Question: Tank set up and filter

[Flee]

HI,


I need so advise please. I am setting up a 2nd tank and a 2nd filter. I have taken water from my axie tank and used it in my new tank and only top up the new tank with water. Then with the filter I bought a larger canister which i want to use on my established tank so I transferred most of the media over but left what I could to help with the new set up
I have left it all running for a week and the readings for the new tank are:
PH 7
AMM 0
NITRITE 0
NITRATE 5ppm

I have nothing in the tank except the water of course. So now what do I need to do to cycle my tank? Or is it cycled as it has the Nitrate reading? Im getting a bit confused.

 

[Shivermetim]

Auntiejude I think I have the name right put it perfectly but I can't find the thread it was in but she had said should take 3 weeks and something about adding ammonia to start the cycle but I'm not going to try and explain everything I would probably fail so my 2 cents would be to read around I know it's there somewhere and hopefully soon someone will have a better answer but it was 3 weeks with adding a cycle starter of some sort

 

[Flee]

Thats what I thought I would need to add some ammonia thats why I am posting first as I thought My readings are pretty good and wasn’t sure if maybe as I used so much water from my axie tank and alot of the media maybe I didn’t upset the new tank to much??

 

[keiko]

The nitrate probably came with the old tank water you used. But if you're using old filter media you should have at least some of the good bacteria already there. So now you just have to add some ammonia every day (to feed the bacteria) so that they'll multiply and you'll have enough bacteria to take care of the whole tank once you put in your axies.

The old tank water contains hardly any bacteria as the bacteria lives on all the surfaces in your tank. It might be easier to just take out the water and replace it with new water. Then start adding ammonia and testing your water and see how the bacteria works. But be sure to keep the filter running (and not get dry) so the bacteria won't die.

 

[Flee]

ok thanks. now I get it. I had been reading so much on here I was confusing myself