Todays Water Test Results
Temperature : 26.5C
Ammonia : 0
Nitrite : 2
Nitrate : 25
pH : 7.2
CO2 : Low

There is a certain ammount of algae showing on some leaves and at the top of the fake rock background. In my mind a little algae adds to the realism so long as it stays out of the way

This morning I found the right hand co2 diffuser had been blocked by a stone, possibly kicked up in the water change or disturbed during the replanting. I've stuck the diffuser back onto the glass so it sits an inch or so over the substrate again.

I'm a little confused as to why the nitrate has reduced on its own... I guess more plant activity.

No photo today as not much has changed, tomorrow though the new plants go in so you'll get one then.

Well here we are, Day 20 and there is some definate progress in the water condition.
I'm a little concerned by small patches of this:

on the bottom where some food was dropped.

Due to yesterdays high nitrate levels I did a 30L water change today (about 14%) with mineralled RO. I tested the water a few hours after the change.

Todays Water Test Results
Temperature : 27C
Ammonia : 1
Nitrite : 3
Nitrate : 40
pH : 7.4
CO2 : Ok

as you can see the Nitrate is high again, its my belief that this shows the nitrite is being turned into Nitrate almost as quickly as the Ammoinia is being turned into Nitrite.

I added Tall Hairgrass to the plant order I placed yesterday which should hopefully all arrive on Tuesday. At this rate I should have the first fish in at the end of the week.

If you have read this, please comment

Well, I did it.. .I spent the fish money on beer instead. So its half past 8 and now I've pretty much finished the beer, my wife and kids are at a bbq that I really didn't have the stomach for. Anyway this means that todays blog is likely to be short and badly spelled.
Todays Water results
temp : 28C
Ph : 7.4
Ammonia : 4
Nitrite : 2
Nitrate : 40
co2 : good

This seems very promising to me.

Last night I moved a few plants about and made a last minute order for some foreground plants. Today I removed the java moss from the coconut and planted it in small sections around the tank.

Other than that... no change.

Todays Water Test Results
Temperature : 28C
Ammonia : 4
Nitrite : 2
Nitrate : 5
pH : 7.4
CO2 : Ok

Finally, it has begun. I'm noticing a little white mold on the bottom. Probably where some food was spilt last week. Also some of the plants are looking a little iffy. Not too bothered by that at the moment though.

How long until fish now?

Well I changed another 65l of water tonight and only got the ammonia levels down to 6... hopefully that will be enough to get this thing kick started. I also added a few more caps of cycle.

Todays Water Test Results
Temperature : 26C
Ammonia : 6
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate : 0
pH : 7.0
CO2 : Ok

Nothing much has changed. I feel like the only fishkeeper on the site without any fish!

I was hoping to add a few tetras this weekend. No chance of that with these readings so I'll buy beer instead.

Well, after some much needed advice from the forums I did a 30l water change tonight. I couldn't do any more at this time as my RO unit isn't fast enough

I also trimmed all the plants and found a couple of the cabomba's hadn't rooted and instead the lower stem had rotted in the substrate, I've trimmed and replanted those that where salvagable and removed the others.

After all this water readings where identical to yesterday. Still at least the tank doesn't stink any more and it looks pretty. In the mean time I have more RO on the go and will do another 30L change tomorrow if the ammonia is still too high.

Good news, the Ricca arrived safe and sound as did the MTS (Malaysian Trumpet Snails). If you're a novice like me you may be wondering why on earth I'd actually want snails in the tank. Well these snails are actually quite beneficial and turn the substrate while they burrow through it eating dead plant matter and rotting food. The water isn't ready for them yet so they went to the holding tank upstairs.

Todays Water Test Results
Temperature : 26C
Ammonia : 8
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate : 0
pH : 7.2
CO2 : Ok

I'm a little concerned that the ammonia levels are still going up and have now reached 8 which is as high as the liquid test registers. I'm also confused as to why the ph is so unstable but hopefully this will sort itself out soon

As you can see the tank has cleared up a great deal but despite appearances the water is more dangerous than ever.



I really hope things start to turn soon.

Not much has changed, the water is a lot clearer and the smell is a lot better but thats about it. It's now been two weeks and still I haven't got a suitable home for fish but it will get there, I have to keep telling myself to be patient and it will be all the better for it!

Todays Water Test Results
Temp : 27C
Amonia : 6
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate : 0
pH : 7.0
CO2 : Good

PS, thanks to help from the forums I now have identified most of the plants that I bought:-
1. Echinodorus cordifolius
2. Straight Vallis
3. Cabomba Caroliniana
4. Bacopa - now all dead
5. Mayaca Fluviatilis
6. Cryptocoryne Nevelii

I have also added a half coconut of Java Moss since then and I'm hoping to receive some Riccia Fluitans this week. The MTS that come with it will be placed in the mature 'holding' tank upstairs.

Well a mixed fortune today. First off I removed the spray bar yesterday and the scum returned, so I put it back in. The Bacopa seemed to sway violently with the extra water movement however observing a bit of floating debris I noticed the current is still quite gentle but the Bacopa has rotted and turned to mush. Which is a bit of a shame.

Now that the spray bar is on all the scum is in the water and its almost opaque. Hopefully this will clear overnight.

I took the Rena 200W heater back to the shop as despite it not showing that it was on the water would not cool below 27-28C. I swapped it for 2 fluval 100W heaters and also got a couple of large half coconut shells covered in java moss for £20. This seemed more than the mail order shops but it was quite a lot of plant in seemingly good condition and the price on the ticket was £15ea. again this demonstrates the power of bargaining in a retail store.

I've put one of the fluval heaters in but after 3 hours the temperature remains high and I'm sure its not heating things. Where could this heat be coming from? I have now set the substrate heater on a timer so it is only on for a few hours spread through the lighting period. The only other source of heat is the two 30w flourescents.

Todays Water Test Results
Temp : 29C (heater swapped and switched off now)
Amonia : 6
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate : 0
pH : 6.8
CO2 : Water too cloudy to see!

No point taking a picture right now as you cant see more than an inch through the water

...but I did anyway


I hope this is how things are supposed to be.

I really couldn't stand to see that layer of scum in there any more so I did a bit more today.

First off I poked the thermostat completely under the water. Partly to see if this helps with the temperature control and partly to avoid the scum coagulating around the adjuster knob. I tried to phone maidenhead but its a Saturday, so no chance of someone answering.

The next thing I did was attempt to syphon off the scum. This failed so I removed 6L of water and flailed around the surface with a net until the worst of it was scooped up. I washed the net in the syphoned water and tipped it out in the garden. I went upstairs next to Luke tank and did a 6L gravel clean then poured the dirty water into this tank and used RO water to top up Lukes. I also pulled replaced the cotton pad in Lukes mature filter and placed the old one in my xP2.

Then I added some cycle and some plant food.

My final tweaking was that I swapped the output nozzle in the tank for the spray bar, I tried it horizonal and then verticle but to be honest I think it creates too much water movement for the plants so I'll be swapping back or turning it to face the glass more.

Todays Water Test Results
Temp : 27C (now the thermostat is at its minimum settings)
Amonia : 4
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate : 0
pH : 7.2
CO2 : Good

I'm a little concerned about the sudden pH swing and the amonia seems to have come down without an increase in in Nitrites or nitrates...

Still some way to go it seems.