monty703 Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 So I started up my 10 gallon with a product Ive never seen before, its called Micro-Lift CAPM mainly used for ponds but as it is clay based I felt it would be much the same as using Turface/Shultz's Aquasoil which I have used in the past for a planted tank. I put the whole bag #10 in the tank and then added some bee soil on top (on one end to look two-toned) a couple of zebra rocks and planted some anacharis and java fern around the rocks, and added cholla wood for my shrimpies to munch on. Water is tap and no heater. Ive added some stress-zyme and some other bacteria cultures, and seeded the tank with sponge filters from my shrimp tank (which has been running for months) Its been 2 weeks and Ive tested the water every day, up to Friday no nitrites/nitrates were showing, just ammonia which has been gradually rising each day. Yesterday I noticed I had some nitrates but still no nitrite. Today I tested and I have the following. Ammonia 1.0 ppm Nitrite 0.25ppm Nitrate between 10-20ppm color is much the same for both these. So would you say I am middle way in my cycle or close to cycling? This is the 1st time Ive tested any of my tanks as I usually just leave them for 4 weeks then test for ammonia only. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zodiac Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 hard to say where the cycle is if the ammonia kept going up. you haven't seen nitrite because the bacteria on the sponge filters was consuming it. now as more bacteria is growing and consuming ammonia there is more nitrite then that bacteria can consume,at least until more grows. has the ammonia gone down since friday? if so,maybe 2-3 weeks to be cycled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty703 Posted December 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 Tank is now fully cycled. I used only tap water which is 8.4 PH my new readings are PH 6.5 Amm 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 10ppm GH 6 KH 3-4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty703 Posted December 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 so today I tested my TDS in the newly cycled tank (5 weeks old) and its down to 196 When I first set it up it was 450. Ive put my remaining shrimps in this am and they seem to be exploring all the nooks and crannies in this tank, so hopefully they will do better in here and I can add some more shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyana Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 It says it's supposed to be neutral ph though, cool that it buffers. I wonder how long it will last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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