Tank didn't instant cycle

[IceH2O]

Ok I set my 55 gallon acrylic up last Sunday. All new water, gravel, filters and decor.

I let it sit for 24 hrs until temp was same in both tanks.The Ph was also the same. It put the filter media from the 20 gallon into the 55 gallon filters ( half piece in each filter. Added the fish (goldfish, 3 danios, 2 black skirt tetras) to the 55.

Tested the water Tuesday Ph was 6.8 AM was 0 and NI was 0,didn't check the NA . My tap water shows 2.5 right out of the tap haven't checked after 24 hours, so I figured I had at least 2.5 from the water filling.

Tested today (3 days later) and my Ph is still the same but my Am is .5, NI is .25 and NA is 2.5.

Why didn't my tank cycle when I used the media from an established tank and have half the fish stock?

I use 2 Aquaclear 70s at low flow with the sponges,poly fiber,purigen ( in one filter), Bioballs(established filter media(EFM) sits under bioballs) in that order bottom to top.
I had the EFM under the entire media basket to begin with, I just moved it to directly under the bioballs. I thought maybe it needed to be closer to help spread the bacteria.

Only thing I've added this week were 3 Amazon swords and added a 3 ft 96 watt CF.

 

[hunnysnax]

maybe there just wasn't enough filter material transfered over. the new tank is almost triple the size of the old one. are they new or transfered fish? if they are all new you might have added too much too soon for your current bacteria levels. have you been feeding them more? did you use some of the gravel from the old tank? it would have had bacteria helping with the bioload. just try and keep the ammonia and nitrite levels down with water and it'll sort itsself out.

good luck

 

[IceH2O]

It was the entire filter from a penguin 170. I always kept an extra piece in the bottom of the filter so when I changed the main filter cartridge it would still have some fall back bacteria. The 20 still has perfect parameters.

They are fish that were in the overstocked 20 gallon.

Yes, I put a mesh bag full of gravel in the corner of the tank.

I actually feed them less as there are less fish.

I did a 50% WC after I took the readings and will watch the levels daily.

 

[TrickyD119]

This may come across as an obvious question to you if you didn't, but you didn't let chlorinated water go through the filters did you?

That could certainly be a cause if you did.

 

[IceH2O]

I have my own well, there is no chlorine.

 

[Roan Art]

You know, sometimes it just doesn't happen.

Seriously.

My first 75g cycled overnight with Bio Spira and the Magnum 350 off my 36g bowfront.

This newest 75g has had two shots of Bio Spira, the filter cartridges off the other 75g, the coral filled sock from the 75g and countless other seedings to no avail. I started the cycle on 1/25 and today I'm still getting the nitrite spikes. Oh, I have nitrates galore and have had them for a week now, but the nitrites will not go down past .5. I've tried letting sit for a few days like I did with the 65g (had a similar problem with that one, too), no dice.

For now I'm doing 50-60% water changes every 12 hours and the fish are fine with that thus far. I trust it'll be a few more days before it drops to .25, then I can breath easier.

Roan

 

[hunnysnax]

Oh, I have nitrates galore and have had them for a week now, but the nitrites will not go down past .5. I've tried letting sit for a few days like I did with the 65g (had a similar problem with that one, too), no dice.

For now I'm doing 50-60% water changes every 12 hours and the fish are fine with that thus far. I trust it'll be a few more days before it drops to .25, then I can breath easier.

Roan

ditto with my 5 gallon with one betta and one mystery snail. i transfered over my filter floss from my ten gallon and for 2 weeks i was doing a 50% water change, filling back up and doing another 50% change straight after every 12 hours to keep my tank under 0.5. i was only feeding every second day too. then 2 days ago i tested and boom... no nitrites and i haven't had to do a water change since. bizarre how it all happens eh? thank god the tank was only small otherwise i'd be going bonkers (and be very muscly from bucket carrying) by now

sounds like you are doing everything right. i don't know what else to say except sometimes it just doesn't go down as planned lol cheers

hayley

 

[laurel]

This is :OT: but goldfish are cold water and danios and tetras are tropical. Thier temp requirements don't overlap so somebody is going to be uncomfortable...

As for your cycle, I had the same problem when I cycled my 5gal betta tank. Thankfully it was a fishless cycle so I didn't have to worry about water changes so much. I added a bunch of filter material from my established 20 and expected the tank to instant cycle. No dice, it took two weeks before the cycle completed. So it went quicker but it wasn't instant.

 

[IceH2O]

This is :OT: but goldfish are cold water and danios and tetras are tropical. Thier temp requirements don't overlap so somebody is going to be uncomfortable...

The tank stays at about 78 degrees on avg. There is no way to lower it and keep it stable. These fish have been together for a couple of years and I've had no disease problems except some fin rot, that was treated and fixed, due to stress from overcrowding.I've also read on numerous sites that danios are cold water fish and can be kept with goldfish. Its a fantail goldfish so he is able to take the higher temps.

As for the cycle, that sucks but at least I probably cut it in half or more. I'll have to remember with the 75 that I'm setting up this weekend to check often for spikes.

 

[daveedka]

It's really just a matter of volume transfer when Yo cycle this way. Bottom line is that the amount of bacteria you transferred was not enough for the number of fish you have in the tank. It was enough to get a great jump start on the cycle as is evidenced by your test numbers. As said a little bit of time is all you will need to get things back to right. You can also transfer some more media from your estabilished tank a little at a time until you get the readings you want.
Dave