July 25, 2006
Day 2
So I didn't get home until 10:00 - but I'm not letting that stop me from making progress on the tank.
I worked some of the cotton (as much as I could) out of the crypt, which looks like it's melting a little bit, and replanted it. I had much more success taking the anubias out of its pot, and planted it shallowly (pictures to come). Also, most of the bubbles are gone from the tank walls, so no more worries about that.
Right now, I just dosed my first ammonia into the tank to start my fishless cycle. I'm writing this while waiting for the ammonia to disperse through the tank and then test the water.
In the meantime, here are some pics (I'm getting better at this photography thing):
A. barteri v. coffeefolia - quickly becoming a personal favorite:
C. wendtii 'green' - see the melting?
R. indica - it was looking a little pekid when I got home, but it perked up for the camera:
Water Sprite:
Long tank view:
Full tank view:
I'm thinking I'm going to put some driftwood on the right, and plant the Rotala around it like a loose field, then put some rocks and caves on the left, where the water sprite will hopefully grow up over to shade them, and the anubias will stay in the foreground. Not sure of the crypt's final location yet, but I'm getting some free jungle val to fill in the back middle.
Got the ammonia up to 5 ppm (2.5 capfuls, for my own reference). We'll see if any of the bacteria in the eco-complete survived by morning.
Temp is currently 80, bumped the heater up to 82 to help the cycle along...
Alright, sleep time. Hope to have zero ammonia to report tomorrow
