30Gallon Up & Cycling

[BubBleBee]

Started the cycling process this afternoon. Originally I was going to keep buddies media but I chose not to only cuz who knows what may or may not have happened in the tank prior to me buying his set up. Just didn't want to risk it. Patience is A Virtue...well I'm tryin to practice a lil patience anyways...lol. I had added the water last nite, but couldn't get the filter sealed took it in and bought a new O ring and now everything is a GO!! Once I got the filter connected I tested the water and found the ammonia at 0. WTF??? Well I hope all works out. Just waitin to see what happens. Here is a start to something new finally phewwwww. Took forever gettin this tank up, but it's done.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...eBee77/013.jpg
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...eBee77/002.jpg
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...eBee77/007.jpg


Here's a few pics for now and once i have more plants and fish i will add more and ohhh when i get the new light tooo. Can hardly wait.

[O.C.D Fishies]

It looks great already and I love love love the stand. It is awesome looking.
I can't wait to see it getting filled.

[Morainy]

Looks like you've put a lot of work into it, and it's looking good. I can't wait to see the fish!

[BubBleBee]

Thanx OCD for helping add to it and all ur help and advice. Not to mention everyone else whom helped me out. Thank you Morainy, and yes long hours last nite till early this morn. Wait till the tank is cycled and then time to go a fish huntin.

[2wheelsx2]

You're going to have trouble cycling with ammonia since you have plants. If you intend to do that remove the plants. Fishless cycling and plants don't go together as the plants will preferentially utilize the ammonia. All you're doing is fertilizing the plants. If you want to do it that way, you're going to have to increase the ammonia until the plants cannot utilize any more so that your bio has some ammonia to feed on.

[BubBleBee]

I have no where to put the plants. What shall I do to increase the ammonia?? Just add straight ammonia?? How will I know the plants aren't utilizing it any longer?? Thank you for all your help getting me up and going,2wheelsx2

[2wheelsx2]

If that's the case, just add fish. Do you have an ammonia test kit?

[O.C.D Fishies]

So if you do a planted you can add fish right away??? Do the plants also use ammonia???

[2wheelsx2]

This really explains how planted tanks don't "cycle", much better than I can:

Cycling a Planted Tank | Rex's Guide to Planted Tanks

[O.C.D Fishies]

Ok the tank will have to be heavily planted then to start with?? That's why they always say just pack it full and switch out later. That's great news for me as well lol. Can always count on you Gary.