Can It Cycle This Quickly?

[aussieant32]

Hi all

set up my new tank a week ago, its about 150l. I used a fully mature filter, basically the tank was at my parents and has been running for 5 years and i now have it used about 20L of tank water and the same canister filter (ehiem 2213)

Im running a fishless cycle (added fish they had to q tank and soon they will be moved into my main), with plants in, I have done my water tests Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 0 and nitrate 10, now i know ammonia has to be 0 so im not about to start adding fish in, however, the filter is already taking 4ppm of ammonia to 0.25 in about 16 hours.

Does this sound right that my tank is close to cycled after 7 days using a fully matured filter?

Thank you all!!

 

[ellena]

Yes, using a mature filter can cycle a tank instantly. So basically it's the same tank, filter and fish that your parents had?
I'd get the fish in-the filter will support them if they're the same stocking as before. Any reason you're q'ing them?

 

[Tolak]

Totally normal, sounds like what you did was more of a tank cloning than a full fishless cycle. I haven't cycled a tank in years, all cloned.

 

[aussieant32]

Yes, using a mature filter can cycle a tank instantly. So basically it's the same tank, filter and fish that your parents had?
I'd get the fish in-the filter will support them if they're the same stocking as before. Any reason you're q'ing them?

i q'd them just to check them over, i didnt want to introduce them into my main tank and bring any diseases in etc as i was on a tight time scale i didnt get to spend much time really looking at them before i moved them, they actually look nice in my q tank so they may even stay in there, its 90l so its a good size

Thank you all for the help, off to get some stock on the weekend!!!

 

[doresy]

Yup, just remember your filter will be cycled but your tank will not be matured which can present a problem for some species

 

[aussieant32]

may have got a bit too excited, tested the water again and my ammonia has gone up to 0.5, the nitrite is still 0 and nitrates are about 20. Will do a 50% water change as planned tonight and see how it goes over the next 48 hours. I didnt really have time to do it last night and as there are no fish in there i left it.