Nw Member, New Tank

[Knighty]

As mentioned i put a filter foam pad, some of the round Hoola hoop type things from my 205 into the bigger 306 filter and about 1/2 gallon of water from my existing tank to give it a kick start. Added a little flake food a few days later.

Now been 5 days and current readings are Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 and Nitrate 40ppm is this looking ok. Oh and temperature raised to 81f at moment.

 

[fluttermoth]

The trouble with using food to cycle is, if you have no ammonia reading, is that because the flake isn't breaking down and producing any, or is your filter cycled; there's no way of telling which is which.

 

[Knighty]

Good point, because i have a nitrate reading is that showing that the filter bacteria is doing something ?
I only added some flake as read if there is nothing in the tank to give some ammonia the beneficial bacteria transferred in the filters from my other tank will die off.

 

[Knighty]

It's only day 7 but reading are Ammonia and Nitrite both 0, Nitrate 20 and Ph is 7.4 which is the same as my existing tank?.

Could it have cycled that quick even with transferred media ?

I have live plants ready to go in would now be a good time also whats the reckoning on small lead strips for anchoring plants these days ?