Is My Tank Cycled?

[maisy12345]

Hi ,put water in my new 110l tank,just over a week ago,put on new filter and heater,added nutrafin cycle,stress coat plus and dechlorinator ,2 days later transferred all my fish over from 28l and tested water daily,tanks gone through a bacterial bloom ,but ammonia nitrite ,nitrate are all at 0 ,ph seems to be a bit low ,but that is all ,is this tank cycled or not?

 

[Blubble37]

Hi ,put water in my new 110l tank,just over a week ago,put on new filter and heater,added nutrafin cycle,stress coat plus and dechlorinator ,2 days later transferred all my fish over from 28l and tested water daily,tanks gone through a bacterial bloom ,but ammonia nitrite ,nitrate are all at 0 ,ph seems to be a bit low ,but that is all ,is this tank cycled or not?

well maisy, if the ammonia and others is at 0 then it looks as if it is. Test regularly though incase there is a spike in the levels (if so, transfer the fish into the old tank untill the levels come down)

Good luck,

Blubble

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I don't trust "Cycle", so I would say "not yet". "Cycle" seems to keep the ammonia and nitrites at zero as long as you continue to use it. If you stop, then you will probably see some levels rise.


I'd keep a very close eye on things for a while longer before I would trust that everything is fully cycled.

 

[Harlequins]

Did you transfer the filter &/or media into the new tank from your 28l?

Has your nitrate shows zero i would say no,unless your tank is very heavily planted,then it should show some nitrate if ammonia & nitrite is being processed.

 

[maisy12345]

Hi ,no i haven`t transferred media from old tank as thought my new one was cycled,but old fiter wasn`t cycled anyway ,although it`s been running for three months ,checked it today and it`s still reading 0.25 for ammonia?
Will just keep an eye on situation ,i`m only using cycle when i do water changes now ,once in a week ,so last time i used it was last monday,and yesterday when i did 50 percent water change as there was a waxy coating on top of the water.

 

[Harlequins]

New filters are never cycled,the cycling process happens when a)you do a fishless cycle using ammonia or b)fish in cycle-this is what you've just started.

Basically has you haven't put any of the media from your old filter,which would've helped seed the new filter,you are now starting from the beginning of the cycle and will need to test the water several times a day to ensure the ammonia & nitrite doesn't raise above 0.25ppm if it does then waterchanges must be done.
Have a read of the link under my signature for the beginners section,and this will tell you all about cycling the filter.This process can vary but on average takes 6-8 weeks.

Dont add any more fish until this filter has cycled,this will be when you can get double zeros for ammonia & nitrite for 7 whole days without a waterchange.

The waxing coating is bacteria bloom which is caused by new set ups.

 

[Claire121]

Hi

Out of curiosity, and I'm sorry if this has been discussed elsewhere, what is the least amount of time a fishless cycle has been completed from scratch - without additives or media from another tank ?

Thanks if anyone knows

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The number I've heard is 3 weeks... waterdrop is my source. I might be able to find where he posted that.


I think the standard period for a fishless cycle is between 3 and 10 weeks. Usually 5-8.

 

[maisy12345]

Can`t understand why my ammonias still at 0 though as i`ve tested my water daily and used 2 seperate bottles of ammonia ,from different api packs? Is there a possibility that this Nutrafin cycle has worked?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Cycle seems to be a chemical, not bacterial additive. I believe that unless you continue to add it, you will have a massive spike at some point.

Here's a review I got on this from someone previously...

My experience (with Nutrafin Cycle) is that it did work. My tank cycled in 12 days. However, once I decided to stop adding it weekly my tank went into another cycle. I don't think it is the same kind of bacteria.
...

 

[maisy12345]

Hi,thanks for all your replies,my media in my old tank still isn`t cycled ,i`ve just checked the ammonia levels ,and although there`s no fish in at all ,the levels gone up from 0 to 1.0 in a couple of days,so do i still add this media to my new filter even though it isn`t cycled and my current readings on my new tank are all 0 ,except for ph was is 6.6,normally 7.6?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I would think that if you are replacing a filter, it is best to move the media over, otherwise, you are going to be starting all over with the new filter. But, if you are not replacing the filter, then you might as well leave everything as it is.

 

[maisy12345]

Thanks ,but i can`t understand why my new tank is reading 0 ,on all tests ,and my old tank is 1.0 on ammonia,will i risk my new tanks ammonia going high, if i transfer media over ,as i don`t fancy doing 60 percent daily water changes on a 110l tank? it is a new filter ,but i just don`t understand why my ammonias not showing,i `ve got 2 pitbull plecos ,4 glowlight tetra ,3 cories,2 shrimp,so i`m totally confused ?

 

[MarlinMan]

I have found myself in a similar situation...

Have a read here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/362061-a-little-confused/

I am testing daily and my water parameters are good! Tested again tonight and everything is fine...I do have a few plants in my tank however which may be helping!

 

[angelbear]

ok someone has to explain cycled to me please im not quite sure what that term means