Tank Cycled In Two Week. Very Supprised

[da7thson]

Hi Guys,

I've been setting up my new 240L (63 gallon) tank over the last two weeks. This is my 3rd tank and with all of them i have stuck with the process of filling the tank and adding ammonia to the water and leaving it. My 125L took around 6 weeks to cycle, so was expecting the same with the 240L.

The difference between my other tanks and the new one is this on, I've used John Innes No3 compost in the base and then Argos play sand on top of it. All my other tanks have had gravel as the substrate. So two weekend's ago i planted the tank up, added bog wood etc etc. All the plants were new except for a single amazon sward which i took out of one of my old tanks and a single piece of bog wood (from my old tank). I added about 5 drops of pure ammonia last week and left it.

I've also got pressurised Co2 on this new tank and been fertinizing the plants overy other day.

Have run the test kits yesterday and today and they are showing no ammonia or Nitrires and between 12.5 mg/l and 25mg/l of nitrates. Very supprised with the results.

Andy

 

[CezzaXV]

When you say you put the ammonia in and left it, you have added more since, right?

Sorry if it seems cynical, but we get loads of people around here thinking they're cycled when they don't really know what it means.

 

[micko]

I'm cafuzzled....

 

[da7thson]

When you say you put the ammonia in and left it, you have added more since, right?

Sorry if it seems cynical, but we get loads of people around here thinking they're cycled when they don't really know what it means.

No, every time i've done a tank cycle, i also do the "put it in and leave it" method where the initial does is high and is not added to on subsequent days. Then when i'm register nitrates on the test kits and 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites, add ammonio and see if it clears in 12 - 24 hours.

Andy

 

[CezzaXV]

Ah, that's okay then. If it can clear in 12 hours then you're cycled. Some people do their initial dose of ammonia and then when it clears to nitrates they think they're cycled.

Congrats. Did you use mature media from your other tank?

 

[da7thson]

Ah, that's okay then. If it can clear in 12 hours then you're cycled. Some people do their initial dose of ammonia and then when it clears to nitrates they think they're cycled.

Congrats. Did you use mature media from your other tank?

No thats why i'm a little supprised. The only thing in the new tank, from one of the old tanks is 1 amazon sward plant, 1 bit of java moss and a piece of bog wood, everything else is brand new. With my 125L tank taking 6 weeks to mature, it just seemed relly quick, maybe too quick if you know what i mean.

Andy

 

[Primous]

Dirt has a binding effect and will subdue the ammonia as with nitrate. For some reason though it doesn't seem to bind nitrite as well as the fore-mentioned, but that's another thread. My point here is that the dirt is giving you the illusion of being cycled. Remove the dirt and you'll find a different result. Also, if you have cycled with the dirt then the dirt itself becomes a mute point in your setup because of the high levels of chemicals it has been subjected to.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Agree not cycled im sorry to say