Fastest Cycle time with ADAsoil

[silane]

Fastest Cycle time with ADA Amoniza Aquasoil for me.

Recently just cycle a new tank with ADAsoil within 1 week, ammonia was very near 0. After 11 days, nitrate was 5ppm.

What I did was:
Day 0 - add in Adasoil and water
Day 1 - change near 100% water
Day 1.5 - change near 100% water
Day 2 - change near 100% water
Day 2.5 - change near 100% water
Day 2.5 - add in water that was used to wash a matured filter wool and sponge
Day 4 - start to see ammonia goes down and nitrate raising
Day 6 - ammonia at 0.25ppm and nitrate 20ppm did a water near 100% water change, parameter just after WC: ammonia is very near 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate is less than 5ppm
Day 7 - ammonia is very very close to 0, I introduce my CRS.
Day 8 - ammonia is 0.
Day 11- ammonia is 0, nitrate is 5ppm. :)

I used de-chlorinated water to prevent the beneficial bacteria from being killed.

[spinex]

Fastest Cycle time with ADAsoil for me.

Recently just cycle a new tank with ADAsoil within 1 week, ammonia was very near 0. After 11 days, nitrate was 5ppm.

What I did was:
Day 0 - add in Adasoil and water
Day 1 - change near 100% water
Day 1.5 - change near 100% water
Day 2 - change near 100% water
Day 2.5 - change near 100% water
Day 2.5 - add in water that was used to wash a matured filter wool and sponge
Day 4 - start to see ammonia goes down and nitrate raising
Day 6 - ammonia at 0.25ppm and nitrate 20ppm did a water near 100% water change, parameter just after WC: ammonia is very near 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate is less than 5ppm
Day 7 - ammonia is very very close to 0, I introduced my CRS.
Day 8 - ammonia is 0.
Day 11- ammonia is 0, nitrate is 5ppm. :)

I used de-cholorinated water to prevent the beneficial bacterial to been killed.

That's a good guide for me to follow. Why the decision to go with ADAsoil for your new tank ? I'm also thinking of ADA or Seachem onxy.

This is CO2 tank ?

[silane]

I use Adasoil for easier PH control.

No, it is not a CO2 tank.

[spinex]

I use Adasoil for easier PH control.

No, it is not a CO2 tank.

What's the PH now after your cycling ?

Moss only tank for you ?

[silane]

About 6.4 now.

I am adding plant to make it a low maintainance tank with stem plants and moss. Just got hold of some Downoi Pogostemon helferi, will plant it in. :) I am a bit sick of moss-only tank, want to do add in plants that does not require CO2, since I am using ADAsoil.

[spinex]

About 6.4 now.

I am adding plant to make it a low maintainance tank with stem plants and moss. Just got hold of some Downoi Pogostemon helferi, will plant it in. :) I am a bit sick of moss-only tank, want to do add in plants that does not require CO2, since I am using ADAsoil.

Don't think downoi can do well without CO2. I plan to do more carpet for the whole tank .. like HC .. .. downoi ..those small and slow growing plants. I think i will concentrate on the planting first before i add any shrimps.

[silane]

Robert has sucessfully grown them without CO2, there are instances that they cannot grow without CO2, so I am trying my luck. :)

[nano]

I used de-chlorinated water to prevent the beneficial bacterial to been killed.

hi. what does de-chlorinated means? do you mind explains?

[silane]

Tap Water with anti-chlorine added. :)

[retardo]

hi. what does de-chlorinated means? do you mind explains?
Most water companies use either chlorine or chloramine as a means of water treatment to make water drinkable. Chlorine and chloramine both inhibit the proper respiration (oxygen intake) of fish through their gills. Hence, it is necessary for us to de-chlor the water to make it safe for the fauna by breaking the chemical bond.

Chlorine, if left standing, will evaporate on its own and may not need to be chemically removed. Chloramine, however, is much more stable than chlorine as a water treatment and will not evaporate and require the de-chlor to break the chemical bond.

[nano]

Thanks for the info everyone.

Just unfamiliar with the term :)

[NanoDave]

Just to add that using antichlorine without antichloramine can also neutralise chloramine. The chlorine part in chloramine is neutralised, leaving the ammonia part to be taken care by plants or bio filter. :)

[amber2461]

Thanks for posting fruitpie !

[spinex]

Fruitpie,

How's your tank so far ? The downoi doing well ?

[silane]

Fruitpie,

How's your tank so far ? The downoi doing well ?

My tank is stable, plants are starting to grow.

The downoi are growing. :) It seems to be not as bushy as when CO2 is used, but I am quite happy with the growth, the 2 young shoots grow out of gravel within 2 weeks.

[spinex]

wow .. nice shrimp especially the one at the top left hand corner which is not very clear but can see the white is very thick !

What's the water parameters right now after it has stabilised ? What's your lighting in watt per gallon ?

You only grow downoi in this tank ?

I have yet to get my tank because i'm out of country this 2 weeks. But my wrought iron stand is ready. David ask me to go to his factory to see sample tank and discuss the spec for me 2x1.5x1.5 because he want to make sure i'm happy with it before he make the tank. I going to his factory next week after i'm back. Can't wait to start my tank since i got the chiller and CO2 already. I will also get the black ADA soil .. amazonia.

Did you have undergravel filter for this setup ?

[silane]

Good eye sight, the one on the left is a narrow band type. Can't get it in focus.

PH is about 6.3. Temp = 25C. 36W for the 2 feet.

Plant are deformis, HC, downoi and one more that I am not aware of the name.

No undergravel, not too sure if Adasoil can make it. Under normal usage, Adasoil will disintegrate within 2 years. Would you want to try with UGF with your new tank?

[spinex]

I read in Simcb's posting that he did a simple test before which he mentioned Amazonia (black ada soil) won't disintegrate as easily as Africana (brown soil).

I guess i will add the UGF but might not put in use yet. Can use it anytime for easy maintainence (to suck dirt from the gravel) or if i want to put it into production also easier than take out the whole substrate again.

[simcb]

I tested it but only over a period of a few months. I am guessing the black ADA will eventually breakdown just slower than the red ADA. Sorry if i mislead you in any way.

[spinex]

I tested it but only over a period of a few months. I am guessing the black ADA will eventually breakdown just slower than the red ADA. Sorry if i mislead you in any way.

Yup. That's my understanding too. Don't worry you did not mislead me. I did mention it won't disintegrate as easily as Africana but didn't say "it won't disintegrate at all" :D

Seem like many ppl have good result with ADA amazonia .. so i would like to give it a go. My new wrought iron stand is collected and ready ! Now have to take a look at fish tank at the tankmaker factory before i made the order.

[Kenshin]

Fastest Cycle time with ADAsoil for me.

Recently just cycle a new tank with ADAsoil within 1 week, ammonia was very near 0. After 11 days, nitrate was 5ppm.

What I did was:
Day 0 - add in Adasoil and water
Day 1 - change near 100% water
Day 1.5 - change near 100% water
Day 2 - change near 100% water
Day 2.5 - change near 100% water
Day 2.5 - add in water that was used to wash a matured filter wool and sponge
Day 4 - start to see ammonia goes down and nitrate raising
Day 6 - ammonia at 0.25ppm and nitrate 20ppm did a water near 100% water change, parameter just after WC: ammonia is very near 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate is less than 5ppm
Day 7 - ammonia is very very close to 0, I introduce my CRS.
Day 8 - ammonia is 0.
Day 11- ammonia is 0, nitrate is 5ppm. :)

I used de-chlorinated water to prevent the beneficial bacteria from being killed.

Silane,

Thank you very much for this super useful information. I really appreciate it since I will be switching to ADA Amazonia in about a week or so for my display tank with only CRS and Snowball shrimps. However, I would like to ask you a question. How much ADA soil should I use for a 20 gallon long tank, around 75 liters in volume. Measurement of the tank is 30" x 12" x 12'. I have bought 1 9-liter bag and 1 3-liter bag of the ADA soil with 1 additional bag of the 2-liter Power Sand Special. Should I place the Power Sand Special at the bottom of the tank before I add the ADA soil? Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

[silane]

9l is good for 24" x 12", so 12l is good for 30"x12".

For if Power Sand Special is needed, it really depends on your tank setup with what type of plant. Some plant need the nutrients provided by Power Sand Special. And if you do not have plant that need it, fertiser will leak into water column without any absorption by plants.

I have a friend, he is a memeber of SN too, I wouldn't mention his nick. :D He setup a low maintainance planted tank (moss on driftwood only) for his CRS. After sometime, there is so much hair algae growth due to excessive fert in water column as he used Power Sand Special.

