1 Galon Tank Cycling

OK, I took a one gallon water bottle and started it cycling. Here are my results so far:

To cycle I added a large pinch of fish food and an algae wafer.

Water parameters day after adding food, 12/31/07

Nitrate: 20 ppm

Nitrite: .5 ppm

GH: 230 ppm

KH: 200 ppm

pH: 8.0

Notes: Water smells malodorous, like dead fish. The water is under heavy aeration and is very cloudy.

1/2/08

Parameters:

Nitrate: 14 ppm

Nitrite: 20 ppm

GH: 230 ppm

KH: 200 ppm

pH: 8.2

Notes: I added a homemade filter (will post instructions soon) containing flat-bottomed marbles, activated carbon and zeolite. The scent of the water was reduced.

1/4/08

Nitrate: 4 ppm

Nitrite: .2 ppm

GH: 280 ppm

KH: 200 ppm

pH: 8.0

More later. The bottle will house a Betta splendens.