Chriznat20
Aquarium Advice Freak
You would think I would know this after knowing the cycle process in and out, after having aquaria since I was 9 years old!!
I shut down my very well established, 2 year running, 29g f/w tank and transferred the plants and decorations to the new 46g tank. I also transferred my Penguin 200b power filter.
I had to change the cartridge in the filter - it was clogged and literally falling apart. So I ditched it and put a new cartridge in.
Its been 8 days now. I have nitrates (.25 or so), no nitrites (because presumably the nitrites are being converted into nitrates), but I do still have some ammonia (.25 or so).
The way Ive always understood it is, if you transfer things over from an established tank, then you have 'instant' cycle. The bacteria are on the plants, decorations, and in the filter and in my case, its bio-wheel, but at the very least the filter itself.
So then why would I have any ammonia after a week? When will the nitrifying bacteria kick in? Should I buy a boosting product?
I shut down my very well established, 2 year running, 29g f/w tank and transferred the plants and decorations to the new 46g tank. I also transferred my Penguin 200b power filter.
I had to change the cartridge in the filter - it was clogged and literally falling apart. So I ditched it and put a new cartridge in.
Its been 8 days now. I have nitrates (.25 or so), no nitrites (because presumably the nitrites are being converted into nitrates), but I do still have some ammonia (.25 or so).
The way Ive always understood it is, if you transfer things over from an established tank, then you have 'instant' cycle. The bacteria are on the plants, decorations, and in the filter and in my case, its bio-wheel, but at the very least the filter itself.
So then why would I have any ammonia after a week? When will the nitrifying bacteria kick in? Should I buy a boosting product?