The cycling is referring to use of Amanzonia, just a note. Africanna contains very low or no ammonia, the cycling process can be shortened.

[Fish Newb]

That's a really great guide!

I'm going to be switching my 10g around and making it a LOW grade CRS tank with Florabase, pretty much the same stuff as ADA AS just available local so this time I got that instead. I think I'm going to try to do it this way since 10g WC are a bit more manageable than larger tanks (other current tank is 55g) Once the tank is stable I'm probably going to buy some A or S Diamonds and see what patterns come up mixing them with low grade CRS:)

-Andrew

[gabeszone247]

Missed read title. gomennasai.

[gabeszone247]

Im sorry I miss read the title. Thats very quick. I always thought it took 2 weeks to a month. Thats just seems like too much work to do. The soil I use I dont do any water changes to cycle it. But I wish i would have seen your post when i was using AS to breed my tank it took almost a month to cycle it.

[silane]

The trick is to use 'dirty water' from used filters, that's zillion of bacteria in it.

[Kenshin]

Well I appreciate for the info. Too bad I wasted money already on the Power Sand Special. I will just have to save it for my future planted tanks with fish only.

[eklikewhoa]

I just set up a 30g with aquasoil and powersand and my cycle time was about 7days

day1 set up tank with AS/PS and plants
day2 did 70-80% w/c
day3 did another 70-80% wc
day4 squeezed filter pad from a wet/dry off one of my 6ft. tanks
day5 20-30% wc
day6 squeezed another filter pad from a different wet/dry off another 6ft tank
day7 had 0ammonia/0nitrites/5-10ppm of nitrates
day8 did a 50% w/c and added 15 amano shrimps with 6 quarter size koi angels and my 3 dwarf puffers.

[splatt3]

thanks for the heads up. i actually used your pattern but modified it, quite a bit. as a microbiology student, i trust ed the bacteria colonies that i was going to produce in my tank, plus, i cheated....hehehehe. after i set up my substrate, plants and added water in my tank, i took my old established canister filter from my other tank and used it. i got not some but a lot of gravel from my the old tank poured them into this media bag and in a panty hoes and shook it into the new tank, then laid it down in the substrate- i didn't hang it like others would do but i need the bacteria colonies to reach my substrate so it can spread out more quicker. these kind of bacteria doesn't do motility pretty well. i also poured the gunk that was in that filter into the tank, squeezed the filter floss, sponges into the tank also. my newly set up tank looked like a yucky, milky, puke infested:x, argh!! it was just plane old nasty. but it was worth it. by 2nd day i was having some spike on NH3, NO2 and my NO3 readings was increasing i did a 80-90% water change. on the third day, i got myself a bio-spira and added it after doing a 80-90% H2O change. did some readings half a day later and bam my NO3 was like 10-20ppm (it went up from a 5-10 before water change) but i still had NH3 and NO2. on the morning of the fourth day, my NH3 and NO2 were below 0.5 ppm. i didn't do any water change until day 5. before my H2O change, my H2O parameters were 0-0-10. i wasn't going to do a h20 change but i didn't like the look of my substrate which was full of white gunk from the beginning so i just sucked most of them out. oh and i know that these nitrifying bacteria are oxygen loving so i pumped a lot of oxygen into the tank with 2 air pumps. and my temperature was stable around 76-78 degrees F. i didn't want it to drop below 75 cuz the colonies need some warmth to grow. i added my cherries and took out my betta fish that i used for cycling. crs came in the mail a week later. now everyones happy and swimming around. well, thanks again for the heads up with the cycling. i am definately going to do the same thing if i set up another tank cuz i am an impatient individual when it comes to what i want done.

[Fish Newb]

Silane, My 10g i just redid for CRS I'm using "Flora Base" by RedSea, its virtually the same stuff, I think the cycle time will be around 3-4 days, I'll let everyone know how it turns out!

-Andrew

[Mario]

Do you use Carbon pad on your filter????

[MrPhanizzle]

I'm in the process of cycling my adasoil now and my ammonia has stayed 1.0 for weeks now. How can I drop the Ammonia? Someone told me to not do any Water changes because I want the N-Bacteria to build up. Should i do water changes or wait? Its been about 3 1/2 weeks now. Help me please I want to introduce CRS already. Thanks

[JLui83]

did you add an old filter in there with beneficial bacteria?

[silane]

Do you use Carbon pad on your filter????
Use in some tanks water that require good water polished.


did you add an old filter in there with beneficial bacteria?




I'm in the process of cycling my adasoil now and my ammonia has stayed 1.0 for weeks now. How can I drop the Ammonia? Someone told me to not do any Water changes because I want the N-Bacteria to build up. Should i do water changes or wait? Its been about 3 1/2 weeks now. Help me please I want to introduce CRS already. Thanks
New Amonzonia soil has lot of ammonia, after 1 week, you can do a large water change, to take out the excessive ammonia, you dont need so much ammonia to do the cycle.

You can add water from a tank already cycled, soil which is in an cycled or aged tank bottle bacteria and/or some 'cycled' filter medium.

[MrPhanizzle]

I used my Aquaclear 50 from my previous setup thats been running for 7 months or longer. I also used about 40% or my old tank water. I havent done WC for about 1 week 1/2. Should I do a Large water change today? Please reply asap I just want it cycled its been about a month and still the ammonia is high. How much should I take out of my tank when doing the WC?

[PapaFountain]

Fastest Cycle time with ADA Amoniza Aquasoil for me.

Recently just cycle a new tank with ADAsoil within 1 week, ammonia was very near 0. After 11 days, nitrate was 5ppm.

What I did was:
Day 0 - add in Adasoil and water
Day 1 - change near 100% water
Day 1.5 - change near 100% water
Day 2 - change near 100% water
Day 2.5 - change near 100% water
Day 2.5 - add in water that was used to wash a matured filter wool and sponge
Day 4 - start to see ammonia goes down and nitrate raising
Day 6 - ammonia at 0.25ppm and nitrate 20ppm did a water near 100% water change, parameter just after WC: ammonia is very near 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate is less than 5ppm
Day 7 - ammonia is very very close to 0, I introduce my CRS.
Day 8 - ammonia is 0.
Day 11- ammonia is 0, nitrate is 5ppm. :)

I used de-chlorinated water to prevent the beneficial bacteria from being killed.

do u guys add like dead stuff to produce ammonia and speed up growth of bb? i am also going to uses ada soil and if i add ammonia will that mean bb will grow faster. the more the merrier?

[PapaFountain]

Hey i bought Ada amazonia 2 soil and found out i cant use ugf and i already bought it what should i do at small neting to prevent gravel from falling through or is there another reason why ugf should not be used for this kind of soil

[silane]

do u guys add like dead stuff to produce ammonia and speed up growth of bb? i am also going to uses ada soil and if i add ammonia will that mean bb will grow faster. the more the merrier?

Amonzonia has enough ammonia to feed the BB, there is no need to add more ammonia source

[PapaFountain]

Amonzonia has enough ammonia to feed the BB, there is no need to add more ammonia source

did u wash ur amazonia b4 using cause the pack says do not wash b4 use but when i plant my plants all the crap starts coming out of the soil

[silane]

No washing is needed.

[PapaFountain]

Oh ok. I did'nt wash the amazonia soil but i've got a problem with my nitrite and ammonia tests after 2 weeks of cycling. The nitrite has gone up but the ammonia test results has stayed the same. Another question is whether bb will further break down nitrite because im not sure how many more weeks im going to need for the tank to finish the cycling. Current live stock in my tank is only a one branch of DW with some java moss tied to it.

[Robert]

Hi,
please be more patient. A nitrite peak after 2 weeks of cycling is quite normal. The beneficial bacteria need time to grow. They will break down the nitrite for sure, just give the right bb some more time to grow.
Normally you can just measure ammonia in your tank if the cycling process was successful. This will take at least another week, probably more.

regards

Robert

[PapaFountain]

Hi,
please be more patient. A nitrite peak after 2 weeks of cycling is quite normal. The beneficial bacteria need time to grow. They will break down the nitrite for sure, just give the right bb some more time to grow.
Normally you can just measure ammonia in your tank if the cycling process was successful. This will take at least another week, probably more.

regards

Robert

Hey,
thanks for the quick reply. I just got my nitrite spike and the ammonia seems to be breaking down after 2 weeks of cycling really excited, another question is. Will there be another ammonia spike if i take out my driftwood to tie mosses on it then put it back cause its slightly dug into the soil(ada amazonia 2).Can't wait to get my first batch of CRS even though they gonna be c grades =).

