Using media from established tank but no nitrates

[mrsjoannh13]

I recently upgraded from a 10g to a 20g tank. The 10g had cycled successfully and all the parameters looked great (0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, less than 10 nitrate). I had 4 skirt tetras in the tank so a decent bio-load.

When moving the fish to the 20g this weekend, I used all the substrate from the old tank and also took the filter cartridge and put in the new filter. I did not let either dry out. They went straight from one tank to the other.

When testing my water today, I am not seeing any measurable nitrates. Is this normal? I assumed that moving all the media over from the old tank would result in some level of nitrates showing up. Is that not the case when using established media to start a new tank? Thanks!

 

[Essjay]

Just to get it clear in my mind - you did move the fish over as well?

If you did, the fish would make the same amount of ammonia in the 20 gallon as in the 10 gallon, and this would be converted into the same amount of nitrate. But because the volume is double, the ppm are half.
How much did your nitrate go up by in the 10 gallon in the same length of time?

Are there any live plants in the 20 gallon? Plants take up ammonia and they don't convert it into nitrite or nitrate.

 

[Essjay]

To explain what I mean about the ppm being half:

10 ppm means 10 grams in 1,000,000 grams water = 1,000,000 ml water.
1,000,000 ml water = 1,000 litres.
So 10 ppm means 10 grams in 1000 litres.
Or 1 gram in 100 litres
or 0.5 grams in 50 litres

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Just to get it clear in my mind - you did move the fish over as well?

If you did, the fish would make the same amount of ammonia in the 20 gallon as in the 10 gallon, and this would be converted into the same amount of nitrate. But because the volume is double, the ppm are half.
How much did your nitrate go up by in the 10 gallon in the same length of time?

Are there any live plants in the 20 gallon? Plants take up ammonia and they don't convert it into nitrite or nitrate.

Yes, I moved the fish over as well. I had 4 in the 10 gallon and I added them along with 2 that I had in a quarantine tank. So there are 6 now in the 20 gallon.

In the 10 gallon my nitrate level stayed really consistent around 10 - 20.

It is not a planted tank. All plastic.

 

[Essjay]

What is the nitrate level in your tap water?

 

[mrsjoannh13]

What is the nitrate level in your tap water?

It's 0. I use filtered water so there are no nitrates, ammonia, chlorine, etc. in the water. I also add Dr. Tim's First Defense with each water change just in case but I only fill the tank with water from the filter.

 

[Metalhead88]

When waste is broken down due to the cycle, the end result is nitrates. You should expect nitrates in a couple of days.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

When waste is broken down due to the cycle, the end result is nitrates. You should expect nitrates in a couple of days.

Thank you. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to have issues in the new tank.

 

[Metalhead88]

Thank you. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to have issues in the new tank.

Continue to test, but on paper this tank should not go through the cycle.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Yes, I am going to test every 24 hours at least until I make sure everything is staying consistent.

 

[Metalhead88]

Yes, I am going to test every 24 hours at least until I make sure everything is staying consistent.

Perfect. I think you'll be just fine. I've done this many times and have not had issues.

 

[ITViking]

I recently upgraded from a 10g to a 20g tank. The 10g had cycled successfully and all the parameters looked great (0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, less than 10 nitrate). I had 4 skirt tetras in the tank so a decent bio-load.

When moving the fish to the 20g this weekend, I used all the substrate from the old tank and also took the filter cartridge and put in the new filter. I did not let either dry out. They went straight from one tank to the other.

When testing my water today, I am not seeing any measurable nitrates. Is this normal? I assumed that moving all the media over from the old tank would result in some level of nitrates showing up. Is that not the case when using established media to start a new tank? Thanks!

Keep in mind that not all of the beneficial bacteria live in the filter media. That is a major contributor, but the beneficial bacteria also live in the substrate and on the various objects in the tank. So if you only moved the filter over, you only transferred a portion of the overall bacteria that would have been in effect on the original tank. Also keep in mind that the primary source of your ammonia are your fish population, and if the population hasn't changed the ammonia output will be relatively the same, with much more water to dilute that ammonia, subsequent nitrites, and nitrates. So the nitrogen cycle will also be much slower to impact the tank water parameters as a result.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Keep in mind that not all of the beneficial bacteria live in the filter media. That is a major contributor, but the beneficial bacteria also live in the substrate and on the various objects in the tank. So if you only moved the filter over, you only transferred a portion of the overall bacteria that would have been in effect on the original tank. Also keep in mind that the primary source of your ammonia are your fish population, and if the population hasn't changed the ammonia output will be relatively the same, with much more water to dilute that ammonia, subsequent nitrites, and nitrates. So the nitrogen cycle will also be much slower to impact the tank water parameters as a result.

I moved all of the substrate, the filter and the filter cartridge. I also moved the decorations. So everything came over from the old tank other than the water.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Perfect. I think you'll be just fine. I've done this many times and have not had issues.

Thanks for the peace of mind.

 

[ITViking]

I moved all of the substrate, the filter and the filter cartridge. I also moved the decorations. So everything came over from the old tank other than the water.

Just as an FYI, when substrate is disturbed the bacteria in the substrate will be impacted to some degree. But depending on how it's moved to a new tank, there may still be some residing in it. Some people might think that moving substrate is a great opportunity to wash it up nicely, but that would remove any beneficial bacteria as well (not suggesting that you did).