Cycling Status on New 55 Gal...and Q's

[TetraFreak]

Been doing fishless cycle of new 55 gal and things are starting to look good.

Been running just over 3 weeks, Started with filter gunk from my other 2 tanks & even dropped in a used filter cartridge from my Eclipse5 hex to help. Also added a bit more filter GUNK when topping off from evaporation.


Been testing Ammonia, NitrItes, & NitrAtes daily :dance:

last couple nights: :joke:
After dosing the Ammonia back up to ~4
Get home the following day,
test & get the fiollowing numbers:
Ammonia: <.25
NitrItes: 5+
NitrAtes: ~20

Then Dose Ammonia back to ~4
next evening, about the same readings when I get home from work & test.

As it appears that things are establishing nicely, would it be a good idea to do a massive water change, dose with ammonia, wait 24 hours to get readings & if Ammonia & NitrItes are good, start stocking with fish???

I'm asking because my Plex are getting too big for my 25 gal. :duh:

Thanks!

-TF

[TetraFreak]

:coffee2:

[Roan Art]

Sometimes I miss threads :)

Roan

[TetraFreak]

Sometimes I miss threads :)

Roan
Don't we all!


so thoughts on massive water change & start stocking tank at this point???

[bogey77]

Some may disagree, but I think you are ready to do the WC and then stock. My reasoning is that if your tank goes from 4ppm to a trace in a day, you must have a good load of bacteria. As long as you are not overstocking badly, this tank should be ready after the water change. As a matter of fact, I'll bet you have some amount of bacteria die off after adding the fish because they won't produce enough ammonia to keep that colony alive. I think mine did that when I fishless cycled my 29 gallon.

I say do it, you've waited long enough!

bogey77

[TetraFreak]

Thanks,

I think the filter media from my 25 gal helped establish the bacteria a bit quicker than a standard fishless cycle.

Now to decide what to put in there...

[bogey77]

I'm sure the filter media helped the cycle. My cycle really never got off the ground until I got a hold of a couple of used filters from an established tank. Within a week or so of adding the filters, I was cycled and ready to go. Good luck.

bogey77

[TetraFreak]

Tested last night...

Ammonia: <.25
NitrItes: ~2

Looks like it'll be done on it's own here shortly even if I don't do the water change! :dive2: