Question: Tank Cycle/Canister Filter

[aymeh21]

I've had my new 55 gallon tank set up for about a week now. I moved a canister filter that I had running on my other 55 gallon to this tank. I say that the filter had been running on the other tank about a month or a little more. Last night I did a 25% water change.

My readings are:

PH - 8
Ammonia - .25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10

Am I on the way or do I need to do something differently?

 

[dragonlady]

It sounds like you are on your way.

Have you added anything live to the tank or added any food or anything? The bacteria you are trying to establish needs to eat. If your axolotl is in, then you should be fine, just keep your levels monitored.

 

[aymeh21]

I don't have the axolotls in there yet. I have dropped a few pellets in there and have been dumping the waste water I turkey baste out of their current tanks.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[blackdog]

Water itself doesnt hold much bacteria.

Tank decorations, substrate, old filter media from the other tank will have much more benefit.

I cycled my tank with the axies in it, you have to be vigilant and change water every day, but it went fine.

Bren