Hello world (I'll try to keep this as short as possible!)
I had been itching to start a tank for years, and with COVID came new opportunities since I now work from home. So I redid my office and found some space to put a nice 45-gallon tank. I threw water in, let it run for a few days, and then added some fish. I have been struggling to get the parameters good ever since.
I am aware now of my mistakes and wish not to be pointed and laughed at (haha). Believe me I feel guilty for them. Below is my rough timeline.
1. Added water from the hose, which was probably a bad idea. It was murky from the get-go.
2. Added fish to "jump-start" the cycle. 1 Rubber-lipped pleco and 2 Bronze Cory's.
3. Proceeded to over-feed said fish. And after a few days, I added 6 Cardinal Tetra's.
4. The driftwood that i soaked for days ended up getting white algae that grew like wildfire, I was told its natural and to leave it.
5. White algae became too much so I scraped as much off as I could, and did a 15-gallon water change with some RO water I bought at a local fish store.
6. However I rinsed the filters, and all the decor with tap water not knowing I am not supposed to do that.
7. I then capitalized on this mistake by adding some Seachem Purigen, but I goofed and didn't rinse one of the packets before putting it in my HOB and it re-clouded my water.
8. I then sat and stewed for a few days as I was advised to let it cycle.
9. Water did somewhat clear up, but the algae was back again on the driftwood and I decided it was time to try another water change. This time I used my tap water with some API Tap-Water Conditioner. I did however, rinse the decor with tap-water again (I know, I know...)
10. At this point I started to really see my mistakes and was lucky enough to get some GOOD information. I added foam filters to my filter water inlet tubes, and some Pinky-Floss as well inside the canister. These were huge additions and made big differences in water clarity.
11. I exchanged another 15-gallons of water (conditioned tap water). This time I was smart though and all the filters got rinsed in the old tank water that I took out. I felt like a pro lol. Water was looking really good. Fish were all still happy.
12. I felt bad that the Cory's were alone, and added 2 Albino Cory's and 2 Skunk Cory's. They're all pals, and love schooling and goofing around.
13. Finally stopped being a dummy, and got an API Master Test Kit. My parameters weren't great. The entire time I had been testing with the API test strips, and was showing 0 Nitrites and 0 Nitrates. Now with the master kit, I see my Ammonia is at 2PPM and still 0 Nitrites and 0 Nitrates. Now I feel bad for my poor fish who were still somehow happy. I grabbed some PRIME and threw some in to insure their livelihood.
14. Scraped the driftwood AGAIN and did a 50% water change. Water was now looking as clear as ever. Fish still happy. Tank looking clean. Wait a day and test again - I am now at 1PPM Ammonia, and still 0 Nitrites and 0 Nitrates. I waited till I hit about 24hrs and added another small dose of PRIME, again just to insure my fish dont get sick.
AND HERE WE ARE! So been up and running just over 6-weeks. I have two Marineland HOB 200's running at all times, 2 air stones, and a small powerhead. Heat is always around 78. Full spectrum light on for 12hrs a day. The HOB's have a sponges on the intake, a carbon filter, then Pinky Floss, then the bio-wheel and I threw some Fluval Bio-Rings in some empty spots as well to increase the media thats in there.
This morning it still says 1PPM for Ammonia and 0 Nitrites and 0 Nitrates. I added a half-dose of PRIME to insure livelihood. The driftwood has also finally stopped growing insane amounts of algae and is naturally growing some greens and plants.
What do I do? Another big water change? I feel like I never fully cycled. I just want a healthy tank!