New planted aquarium cycling 2weeks

[adm]

I just recently got my tank cycled and added my first fish.

The key things for me were to get the API master test kit so I could see exactly what was going on, and to use plain old household Ammonia as the feedstock for the bacteria. That and a nice precise 10ml pipette for dosing.

I followed the guide that was linked above and the tank was cycled in 23 days.

Of course, I went to the LFS today all proud of myself for strictly doing the no-fish cycle, only to be told "Nobody does that anymore, we just chuck a bottle of bacteria in and give it a week or so...". I bit my tongue...

[gantiz]

Thank you all for the guidance.. I have added some fish food and Topfin bacteria. Will follow the instructions in the link shared and keep updating the status.

[gantiz]

I just recently got my tank cycled and added my first fish.

The key things for me were to get the API master test kit so I could see exactly what was going on, and to use plain old household Ammonia as the feedstock for the bacteria. That and a nice precise 10ml pipette for dosing.

I followed the guide that was linked above and the tank was cycled in 23 days.

Of course, I went to the LFS today all proud of myself for strictly doing the no-fish cycle, only to be told "Nobody does that anymore, we just chuck a bottle of bacteria in and give it a week or so...". I bit my tongue...

I started mine 2 weeks back as well. Added liquid bacteria today and some fish food and will follow the same link posted above. Got the API master test kit as well.Will start testing the for ammonia after 2 days. Keep updating about your experience and learnings.

[black ghost]

Thank you all for the guidance.. I have added some fish food and Topfin bacteria. Will follow the instructions in the link shared and keep updating the status.

Unfortunately Topfin isn’t one of the bacteria-in-a-bottle products that’s known to work (most don’t, or are iffy at best). It might help, or it might not.
Also, adding fish food as the ammonia source takes a week or two longer, because you first have to grow an extra population of bacteria (heterotrophic bacteria) to break down the food into ammonia. Once the cycle is done, these bacteria are not required.
Just so you know. It’ll still cycle but might take a while.

[Unalome]

Agreed definitely recommend using Ammonia - This is what I use to cycle my tanks;

[gantiz]

Thank you for all the suggestions. I have added fritz bacteria and adding a pinch of fish food. White hair like fungus is seen around the fish food settled on the gravel. How do I get rid of this? Is a water change needed? Or wait for the ammonia to spike and the cycle to kick start?

[black ghost]

You need the fungus. It’s converting the fish food into ammonia for you.

[gantiz]

Yes. Thank you for the clarification. I see its all gone today morning. I tested the water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates today and all the 3 show 0ppm. Added the pic for reference. I do see that the plants are growing well with new leaves

[gantiz]

[black ghost]

I’m seeing that ammonia as green. Somewhere between 0 and 0.25. You won’t get much ammonia from one pinch of food, so I’d grow some more fungus.