Almost Discouraged Aquarist

Okay, so when I cycled my tank without adding any ammonia other than the two ammonia cartridges in the AC Minis. That meanst I DIDN'T cycle my tank.

This is probably incorrect but i'll see what you guys have to say. So adding in the 5 neon tetras would have been considered doing a fish cycle? Does that mean my tank is suitible for some more fish now?

My snails are still alive :(
 
The stuff on your plants is most likely just some algea growing, which should be harmless. It seems to pop up on my plants from time to time and then receeds after I cut back on light or food.
 
The ammonia cartridges for the AC filters are to take out ammonia, they do not add it. They are really not necessary and just an expense you don't need. You do not even need the carbon cartridge except when you need to take out medicines. Personally, I would buy a second sponge to fill the filter chamber.

So, yes, you were doing a fishy cycle. Your best bet right now would be to have ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte test kits. Those readings will tell how far along in your cycle you came in the few days (not very far, I'd bet).
 
A "normal" fishy cycle takes at least a month or two. During the first phase the ammonia level will become toxically high unless you take measures to lower it. At your pH the amount of ammonia needed to reach a critically toxic level is very low. This first phase will take several weeks until a particular bacteria that eats ammonia is able to colonize the tank. This colony will convert the ammonia to nitrite, which is less toxic but still dangerous. A new colony needs to start up that will eat the nitrites and convert them to nitrates, which aren't very toxic. These are removed from the tank using regular water changes, figure about 20-25% once a week (or whatever you need to keep at healthy levels).

Any detectable ammonia or nitrite in the tank is bad for the fish. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests can help you to monitor the cycle. The ammonia comes from the fish, the nitrites from the ammonia -- if you tested the water before you added the fish, both should be at zero and the guy at the fish store would tell you that your water was fine. But your tank isn't cycled and this will be a problem until it is.

New fish will most likely go the same way as the old fish. Check out the threads on fishless cycling in the Newbie forum. It works.
 
I second Wetman's suggestion to read a good beginner's book...especially the one he references. I personally found that book to be an excellent beginner book. I posted a link to the book at amazon.com in the Newbie Forum under the "beginner books" sticky thread.
 
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