Fishless Cycle Not Even Started?

[puffer duffer]

hello,so im doing a fishless cycle i have read everything about it on here and dont know if its done or even if its started?
tank 58ltr
temp 28c
ph 7.8
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 5
its been or so i thought cycing for 3 weeks,i didnt test until today and now im confused,have i missed it? or has it not even started?
fluval u2 filter with bio stuff in middle taken from mature tank
gravel taken from mature tank
2 dead prawns in net hanging in tank
flakes (2 flakes) added every day
few pieces of cabomba (not sure of real name)
so what do you think? did i miss cycle? is it ready?
tested with api liquid test kit (new)

 

[ian]

so, all the media was mature?

 

[drobbyb]

With the 2 dead prawns and the fish flakes, you should be seeing some kind of activity. If you are fully cycled already, you should see a rise in nitrates. If you are not cycled, you should see ammonia and/or nitrites. What is your tap water's parameters?

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, by not testing and taking data for the 3 weeks its difficult to know whether you've missed seeing the cycling process happening or whether there is something wrong and it hasn't even started the process yet.

If you were using household ammonia you could test the situation but with organics this is more difficult.

I see Robby's along so I'll trust him to dream up a procedure for you. 'specially since I gotta leave for rehearsal

WD

 

[drobbyb]

That's a tough one. Is it possible to remove the organic matter and dose the tank with household ammonia? If you can, then that would be the best course of action. We need a controlled dose to ensure that it's safe for fish, and the prior would fit the bill perfectly.

 

[puffer duffer]

no not all filter media was mature i swapped the mature biomax from my fluval u3 middle section and put it in the new u2 but the sponges were new........gravel was also from mature tank,do u think this was enough to have no cycle or maybe mini cycle? nitrates are very low my other tanks run about 20-30 and its 20 out of the tap? tap water ph 7.8 ammonia 0 nitrites 0 nitrates 20.didnt test because i thought it would take alot longer also it has been cloudy up until today now its crystal clear which is why i tested i figured something must of happened

 

[puffer duffer]

ok just to confuse things i now have 5 amano shrimp in the tank! because i havent looked at tank much for 3 weeks ive only just seen them,i was very confused and unless a frozen prawn can have babies couldnt figure out how they got there!then i remembered i got the cobomba from my friend who has a brakish tank with a puffer,he puts cabomba in now and then to control algae and nitrates and although he doesnt have amano now he did before the puffer ate them,is it possible the shrimp had babys and hitched a ride on cabomba?they are about 2-3cm long and look exactly like small amano shrimp also watched one eat bits of prawn yuk!i thought babies could only live in brakish water?but they have been in this tank in freshwater for at least 3 weeks........no where to put them my other tanks all have cherry shrimp in and have heard amanos will eat them if feeling pekish plus amanos get alot bigger! so ammonia idea is out,i dont want to give them to friend for puffer food, there actually fun to watch so wanna keep them if possible,am i right in thinking shrimps are very sensitive to ammonia,nitrites and high nitrates? in which case im almost convinced tank must be cycled......

 

[drobbyb]

Yeah, don't want to poison them. Hmmm... With the mature media, it is possible that it has cycled already. At this point, I think it would be a good idea to keep feeding the tank and watch the parameters for a few days just to be sure.

 

[puffer duffer]

ok will do,thanks for help

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, even though I was being all careful and safe about it, my first thought was that the most likely scenerio is that this tank is alread cycled because of the significant volume of mature media.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[puffer duffer]

right to be on the safe side as this tank is going to be a dwarf puffer tank ive put amanos in a bucket with an airstone,changed about 30% of water,removed the few bits of cabomba (and put them in bucket with shrimp) and added 4-5ppm ammonia to the tank,i hope ammonia is 0 tomorrow,if it is does this mean it really is cycled? if so should i do another small 20-30% water change or dose ammonia for a few days just to be sure? if ammonia is the same ie 4-5ppm 2morrow then im in for a full on fishless cycle yeah?

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, you've summarized it pretty well youself there. WD