beginner in need of much advice

[lizkline91]

Hello!

So, I started cycling a planted tank (10"x10" - approx. 4.5 g) three weeks ago. Yesterday I decided I did not like the design and completely changed it. I have now included multiple pieces of driftwood (I found them, boiled, and let dry in sun), river stones, and dwarf hairgrass with some micro sword. I used Flourite Black substrate with a medium grain sand on top to help with the grass rooting.

The bad news is, I had to do about a 75% water change during the makeover and ran out of conditioner. I am afraid I have killed off all of my beneficial bacteria and now must start the cycle over. Is it even possible to fully cycle a tank this small? I only want a few shrimp and a betta in there. Is it possible I can put the betta in now and just skip on forcing the cycle?

also, will the natural driftwood destroy my water parameters?

Should I add more Plants?

Nitrate- 5
Nitrite- 1.5
hardness - 150
Alkalinity - 80
pH - 7.2

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[Berny]

I'm not sure where the nitrite and nitrate comes from, but just leave it to cycle for now. you can be an impatient guy like me, throwing in shrimps and fishes within first week of cycling such small tanks and having the fishes and shrimps jumping out the next day. long story short:
- continue the cycling
- refrain from adding livestock to prevent unnecessary death
- go buy some anti chlorine (seachem prime is good)
- Hairgrass too thick, trim abit off and plant like.. 2-3 stalk per bunch for most efficient and fastest growth.
- fill via siphon method using a airline tubing to prevent murky water
- not sure if it's me, but internal filter seems to be blocked by that tall stone (blocked flow, many dead spot, many bba ) if flow is aimed at that stone, better secure the stone properly, once it topples...

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[lizkline91]

Thank you for your quick response! I am using the rock to weigh down my driftwood for now. Most of them are remaining underwater so I will remove the stones. I think it's the angle of view because the rock is nearly touching the front of the tank and the filter is in the far back. I will trim my hairgrass and buy anti chlorine today. Should I continue adding ammonia or just let it do it's thing?

[Berny]

this... I can't advise, to be honest, I've never done a complete full cycle before. but for plants, I do have some experience with them, Hairgrass can be planted in smaller clumps.

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[v_nod]

Leave it there for a week, most of the chlorine should have evaporated by itself. If possible, throw in a piece of filter floss from a mature tank into your own tank. A week later, throw in 2 or 3 shrimps to check.