Cycling log: Fishless food method

[laynisample]

First off, sorry if this annoys anyone. I would love any suggestions as well.

I'm cycling my new ten gallon tank, all it has currently is about two inches of gravel and conditioned water. I'll buy some decorations for it next week. Can the BB settle and grow on the gravel or do they have to have decor? I want to make it into a natural planted tanks but i don't want to add the plants until it cycles as this is my first time ever and I'm nervous about adding the plants into the mix and having it throw off the ammonia.

Set up my tank last night at around 9 pm. How often should I take readings? I was going to take them every day.

Day One:
Ammonia: 2.0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm

Not unexpected right? I'm nervous about this whole thing because it's so new to me. Any advice would be great. I've been using the tropical fish flakes that came with my tank as the food sample. My fish don't seem to like them as much as they like their betta bites, so I crushed them with my fingers and dropped three pinches in.

[ChoclateBetta]

Yes BB grows on gravel and decorations and filter media. Live plants are always good except when they die.

[laynisample]

Day Two:
Ammonia: 1ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 0ppm

Added another pinch of food. Is the tank hood supposed to be on or off? I've been leaving it on with the light on to warm the water during the day and taking it off at night. Also, should I wait to baffle my filter with the sponge until I am finished with the cycle? It's pretty powerful and I have a feeling that it would knock my fish around way more than I want it to, but they're not in there yet so I don't really have to worry about it.

Are you only supposed to do water changes when the ammonia gets over 4.0 ppm or are you supposed to do partials more often than that? My other tanks (2.5 and 3 gal) are on an every other day schedule where I remove 50% of the water and vacuum the gravel where I don't have to move any decorations. (meaning like three spots per tank pretty much with their plants and decor.)

[laynisample]

Day Three:
Ammonia: 1ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 0ppm

Added two more pinches of food, leaving tank hood off for now until I can do my large water change and can silicone the edges of my divider. I think I did that a little backwards, oh well, I just hope that messing up the gravel a tiny bit won't mess up my cycle.

[laynisample]

Day Six:
Ammonia: 4ppm
Nitrite: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm

YAY! First Nitrite readings. How much longer should it take for the other bacteria and what level should I keep the ammonia at?

[Perseusmom]

Wow thats great that you have a nitrite reading already ! I am not sure since I did a fish in cycle but maybe in another week you will have nitrate or sooner if its cycling this fast. Not sure about what you should keep the ammonia level at but someone will come along I am sure that will know. Good luck !