cycling the tank is taking forever!!!

[Pufferpunk]

Remind me what you're keeping in there?

[J-P]

is this tank empty?

What is the target SG?

If empty start at the target SG and work from there... Starting from scratch will take about 4 weeks. At low SG you can use old FW bio media to kick start it.

[1puff]

I've been cycling the tank with an SG of 1.002 with 2 f8s in it.

[J-P]

squeeze some FW sponges into the BW filter.

[1puff]

Why?? The tank is cycled!!!

[J-P]

ohhh ok ok!!! that is good news!! I am late to the game


the SG goes up by .002 per week.

so let them rest for a bit before raising it to 1.004

[Pufferpunk]

You can raise the SG much slower than that, too.

[1puff]

Ok cool! I have a hydrometer and those things are not very accurate.
So I'm going to raise the SG to 1.004 and leave it there, this wayihave more option for plants.
I found a used refractometer for 20$.

[Pufferpunk]

Give it a couple of weeks at stable parameters before adding anything new, including salt.

[J-P]

be sure to calibrate the refracto properly.

As for the plants RTR if the guru here on than... possibly java fern etc...

[1puff]

I have read that annubias do well in tanks with an SG of 1.004-6.

[Pufferpunk]

Mine melted at 1.005.