Tank Cycle Question

[jv24]

i have just bought a second hand aquarium set up. I have got it up and running. I have not changed any of the filter media. Does this mean my tank may cycle quicker? I have not done any water tests yet. Also is there any down sides using old media? Like possible disease etc? Thanks

 

[Mo1959]

Hi jv. It really depends on how long the filter that came with the tank was out of the water. If it was removed and either washed in tap water or allowed to dry out completely, the good bacteria will have died off so you will probably have to start a new cycle. However, if you managed to transfer the tank and filter quickly and kept the filter media in some tank water you may well have a fully functioning filter. Really depends on your answer to this as to how to proceed next. As to disease, I would like to think the previous owner of the tank would have advised you if there had been disease in his tank prior to dismantling it.

 

[timmer21]

Hi,

Like mo1959 said if the filter has been switched off for more than 24hrs in tank water or not most of the bacteria would have died all depends on how quickly you move it and how quickly you got it working again.
Also if you filled your tank with tap water befor treating it and put the filter in the tank you pretty much killed all the bacteria in the filter this is like washing it under a tap.
If all else failes you have to start the cycle again,

Reguards Tim

 

[jv24]

Hi , the filter has been switched off for a while. Thanks for the replys. Regards

 

[waterdrop]

If its only switched off and the media is still wet and its not too many days then there may be bacteria that will survive, you just have to look at a number of factors. The filter needs to be back running with an ammonia source and fresh oxygenated water to start seeing if anything survived. WD

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup the easiest way to find out is to get a test kit and some ammonia, start a fishless cycle as per the instructions in the link in my signature. if you find the ammonia starts processing quite quickly then it means you have some bacteria left over, if it takes a while before the ammonia moves then chances are they all died off.