Tank Upgrade - Mini Cycle?

[sadguppy]

Hi all,

Decided yesterday to buy a new Fluval Roma 200 as a replacement for my 65l tank. We moved everything over using a large tubtrug to store the fish and a bucket for the decor. We got new substrate (sand) as my husband decided he preferred it, so I know this will have got rid of a lot of the beneficial bacteria that had built up in the old tank.

I have both filters (old Interpet P2 and new Fluval U4) running on the new tank and put a tiny bit of media from another tank into the U4 (couldn't do any more as the spare mini filter is currently needed for fry) however did a test this morning and although nitrites are below 0.25, it is definitely darker than it was yesterday. Is this what is known as a mini-cycle? What can I expect?

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Well you got rid of almost all of your bacteria. It's good that you have the both filters running on the tank. From what I understood you moved the tank? How long has the old filter been out of water (out of function)? Bacteria could have died on the old filter as well.

But be careful, don't make a filter overkill. I suggest you pull the new filter of the tank, and leave it running in like a bucket for example, add some fishfood or ammonia. This will set it up. (I am waiting for my new tank to arrive, so i have my filter this way)

Good luck!

 

[Prime Ordeal]

If I understand you correctly your P2 was being used in the 65L tank and was fully cycled. If so just add the P2 media to the fluval and it will be effectively instantly cycled. However, it's clear that you've shocked the bacteria in the move and they should take a few days to a week to recover.

 

[sadguppy]

Thanks.

The PF2 never came out of the water for more than a minute - it was still running (in the tank and then in a large trug containing tank water) until it was switched in to the new tank which was temp & PH matched and with about a third old tank water. It would surprise me if it had killed them off as the bacteria have survived worse!

There was no where obvious to put the old media in, everything is so precise so that you have to buy their own brand media! Frustrating really. In the 'biological filtration' slot in the middle I put a bit of gravel from the old tank, a small bit of sponge from another cycled tank and some new ceramic media in it. Hopefully this will be enough to kick start it. Without using the old substrate, and to be honest it probably would have needed a proper clean anyway, I think i've probably done as much as I can?

I will measure again tonight and see what's what. It was literally like 0.1 nitrates, so I am not too worried... yet!

Edit: Looks like maybe it was an odd reading as it's back to 0 now thank goodness! Will keep an eye on it!

 

[CezzaXV]

Just so you know, the amount of beneficial bacteria in substrate is minimal. It's unlikely you'd have lost much.

 

[sadguppy]

That's what I thought - I think it looks a lot better with sand anyway!

 

[sadguppy]

Well... after filling the tank, just two days later we decided we needed to move it, which was not a decision taken lightly but it had to be done. It took all evening to do the second major tank change of the week but all fish are still with us 24 hours later (despite one platy making a break for it out of the tubtrug twice!) and they look happy enough, all levels are at 0 and they are exactly where we can see them from the sofa.

Needs a bit of re-scaping, but if all levels are still good at the weekend we will start stocking - I wouldn't mind a gourami - any advice on which types will or won't be compatible?

 

[JL94x4]

Gouramis aren't that aggressive just don't put them with large fish.

 

[sadguppy]

Thanks. They would probably be the biggest fish in the tank anyway so pretty