Instant cycling

[Fiori]

I got a new 55 uk gall tank and set it up just over two weeks ago, with a lot of filter media from my established 40 gall tank. I had hoped this would instantly cycle the tank, but I am still waiting on my nitrites to drop. I am adding ammonia every day and it is dropping to zero each time - am I doing something wrong here? I though the tank would be cycled by now.

 

[pnyklr3]

Even if you used the entire filter and substrate from the 40, the 55 wouldn't be "instantly cycled" because there isn't enough bacteria. You only have enough for 40 gallons, not 55. You should, however, be cycling faster than if you used no media at all.

The easiest way to instantly cycle a tank is to:
1. Set up a smaller tank. For example if you have a 20 gallon, use half of the media to set up a 10 gallon.

2. Run the new filter on an old tank for awhile to "seed" it. The filter then has the bacteria you will need for the new tank.

 

[Fiori]

Thanks for the prompt reply, pnyklr3. I suppose I was expecting miracles as this is the first time I have cycled with some assistance, rather than completely from scratch. I am fishless cycling, as well, so I sort of expected the cycle to be complete by now. Duhh! Never mind, nearly there I think.

 

[sinistral]

Good words of advice from pnyklr3, though there's one detail I have a comment on...

Level of bacterial growth is more dependent on stocking than on tank volume. For instance, if you have three neon tetras in a 55g, you will certainly not have sufficient bacterial growth when you transfer that filter media to your 40g stocked with 3 fantail goldfish. On the other hand, transferring a filter from a 55g with 3 goldfish to a 40g with three neons will be (on average) more than sufficient.

So, it is possible to "instantly cycle" a tank by adding a good quantity of filter media, but it's important to account for varying stocking levels when making the transfer.

Translating "drops of ammonia" to "quantity of fish" is hard to do and may account for why you're getting nitrites. How high were the nitrites?

 

[BettaMomma]

I have to agree with that...
I have a 10G tank with 6 female bettas.
That tank cycled pretty quickly. I set up a second 10G tank for 2 boys - and added only a couple of scoops of gravel from the girly tank, and it instantly cycled.

 

[Fiori]

I have been adding ammonia daily to a level that maintains it at 5 ppm and then nowonce it started dropping halved the amount. I'm mwaiting on the nitrites coming down, which are sitting at 2 now, so I'm getting there. I thought I would be ok transferring from a full tank of fish to one with none.

Thanks everyone for your advice, you have cleared up a few misconceptions I had about this.

 

[Paul_MTS]

you don't cycle the tank at all.

when you add some media from another tank you need to add fish with hours of putting the filter in otherwise the bacteria will die off with a source of ammonia.

I haven't cycled a tank since my first tank, just get some fish put them in the new tank, put some filter media from another tank in the filter and hey presto.

when stocking the new tank just do it slowly, this way you give the bacteria time to multiple to deal with the waste that you are putting in the tank.

 

[gixer]

i agree.

i wouldnt of even bothered using ammonia in that tank. i have not cycled a tank in years either, there is no need.. i have enough media in my others to cycle any filter.

you have to remember..adding 5ppm ammonia daily is much much more that a heavily stocked tank would produce...

if i took all the fish out of one of my very heavily stocked tanks and added 5ppm of ammonia everyday i know for a fact i would get a nitrite spike.

hope that clears a few things up for you

 

[Fiori]

thanks everyone - I'll know the next time - feel an idiot now! ) Never mind, fish keeping is just one big learning curve.

 

[gixer]

no need to feel like that at all..

you will be able to fully stock this tank when its over.. i assume that was the reason?

 

[Fiori]

It is - I have 4 baby red angelfish in my QT, ready for the big day. They're tiny at the moment though. And I have 6 orange laser corys waiting for me at my lfs. Yippeee!

 

[pnyklr3]

Thanks for filling in all of the blanks! I was in a rush to get out the door to work, so I was typing in a frenzy!

 

[BettaMomma]

So lemme make sure I'm understanding the terms - I think what some people are talking about "instant cycling", other folks are saying that when you introduce stuff from a cycled tank, no actual "cycle" ever even takes place, it's just that the new tank acts like it has already been cycled off the bat.

You got all that?
Is that correct? Or am I way off base?

Holy cow, I think I get it now.
SWEET.

 

[Paul_MTS]

yep you got it, when you introduce bacteria from another tank the new tank won't experince a cycle unless you stock to fast then you will get a litle mini cycle.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

That's how I switched from an overstocked five gallon to a ten gallon, handfull of gravel, half the water from the five, and added the fish withing fifteen minutes. Worked like a charm, and I didn't loose a single guppy fry....