Using Mature Media, How Long For Ammonia To Drop?

[ellena]

I know, I know, I'm being impatient!
I put a bag of gunky filter rinsings from a mature tank in mine on monday afternoon. I added ammonia, but went a bit over, 8ppm. Tuesday afternoon, did 50% water change, got ammonia down to 4ppm. It has stayed at this level since.
25l tank, pH about dead on 7, filter it came with.
Thanks

 

[pammy172]

How "fresh" was your mature media? It doesn't always work or it can take a bit of a nap before kicking back into action.

Filter "rinsings" prob won't give you that much anyway as the bacteria you need are what are stuck to the medium. The stuff you rinse of is usually just gunk and not of that much use. Will help - but will not give you an immediately functioning filter.

hth

eta - just noticed the size of your tank - 25l is very very small - what are you planning on keeping in it?

 

[ellena]

Hi Pammy, the media was out of the tank for about an hour tops. If it just gives it a bit of a boost to get started, I know I'll have to be more patient. That's fine, I just like to know
I have changed my plans many times, lol, but atm am thinking a little group of 6 male endlers (=12cm) and possibly a pygmy gourami (=3cm) and possibly some shrimp.

 

[Rooster]

Yep.... YOU ARE BEING IMPATIENT !!

Will be a week or more... and overdosing ammonia wont have helped

This is the typical "watched kettle" syndrome.... ignore it for a couple of days, and test again.... and then only every couple of days again !

 

[ellena]

OK, no more watching!
I've got my plants, sand and a decorative rock in there now, so it looks pretty with the light on anyway.
I've just seen endler's in the flesh for the first time today-that has not helped my impatience-lol!