Seeding Tank With Mature Media?

[Jonno]

Hi there,

My new tank was set up last night. The guy at my LFS gave me half a bag of mature gravel (to go with the 2 bags of new gravel), so after we dechlorinated we added the new gravel then the mature gravel.

Just wondering if i will still need to cycle it, or do i just leave it a few days for the bacteria to expand into the filter etc?

Thanks!

Jon.

 

[dave_gray2077]

You will still need to do a cycle.Gravel does not contain a lot of nitrifying bacteria. How ever it does give you a head start over a clean tank. Do not leave it for a few days. Without ammonia and nitrAte for food the bacteria will die. You should add some ammonia as soon as possiable to get the tank to about 6ppm concentration and start a cycle before the bacteria you have die.With the bacteria you have already they should quickly multiply and cycle.You will still need to do a cycle.Gravel does not contain a lot of nitrifying bacteria. How ever it does give you a head start over a clean tank. Do not leave it for a few days. Without ammonia and nitrAte for food the bacteria will die. You should add some ammonia as soon as possiable to get the tank to about 6ppm concentration and start a cycle before the bacteria you have die.With the bacteria you have already they should quickly multiply and cycle.

 

[Jonno]

right best head off this lunchtime to locate some ammonia!

how long does it take for the bacteria to die? It was added about 13 hours ago.

 

[dave_gray2077]

sorry....interwebs broke and made a second post.

 

[CruX]

right best head off this lunchtime to locate some ammonia!

how long does it take for the bacteria to die? It was added about 13 hours ago.

If it is kept damp it might last 24 hours. If you need ammonia I think boots do household ammonia, it might be worth ringing the LFS and asking them for some filter media to seed your filter, it might just give it a bigger kick in the right direction.

 

[Jonno]

right best head off this lunchtime to locate some ammonia!

how long does it take for the bacteria to die? It was added about 13 hours ago.

If it is kept damp it might last 24 hours. If you need ammonia I think boots do household ammonia, it might be worth ringing the LFS and asking them for some filter media to seed your filter, it might just give it a bigger kick in the right direction.

yes thats where i'm heading - any idea how many drops from the dropper i need to add approx - it's a 190 litre tank

 

[-germ-]

Sorry, off topic but....
Is the typo on your location intentional?
Notitngham

 

[Jonno]

Sorry, off topic but....
Is the typo on your location intentional?
Notitngham

what typo

 

[-germ-]

Thought as much....

 

[Jonno]

got some from boots

says 'household ammonia' on the side, with 9% w/w on the back? this sound like the stuff?