[Rabbit]

9l is good for 24" x 12", so 12l is good for 30"x12".

For if Power Sand Special is needed, it really depends on your tank setup with what type of plant. Some plant need the nutrients provided by Power Sand Special. And if you do not have plant that need it, fertiser will leak into water column without any absorption by plants.

I have a friend, he is a memeber of SN too, I wouldn't mention his nick. :D He setup a low maintainance planted tank (moss on driftwood only) for his CRS. After sometime, there is so much hair algae growth due to excessive fert in water column as he used Power Sand Special.

The cycling is referring to use of Amanzonia, just a note. Africanna contains very low or no ammonia, the cycling process can be shortened.

hi silane, can i just check with u, while cycling, there were no plants watso ever?

and using Amanzonia alone to cycle becoz it contains amonia right?

what comment would u give i use your method to cycle and keep it as an UNPLANTED tank? does it make sense?

if not, wat cycling method do u suggest for an unplated tank. reason being im dont have green fingers. so im trying to avoid plants.

[fishcop444]

Hey i bought Ada amazonia 2 soil and found out i cant use ugf and i already bought it what should i do at small neting to prevent gravel from falling through or is there another reason why ugf should not be used for this kind of soil

No need to use under gravel filters (they are "old skool"). How big is your tank? For a smaller tank, use a sponge filter (easy and cheap). Cannister or HOB for larger tanks. I have a 10gallon planted tank with ADA soil and I buried the sponge filter in the substrate. Works fine.

[PapaFountain]

My tank is 2x1 feeti took out the dw to tie mosses no side effects , 4 shrimps added but 1 casualty probably cause i added some guppies to clear the planarians.thx for info though

[volkracing99]

Hi Silane,

During day 0 to day 11, did you turn on or off the canister filter?
Thanks...

[retardo]

Your filter should be on at all times during the cycle period.

[volkracing99]

Hi Silane...

Sorry I just remember I have another question.... (I would edit my first question, but the website wouldn't let me)

From Day 0 to day 2.5 after you do WC did you use de-chlorinated water or just tap water, and the use de-chlorinated water on day 7...

Thanks in advanced.... :)

[volkracing99]

Your filter should be on at all times during the cycle period.

thanks for the quick respond...

I'm using canister filter, do I have to replace/ clean the filter pad before I put the CRS in the tank?
For some reason the ADA Amazonia II that I bought have a lot fly debris... (like small piece of wood)

[silane]

Sorry for the late replies.


hi silane, can i just check with u, while cycling, there were no plants watso ever?

and using Amanzonia alone to cycle becoz it contains amonia right?

what comment would u give i use your method to cycle and keep it as an UNPLANTED tank? does it make sense?

if not, wat cycling method do u suggest for an unplated tank. reason being im dont have green fingers. so im trying to avoid plants.

Best is to add some plant. You can have full setup and let it cycle or just soil. Amaonzonia has ammonia, and that is food for the bacteria.

Plants from elsewhere can help to introduce bacteria seeding, it maybe helps by a bit faster in the cycling, but dont expect it to speed up by a lot.

I have an article in Library section, you can read, it is based on cycling with soil only.


Hi Silane,

During day 0 to day 11, did you turn on or off the canister filter?
Thanks...

Alway on.


Hi Silane...

Sorry I just remember I have another question.... (I would edit my first question, but the website wouldn't let me)

From Day 0 to day 2.5 after you do WC did you use de-chlorinated water or just tap water, and the use de-chlorinated water on day 7...

Thanks in advanced.... :)

Yes, de-cholrinated water is to be used. You have to make the enviroment as comfortable for the bacteria as possible, so they will grow.

The bacteria growth rate will be different from people to people and even tank to tank. My advice is to get test kits to check ammonia and NO2 level, when they have reached 0, do a large water change, let it cycle for 3 more days and you can introduce shrimps.

If you want to save on test kids, on the safe side, let it cycle for 3 to 4 weeks, in the process, do 2 to 3 large water changes.

[silane]

This thread is getting long and not easy to read, let continue tank cycling discussion here:

http://www.shrimpnow.com/forums/showthread.php/tank-cycling-3390.html?p=30266