Installing Sponge Filter on 29H

[AmberF]

Hello, I'm new to forums and have a few questions. First some background info.   I'm getting back into the hobby again from about 10 years ago, but new to having a planted tank and feel like a total newbie again.  Prior I only had a 26 Hex column and 10 gallon.    I've purchased a new 29H, 150W Heater with Hygger HG-918 20W LED light.  Setup on Dec 19th, added multiple plants, floating frogbit & baby water lettuce, Taiwan moss and couple of moss balls, with soil & fine sand substrate on top, added 3 lbs of crushed coral between the soil and fine sand (some on surface).  I've been researching the past month and watching all the Aquarium Co-op videos, as well as received 2 new orders from them. Medium Sponge filter, using Prime, Easy Green and easy root tabs.  Purchased Zyme 7 but have not added to the tank yet.  I've not done any water changes and my water parameters as of last night: PH 8, Amm 1.0, Nitrite 1.0, Nitrate 20 with API master kit,  API test strips: KH 120, GH 120.  My plan is to have guppies and cherry shrimp with maybe some cory's.  I had 2 snail hitch a ride from the plants, and now have 3 new tiny ones.   FYI, I've been running the bubbler all week without the filter, cause I was stupid and didn't add the filter on first order, hence the second order.  I went ahead and purchased a medium and small sponge filter.  Tank has been clear all week, can see some fuzzy build up on some of the plastic decorations, Rocks & sand, plants seem to be doing well, I see some new growth on a few of them, some have some browning.  

 

I just received my sponge filter yesterday & setup the medium sponge last night.  I've watched the video on setup & optimizing, however I still have small bubbles out to the side.  It doesn't seem to be filtering, even the tiny molecules just float right by it.  How do I know it's getting the correct filter flow or flow at all?  The filter looks brand new, no new build up on it all that I can see, running for 16 hours.  Should I be able to see things get sucked into & onto the filter, especially when I disturb the substrate and lots of plant debris floats up?  

Should I add the small filter along with the medium?  I was going to use it for 10G quarantine tank (not purchased yet).  

 

I'm trying to cycle the tank without fish, but after watching some additional videos yesterday, I'm considering adding a couple of fish.  What are your thoughts?  I am a little confused on cycling, as how do I know when the tank is ready since I'm adding fertilizer? I started tracking my testing on 21st.  Which was PH 7.8, Amm 1.0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5, GH 120, KH 80.  (the strip read Nitrate at 20).  So I am seeing a change happen on the parameters. 

 

Also, my new heater is set at 79 but the temp is reading about 82, I'm trying to lower the temp today and figure out how to calibrate the heater correctly.  Goal temp is 78-80.  I've moved the thermometer around the tank testing the temp.

 

Thanks for any help and advice.

 

 

[Dawn T]

I'd give it another week at least for proper cycling. Some who keep shrimp say it's best to allow even as much as 6-8 weeks. I guess what that comes down to is that you can't be too patient with cycling. Not that ANY of us have a problem being patient. 😋

As far as the sponge goes - did you squeeze it under water to remove the air from it and saturate it with water. The air doesn't seem to just go away on its own. At least, not very fast. I made that mistake recently. Filter didn't appear to be doing anything then realized I forgot to saturate it. Did that and I could see it working then.

[AmberF]

Thanks for the tips.  I don't mind waiting on the shrimp, was planning on at least 6 weeks or longer before adding them. 

I feel I'm overthinking everything, there's so much conflicting information out there.  I guess my main concern right now is if the tank is getting enough filtration.  I stuck the small filter in and could see the flow going in.  So I moved the medium to the other side of the tank and that solved the side bubble issue and could tell it had some flow.  I think I'm going to run both in the tank.   Just need patience...lol

 

[starsman20]

I don't see the type of heater you bought but my experience is the settings on them are never right. I have eheims and typically I have to set them at least 5 degrees lower than I want. They say you can adjust the ring to make it match but I've never been able to get it to match. I find it easier to start by setting low then gradually dialing up until I get where I want to be. On the cycling i think the best advice I ever received was be patient. It just takes time. And they're right, you have to squeeze the air out of a new filter to get them to work quickly.

Keep us posted.

[AmberF]

Hi Starsman20, I have the eheims 150w.  I keep dialing it down daily by a few degrees and my temp is still reading 82, currently set at 76.  Really not a fan of this heater, it's very difficult to adjust the temp.  I may send it back.  

I'm really enjoying watching the daily changes of the tank.  Starting to see new growth on several of the plants and there's a green tint to the whole tank, which is sign of algae starting to grow.  What's starting to drive me crazy is how dirty the tank is starting to get.  I want to vacuum and scrub the tank down...lol  But I'm determined to take Cory's advice and let it do it's own thing to build it's eco system.  Starting to see signs of life which means I'm close to add a few fish or some cleaner fish possibly within the next week or so.  

[starsman20]

I'd keep dropping it a bit everyday it will eventually go down. 

[AmberF]

Little update on the tank.  End of Week 2 of cycling and I'm finally seeing the Ammonia drop from 2.0 to .25 and Nitrites have spiked, it's a deep purple and feel it's way over 5.0, Nitrates have been staying between 20-40 ppm.  FYI, my tap water is reading 1.0 Ammonia.  Plants are growing like crazy and have some visible algae, I see a ton of eggs on the glass from the 2 pond snails that hitched a ride from my plants (about 6 in the tank now).  All the surfaces are looking pretty dirty, I did about a 30% water change last weekend.  I'm running the medium & small sponge filter.  I've not seen any cloudiness in the tank to signal a bacteria bloom. I'm adding some jungle val & water sprite this weekend.  

Should I keep doing weekly water changes or should I wait for the cycle to complete?  I'm dosing easy green on Saturdays and topping off water.  I've added some fish food a couple of times a day apart, to see how that would change the parameters. 2 days later the ammonia dropped.  Of course, I have no idea if the fish food was the cause.  lol 

I've purchased a new 10g for quarantine/hospital tank.  I've ordered another small sponge with nano air pump, should arrive Monday.   My goal is to move over the small sponge from the 29g to the 10g once I've completed the cycle, then I'll move the new sponge to the 29g.  Since the 29g will be ready before for the 10g, I have questions about the best way to introduce the fish once I've completed the cycle.  

Tank goals: PH will be 7.8, temp 78-80: Guppies (2 males, 4-5 females), Kuhli loach (5-6), Oto's (4-5), cherry shrimp, possibly 2 bamboo shrimp.  I'll need to figure out what to do once all the pond snails hatch too.  I don't mind keeping some of them but I was hoping to add some Mystery and rabbit snails.  Want to add Cory's but would that be too many bottom dwellers for a 29G? 

Which fish should I add first, will not add shrimp until tank is seasoned 4-6 months down the road? I'm thinking the Kuhli from what I've read/videos they are pretty hardy.  Plan is to add 1 set of schooling fish at a time to allow the tank to adjust to the new load.  

Should I add the Kuhli's directly to the 29g?  I saw on one of Cory's videos they don't carry many diseases and/or if they are sick, you should be able to tell at the store.  This will allow the additional time for the 10g hospital tank to cycle and I'll be able to quarantine the guppies and treat them with the trio meds.  

Would I need to quarantine & meds for the Oto's before adding them? 

I'm so ready to add more life to the tank, I was so excited this morning to see the drop in Ammonia.  I'm really hoping the tank will be ready in the next couple of weeks.  

Thank you for any advice and thoughts regarding my stocking plans & cycling process (as I'm still confused on doing fishless/planted cycle).