cycle - well sort of???

LMOUTHBASS

My hypocrisy goes only so far
Jun 17, 2003
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Mark
i went from a fully cycled 20g to a 55g - moved everything over to the new tank was suppose to be instantly cycled from what info i gathered - however for the past month i have not had any media in my filters as i had to treat for ick - i'm now reading 0 ammonia and .25 nitrite - is this possibly because of medicating and that i lost some good bacteria from running essentially empty filters? i know the meds didnt kill the bacteria cause i used scaleless fish meds that stats won't hurt the bio - i know ammonia is toxic but have heard nitrite is not nearly as bad although it is still toxic none the less - is my new tank not fully cycled then? i just don't get it cause i moved the filters n everyhting from my cycled tank - also i am not overstocked, but i have been a little to generous on the feedings (my weakness) - maybe this is it ? i will cut back on feeding and start a 25 -30% water change every week for a while - whatcha think? i prob shoul do this change everyday but it's not possible at the moment :(
 
It sounds like you did lose some of the benficial bacteria, and the over feeding is probably compounding this small loss. Water changes, and cutting back on feeding a bit, should allow the bacteria colonies to re-establish.
 
forgot to ask

the charcoal pads are considered media right? bacteria lives in them too after it builds up right?
i hope? lol
 
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