This is day 11 of fishless cycling my new 38g. I seeded the tank with filter media + gravel from my 10g. The filter on the new tank is a Penguin 350. Decorations include gravel, plastic plants and a piece of driftwood.
I use AP's master + GH/KH kits.
My tap water readings are pH: 7.4 KH: 3dH GH: 3dH (reading after 24 hours).
Nitrite started showing on day 3. It has risen but then has remained pretty steady between 2 and 2.5 for the last 6 days. Nitrate is also steady at around 6ppm for the same time. Ammonia finally dropped today to 0.1. I add 10ml daily since day 3.
pH has decreased gradually - from 8 on day 1 to 6 today. kH dropped as well to a reading of 1 dH yesterday and today. I added some baking soda on both days, raising it up back to 3 and also raising pH back up slightly (until it dropped again).
Should I keep adding baking soda on a daily basis now? Or should I add a lot, raising the KH to a higher level, hopefully increasing pH? Is there anything else to do?
I found some threads about the issue, and I am aware of a problem with low KH values. I'm just not sure what the best approach is (if there is such).
Also, is it ok to leave the driftwood in the tank?
Thanks,
Gali
I use AP's master + GH/KH kits.
My tap water readings are pH: 7.4 KH: 3dH GH: 3dH (reading after 24 hours).
Nitrite started showing on day 3. It has risen but then has remained pretty steady between 2 and 2.5 for the last 6 days. Nitrate is also steady at around 6ppm for the same time. Ammonia finally dropped today to 0.1. I add 10ml daily since day 3.
pH has decreased gradually - from 8 on day 1 to 6 today. kH dropped as well to a reading of 1 dH yesterday and today. I added some baking soda on both days, raising it up back to 3 and also raising pH back up slightly (until it dropped again).
Should I keep adding baking soda on a daily basis now? Or should I add a lot, raising the KH to a higher level, hopefully increasing pH? Is there anything else to do?
I found some threads about the issue, and I am aware of a problem with low KH values. I'm just not sure what the best approach is (if there is such).
Also, is it ok to leave the driftwood in the tank?
Thanks,
Gali