First attempt at CRS tank

[corepad]

Finally decided to take the plunge and setup a crs tank.

Eheim 2213
Hailea 28A
Gush Crystal Garden 60M
Aqualighter 2 60CM
Benibachi Mineral Soil
Gush oPipe & gPipe

Using Benibachi mineral powder and Mosura BT-9 with benibachi active water.

Day 1 - 09 July 2016
Tank set up:


Day 5 - 13 July 2016
Attack of the tannins
Dropped a packet of purigen to clear some of the tannins.



Day 6 - 15 July 2016
Glosso is growing in the tank.



Day 7 - 16 July 2016
Measured the water parameters
PH - 6.5
Ammonia - 10 ppm
Nitrite - 1.0 ppm
Nitrate - 10 ppm
Tank temperature - 26 degrees

Seems like cycling has not started yet.

[leezhengxi]

Maybe you can use photobucket, or flickr to upload your photos

[popimac]

You may want to consider raising the temp for cycling purpose. Did you on your chiller? And adding purigen may hinder cycling process since it will also absorb elements needed for cycling. Just my 2c

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

[corepad]

Originally Posted by popimac

You may want to consider raising the temp for cycling purpose. Did you on your chiller? And adding purigen may hinder cycling process since it will also absorb elements needed for cycling. Just my 2c

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

I had removed the purigen after one day.

Hmm, in that case I will off the chiller.

Is it advisable if I do a 50% wc to clear the tannins

[itchy]

Originally Posted by corepad

I had removed the purigen after one day.

Hmm, in that case I will off the chiller.

Is it advisable if I do a 50% wc to clear the tannins

Can do the wc n patiently wait for the water to be cycled.

[corepad]

Took another reading today.

Day 12
Ammonia: 10ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm

Currently the tank water is cloudy, so I assume it's a bacterial boom but there isn't any nitrite or nitrate reading.

From the looks, seems like the tank have not started to cycle yet.

Everyday just sit and watch the plants grow for now.

i.imgur.c0m/Ve78e0x.jpg

[profileet]

Nice tank. When it fully growth it will be idea place for shrimps.
You may use Crystal Clear to remove the cloudiness. Dont over dose.

[corepad]

Originally Posted by profileet

Nice tank. When it fully growth it will be idea place for shrimps.
You may use Crystal Clear to remove the cloudiness. Dont over dose.

Unfortunately, I have problem getting the cycle going

Already did twice 70-80% water change, but ammonia level still remains at 8ppm.

It is quite puzzling to me as the ammonia level did not decrease even after massive water changes.

I'm thinking if my ammonia is super sky high till I need to do like 50% wc daily to bring it down to at least 4ppm.

[corepad]

Over the weekend, I changed filter to eheim 2217 and added a sunsun prefilter to ease my maintenance next time.

Did a 80% WC at the same time after which, I noticed my glosso start pearling.

hxxp://i.imgur.c0m/7dGkSq2.jpg

[itchy]

So your water cycled now?