cycle fish start showing signs and start to get happy when the NO2 decides to go down.

I am dying for it to be the weekend already !!! I realy want to get my cycle fish and more plants, it is so bland and ugly in there right now !


~Morgan~

Well, I got my cycle fish. The only thing is, I chaged my mind .
I got Black Neons instead of glowlites. Just five like I had said.

They are just swimming around the top of the tank, but they are execellent schoolers!

Hmm, well here are some pictures of them.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m99/MoFish_11525/4-26003.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m99/MoFish_11525/4-26002.jpg

Plants coming on Sat. afternoon.


~Morgan~

I think the black neons are a good choice. Their coloration won't compete with the ram and he/she will truly be a centerpiece fish.

What plants are you getting this weekend?

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

depends on what they have. it's all really a mish-mosh of stuff and it's never really the same.

I would definatly get some Java Fern if they had it. Prolly more crypts, wisteria, elodia (it was free floating and pretty sparse) I also saw some green hygro, but I am not sure if I'll get that: had that in my last planted tank and it grew a little bit leggy. Too bad they don't have nana petite, or else I would get that.

What do you suggest I get that are quite common? Got any ideas?


~Morgan~

You could try moss?
the black neons look healthy and they are good at schooling, but remember they grow twice the size of a regular neon or glowlight so take that into consideration when stocking.

-Vincent

Thanks Vince. I did see some mystery moss but they had it potted for some reason. Silly LFS .

Also, thanks for the info on the black neons; never knew they got 2x as big so maybe i'll go for 8 instead of 10. (also saves me money 'cause they are 2USD a pop! OUCH)

Any one else have any other suggestions?




~Morgan~

Plants comming tomorrow. I didn't get a chance to go today.


~Morgan~

Week one overview:

Fish:
5 black neon tetras
1 bronze cory (my betta started picking on him)

Plants:
Wisteria
big/small crypts
1 "fluffy" mystery plant
1 small crypt-like plant

-I have added my filter from my old 10g tank to help with even circulation of nutrients.
-Found a new rock and moved out my rock cave.

The tank looks WAY better now. I have not done any testing yet because I had stirred up the gravel while adding plants.
I didn't see any moss or green hygro but I did find a lot of low light plants. One of the plants I got was a free floating plant that reminds me of cambomba; could someone ID it for me?

Here are pictures:
Full Tank
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m99/MoFish_11525/4-29001.jpg
Small Crypt
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m99/MoFish_11525/4-29002.jpg
Wisteria
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m99/MoFish_11525/4-29003.jpg
mystery plant
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m99/MoFish_11525/4-29004.jpg
left side of tank (I love it!)
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m99/MoFish_11525/4-29005.jpg
Here is the other mystery plant that was one of my first
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m99/MoFish_11525/mysteryplant.jpg
(and yes, all that brown on it is diatoms! EEEK!)

Enjoy!


~Morgan~

It looks good, even with diatoms the water is very clean looking. The Mystery plant #1 is a Hornwort, it grows very fast and is a good begginer plant. The Second mystery plant looks like a small type of sword plant. The small crypt is a crypt wendetti. Over all good job. I hope you will take lots of pictures when the plants grow in.

-Vincent

Thanks Vince.

I forgot to add that next week I am going to get an otto or two and no plants so hope that the plants grow in well for next week's update.

About the hornwort: does it grow roots, or can you just stuff it in the gravel?


~Morgan~

it can grow roots but usually doesn't just stuff it in the gravel

-Vincent

The test results are IN!

Ammonia: 0
NitrIte: 0
NitrAte: 10

So all is good and the mini cycle is over! YAY!
I am really looking forward to getting my otto this weekend! (And hopefully soon, a diatom-free tank )


~Morgan~

I need some help.

I just checked my temperature and it is at +80F. How can I lower it safely and perminantly? Or is this temp OK for the future stocking list? I am worried for the cories and ottos...


~Morgan~