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Recent content by Seisage

  1. Seisage

    Nijsseni, Panduro, or Agassizii

    I'm working on an Ucayali River biotope community tank and had been planning on putting an agassizii in it. However, I realized that I honestly hadn't really considered two of the other options I have: nijsseni or panduro. My parameters are appropriate for all three of them and I like the way...
  2. Seisage

    I'm truly at a loss here, please help (cycling low KH tank)

    I did know that it can alter pH, which is partly why I asked. So, basically, adding any ammonia to a 0 KH system that's slightly acidic will simply result in ammonium, which won't feed the bacteria anyway? This is all very interesting, because the person on the other forum has said they've...
  3. Seisage

    I'm truly at a loss here, please help (cycling low KH tank)

    Okay, sorry, I do have one more thing that I'm curious about. Someone on another forum told me that without feeding the bacteria (or nitrifiers in general), the tank can never be "cycled". This makes scientific and logical sense, but would the leaf litter and humic substances be enough of an...
  4. Seisage

    I'm truly at a loss here, please help (cycling low KH tank)

    @MacZ Well, I've already got step 5 started with the frogbit! I'll definitely take a look at that Duckweed Index. And I want to give a massive "thank you" to you, as well as @dw1305 and @Ben Rhau for your knowledge and for your patience with a stressed and confused newbie. You've made this...
  5. Seisage

    I'm truly at a loss here, please help (cycling low KH tank)

    Would you recommend adding liquid ferts straight away, or wait for the system to establish itself first and use the plants as a barometer without outside help? Just as well with the inverts, I suppose. I haven't been able to find any Amazon inverts for sale, let alone blackwater ones from the...
  6. Seisage

    I'm truly at a loss here, please help (cycling low KH tank)

    Haha, yes, I realized my mistake shortly after posting, oops. Okay! So, based on our whole discussion thus far, here's what I'm thinking my best next steps for this tank are: 1. Replace current tank water with straight RO or rainwater 2. Add botanicals and/or extracts (is there a good...
  7. Seisage

    I'm truly at a loss here, please help (cycling low KH tank)

    Good to know. I live/work at a scientific research station, so we have RO systems, but if it’s better/safer to convert it yourself, then I’ll try the rainwater route until I can save up for an RO unit (edit: my bad! I misunderstood your meaning of “convert” there. I can probably use RO then, but...
  8. Seisage

    I'm truly at a loss here, please help (cycling low KH tank)

    I could use rainwater or RO water currently, but I don’t know for how long. I’m a graduate student/in my early career stages, so I expect to be moving around. Not a lot, but enough that I wouldn’t be comfortable creating a system reliant on a 0 TDS starting point. Which means I’ll probably just...
  9. Seisage

    I'm truly at a loss here, please help (cycling low KH tank)

    Thank you Mac. Yes, I have read your blackwater primer haha. Your notes on pH and its instability are good. Are there any particular things to keep in mind to avoid the rapid shifts? Regarding setup, if my detectable KH is an issue, can I still use leaf litter? It's a hallmark of the biotope...
  10. Seisage

    I'm truly at a loss here, please help (cycling low KH tank)

    Apologies for the long post ahead. Alright, so, I'm currently working on constructing an Ucayali River biotope. I just set up the tank yesterday and I'm really at a loss for how to cycle it. My tap water's KH (and GH) is naturally extremely low, at around 35ppm (~2 degrees). The tank's pH is...
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