Quick Question

[sjolliff]

I just looked in an old coldwater tank and there is still some water in there.
tested for nitRAtes and it well between 80- 160ppm using API test kit,

are nitrates the good bacs and if i put them into my tank will they help me abit?

 

[OldMan47]

Nitrates are just chemical salts and acids. They will do nothing to cycle a tank but might indicate that the tank has had a functioning filter on it in the past. If the cold water tank hasn't been shut down too long, the filter media in it may still be alive enough to help jump start a new filter. In a sense, the nitrates indicate the possibility that you may find some good bacteria in that tank somewhere but it won't be in the water.

 

[sjolliff]

OK
the filter is not in there, but all the gravel is still in the bottom.

 

[cowboy507]

the gravel has some goods bacs, but not really enough to make a normal cycle go a lot faster.