Help, New Tank Confusion!

[Genesis]

Okay, I've just set up a 60 litre tall aquarium today.
I added a mature filter (a Fluval 3+) to the tank which was previously in my Rio 180 Tropical Community.
I used "King British PROFESSIONAL: Safe GUARD anti-stress chlorine remover" on the water and I used "Nutrafin CYCLE" to boost the bacteria.
Sand is my chosen substrate.

I have begun to cycle it as a coldwater aquarium (I will be switching to tropical once it is cycled).
The water is roughly 73 degrees Farenheit.
I have 2 Shibunkins and 1 Sasara Comet goldfish in the aquarium at the moment.

There is faecal matter visible on the sand, but I have just tested my PH and ammonia with chemical tests kits.
I have a PH of 7.8 and <0.04 ammonia present.


I am confused as to why the ammonia is so low?
Could anyone enlighten me?



(by the way, after the cycling process the 3 goldfish will be added to a 250 litre pond)

 

[Mikaila31]

You added mature media. Which can instantly cycle a tank if it contains enough bacteria. It looks like yours had almost enough to cycle the tank fully, so you should only experience a small mini-cycle. This is my perfered method of cycling, since its so quick, I always use it on my quarantine tank. If you add some more mature media, you should be able to skip cycling all together.

 

[Genesis]

You added mature media. Which can instantly cycle a tank if it contains enough bacteria. It looks like yours had almost enough to cycle the tank fully, so you should only experience a small mini-cycle. This is my perfered method of cycling, since its so quick, I always use it on my quarantine tank. If you add some more mature media, you should be able to skip cycling all together.

Wow, that's great news!
I will be moving these goldies out to the pond when the weather gets better

 

[Genesis]

Ammonia is now at 0.02

 

[raptorrex]

I have begun to cycle it as a coldwater aquarium (I will be switching to tropical once it is cycled)

if you were actually cycling from scratch, you realise the cycle will be faster if you do it tropical? the bacteria grow faster in the warmer water. that said if it is with fish, goldies are hardy fish, but it would still take longer, or at least that's how i understand it.

 

[Genesis]

I have begun to cycle it as a coldwater aquarium (I will be switching to tropical once it is cycled)

if you were actually cycling from scratch, you realise the cycle will be faster if you do it tropical? the bacteria grow faster in the warmer water. that said if it is with fish, goldies are hardy fish, but it would still take longer, or at least that's how i understand it.

Yeah, but we need some more goldfish for the pond, and I haven't got enough money for a heater atm.
The temperature is about 72-75 F in there anyway, so it's semi-tropical temp.

 

[Colin_T]

If you want to put the goldfish in make sure you do it now or add some ammonia to keep the filter bacteria alive. If you don't have anything for the bacteria to feed on it will die and the tank will start cycling when you add the fish.
Normally if you add a fully established filter you can add fish at the same time. Then you just monitor the water quality and keep the feeding down until the filters have settled. Usually a few days to a week.

 

[Genesis]

Yeah, the goldies are in there right now.
Just till I can get a heater, they're keeping the bacteria up

 

[raptorrex]

[quote name=''genesis' post='1952723' date='Mar 23 2008, 04:23 PM']Yeah, but we need some more goldfish for the pond, and I haven't got enough money for a heater atm.
The temperature is about 72-75 F in there anyway, so it's semi-tropical temp. [/quote]

ah i see. on this i cycled my 90l tank on top of a fridge, the temp never got below 24 and was often higher. and had no heater in.