Seeded With Mature Media...

[Em29]

I have put a third of my cycled filter sponge from my Fluval Edge into my Fluval u for 90l tank. I have had it 4 weeks and it is not even beginning to cycle.

I seeded it on Friday morning and i have had no change in my ammonia/ nitrite levels. How long before I should see the bacteria having an effect?

If it doesn't work I am all out of ideas except to empty the whole bloomin tank again and start fresh again...
Water is dechlorinated, temp is 29 degrees...

 

[sadguppy]

Be patient and don't start again, it may be slow going and not seem to be dong a lot of good but it certainly won't have done any harm. Perhaps do a partial water change, perhaos levels are too high? Can you get the temp any higher? I assume you are fish less, what are your current stats?

 

[Em29]

Thank you for replying!

This filter seems impervious to growing bacteria

Stats are 2ppm ammonia
0ppm Nitrite
0ppm Nitrate
PH 7.6 (or thereabouts)
Temp 29

Shall I up to 30 degrees?

I did a 75% water change a few days ago because nothing has been happening for over 4 weeks with 5ppm ammonia. I did dechlorinate the water before adding and was hoping that as there is only 2ppm ammonia there I would start to see an decrease....

There is no way I am going to do a fish in cycle so am a bit upset that the tank is not showing any sign of progressing.

 

[jb1997mcd]

From what I have read, if you are using old media to cycle a new tank you should only be seeding to about 2ppm of ammonia. Dosing up to 5ppm could have affected your beneficial bacteria.

My last fishless cycle was going well and then I accidentally put in 5ppm of ammonia and that seemed to affect my cycle for about a week. Hopefully stats will start to improve.

jb

 

[Em29]

I have only seeded with mature media on friday - so it has only been at 2ppm thankfully!!