Cycling Question ?

[t_calley]

Okay this does not seem possible so please give me your input. I recently set up a 55 gallon, I squeezed spong from my current 29 gallon's filter into the new one and borrowed 1 cup gravel, 1 live plant, and the large rock to help jump start the bacteria colony. After 1.5 weeks my ammonia is already headed down. Tested at .5 last night. Is is possibly cycling this quickly? I have 4 serpae tetras I am using for the cycling that have been in a little over a week, filter is rated at 330 gph.

Thanks,
Tiffany

 

[douginsf]

Hey Tiffany,

Yes, I believe this is possible. I work with various smaller tanks (5g/10g/20g), for breeding purposes mostly, and sometimes when I set up a new tank I will just use a sponge filter that has been in an established tank. Then I fill the new tank with 50% fresh water and 50% cycled water from an older tank. I usually keep the new tanks pretty understocked, especially when breeding, so by doing all of this I can pretty much have an instantly cycled tank.

I used to go to LFS that would give new customers, who purchased tanks from them, a nylon stocking with about a cup or two of gravel from one of the store tanks to help get things going.

Also if you buy a bunch of plants for your tank they will bring in even more bacteria.

Have fun with your new set-up!

~Doug

 

[tjudy]

Sounds about right to me. You added a lot of bacteria nd have a pretty small bioload.

 

[Randall]

Cycling

Hello Tiffany,

1.5 weeks sounds about right to me too. Please remember that as the ammonia levels drop, the nitrite levels rise.

Good luck!

Randall Kohn