Accidently Started Cycle Again

[mikeg]

Thought I would be clever. Guess not. I wanted to change the 40lbs of eco-complete for white sand. Pulled all the eco out yesterday afternoon. Started worrying about starting a recycle. Well....no prob there, its recycling like a xxxxx. Now what? I did a 50% change this am but reading right after change was ammonia at .5 (same as before wc)

I'll buy a new test and recheck. Any suggestions? I will put the pool sand in this eve. Good or bad Idea?

Help

Mike

 

[mamafish68]

I'm really curious, why on Earth would you trade out one buffering, full of benibac sand for one that has NO biological value what so ever?

 

[mikeg]

cause i'm mentally challenged? But enough of me. What do I do from here to help overcome my stupid plan?


mike

 

[SamUK]

watch your readings and do water changes to keep the levels down.


if you still have the old substrate and its still damp/wet then stick a load in a stocking/ pair of tights and put that in the tank.

should help some of the bacteria spread to the new tank and you can remove it easily again after.

 

[mikeg]

Thats just what I did. Put back about 15lbs of the old substrate back. I had kept it wet and it was less than a day out of the tank. The ammonia is up a little to 0.25ppm. Will keep up with wc. So far nobody seems the least bit stressed but then again I am no fish psychologist.

Mike

 

[Qays]

what filter do you have? The filter should over the problem quickly as it holds most of the bacteria.