Having problems getting amm. up to appropriate levels.  Posted over on aquaticcommunity.com, and found out that Safeway sells ammonia!  Got Scott to pick some up.

Ammonia 0.6 pre
+1 tsp ammonia amm unchanged
+1.5 tsp amm 1.2
+2 tsp amm 2.4
+2.5 tsp amm 4.9 finally!

total tsp = 7

Let's get this bacteria party started!

Scott helped me set up the air pump and bubblers last night.  Took a while, about 45 min., mostly because I was trying to get the tubing under the gravel and it wouldn't stay.  Who knew things filled with air are buoyant? Ha ha. I also had my arm in up to my armpit and still couldn't get things quite right.  We'll fix things when we do a water change after cycling is completed.

The bubbling dragon looks awesome!  It's not too big, and I think it will blend in nicely with the rest of the hardscape.  The freaking heater still doesn't keep the temp very steady.  I just had to turn it down, after turning it up and down and up...  Hopefully if straightens itself out or we will have to get another heater.

No pics, just imagine a tank filled with green water.

Just did first cycling water test.  The only parameter that has changed is the pH, which increase from 7.5 (from tap) to between 8 and 8.5.  Hmm.  Must look in to this.  Amm 0.6, trIte 0, trAte 0.

Also bought air lines and bubblers.  Hope to get that installed tonight.

ETA: Apparently pH is quite variable during cycling.  Will stop testing, and test only when cycling is completed.

Bacterial bloom even more noticeable today.  Tank smells like fish food when I open the lid. Continuing with adding fish food twice a day. Temp ranging still a bit wide, but stays high only for very short periods of time.  Running around 28- 28.8*C.

Happy news!  Got the Python and TOM brand air pump in the mail yesterday, no thanks to the post office.  Air pump feels way heavier than I anticipated.  Scott took a look at the Python and thought it was a cool design.  Am going to try and use it to give Molly a bath on the deck. Good practice, I think. Also have sketched out what parts I need to get a total of 4 airstones in the tank.

Prior to tonight's "feeding" of the tank, am going to test water parameters.  Going to show Scott the results.  Will post results.

Bacterial bloom getting more noticeable.  This is normal.

Cycling

Continuing to add 2 pinches fish food twice a day. Water looking cloudy.

Heater seemed to be having some problems keeping temp stable, but seems better now.  Staying between 27.2 and 28.4, depending on the temp of the house.  It has been very hot here, so we are not surprised.

No leaks/problems noted.  Light bulbs are 6700K.

Still waiting for python and air pump. Sexsmith post office should have it; Scott checking in to that today,

Starting the fishie adventures!

Yay!  I got an aquarium! Specs are:

77 gallon
47"x16"x24
Fluval 405 with sponge and biomedia only
Fluval 300W heater
Hood with 2 40W T8 fluorescent bulbs
River rock style substrate in browns and tans: 25 lbs med, 50 lbs sm
black stand
digital thermometer
UPS
and soon an air pump with bubblers

Water tests on July 19, 2012:

pH 7.5
Amm 0.6
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

Started July 22 in am doing a fishless cycle using fish food as potential ammonia source.  Will add 2 pinches twice a day to get beneficial bacteria going.

Plans for stocking:

15 cardinal tetra
15 black phantom tetra
15 diamond tetra
1 bristlenose plecostomus
3 ghost shrimp

Decorations to come:

driftwood
dragon air bubbler
plastic plants
real plants: anubias, java fern, java moss, vals
am working on a crocheted backdrop

Pics of tank set up: