Right, Hope I can explain fairly clearly what has happened and keep it short and to the point!
Two days ago, I got a new filter (2nd hand) with mature media included.
Think cycling went wrong somewhere with previous filter (long story!), so taken out old filter and also approximately 85% of water.
Replaced with the new external filter. Added water, forgot to add dechlorinater until about 2 hours later!! *Groan*
One day ago.
Test readings (no ammonia added yet) :
Ph - 8.0
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 40 ppm
Added 3ppm ammonia, tested 45 minutes later, confirmed at 3ppm ammonia.
Today, test reading are as follows :
Ph - 8.0
Ammonia - 0.25 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 40 ppm
Now, this is where I need help clarifying if am on the right tracks regarding fishless cycle.
Since the filter already has mature media, am not sure what I should be looking out for since this is different to starting a fishless cycle from scratch?
Do I need to add ammonia to top up to 3ppm or to add 'snacks'?
Nitrate readings slightly confusing since there is no nitrite?
If anyone can help with what my next few steps should be, that would be brilliant.
Any advice also would be much more than welcome.
Tap water readings (left a glass of water for 24 hours then tested) :
Ph - 8.0
Ammonia - 0.25 ppm
Nitrite - 0.25 ppm
Nitrate - 20 ppm
Tank information :
Fluval Roma 90 Litre
Filter - Tetratec EX 1200 (a bit overkill for size of tank I know, but outflow reduced by approx 60 %)
Fluval 100w Heater (temperature kept at 24 - 25C / 75 - 77F)
8x Live plants
Pea gravel
No fish
Two days ago, I got a new filter (2nd hand) with mature media included.
Think cycling went wrong somewhere with previous filter (long story!), so taken out old filter and also approximately 85% of water.
Replaced with the new external filter. Added water, forgot to add dechlorinater until about 2 hours later!! *Groan*
One day ago.
Test readings (no ammonia added yet) :
Ph - 8.0
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 40 ppm
Added 3ppm ammonia, tested 45 minutes later, confirmed at 3ppm ammonia.
Today, test reading are as follows :
Ph - 8.0
Ammonia - 0.25 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 40 ppm
Now, this is where I need help clarifying if am on the right tracks regarding fishless cycle.
Since the filter already has mature media, am not sure what I should be looking out for since this is different to starting a fishless cycle from scratch?
Do I need to add ammonia to top up to 3ppm or to add 'snacks'?
Nitrate readings slightly confusing since there is no nitrite?
If anyone can help with what my next few steps should be, that would be brilliant.
Any advice also would be much more than welcome.
Tap water readings (left a glass of water for 24 hours then tested) :
Ph - 8.0
Ammonia - 0.25 ppm
Nitrite - 0.25 ppm
Nitrate - 20 ppm
Tank information :
Fluval Roma 90 Litre
Filter - Tetratec EX 1200 (a bit overkill for size of tank I know, but outflow reduced by approx 60 %)
Fluval 100w Heater (temperature kept at 24 - 25C / 75 - 77F)
8x Live plants
Pea gravel
No fish
