Jpappy's planted 20 gallon long "build" thread

That seems odd if you've got 7.6 out of the tap and driftwood in the tank.
It seems to be at the threshold of where to use the normal vs. high range pH test for the API kit.

Normal it looks a bit darker blue than the 7.6
High range is looks closer to the 8.0 brown

When I originally tested it looked close enough to the normal 7.6 that I just went with that. It's probably a bit higher, so I'm just going with slightly under 8ish to be as vague as possible.

Either way, not acidic enough to be affecting the nitrifying bacteria.
 
Okay. That clarifies things. My tap is clearly 8.2, and my 55 is 7.6, thanks to the wood.
 
Looks like you may have some ammonia leaching from the substrate. Not really that uncommon. You probably are about there with the cycling. Dose the tank up again for the next couple of days and you should be pretty much on target. I'd plan on adding fish next weekend.

Nice layout BTW. Its going to be a real jungle in there in very little time.
Nailed it.
 
So I guess now I'm technically not cycled anymore. Switched out the AC biomax media from one of the filters on the 20 for the filter on my 10g QT tank. Small nitrite blip after adding ammonia last night on the main tank...QT tank showing ammonia, no nitrite, no nitrate. Hmm.

Going to be a bit before fish still. Which is ok, kinda busted up my budget getting more equipment for the other tanks :lipssealedsmilie:
 
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