Last Minute Question Regarding Tank Prepping for New Fish!

[mandy2936]

Hello,
My 5 gallon tank that's been cycling for a little over two weeks is finally almost finished cycling. There is a lot of decaying fish food at the bottom of the tank, (My original Ammonia source) and this black debris.

The black debris is from filter media, in which I squeezed the entire contents of into the 5g... the media was from my established 20g.

So, when it comes down to adding the fish, (a Betta) I assume a water change is in need. Before I continue with my question, here are my water parameters:
Ammonia- .25
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate 40

I am just waiting for the last of the Ammonia to convert, and then will do a PWC to bring the Nitrates at least under 20. So, my question is while doing a PWC, can I vacuum up the black debris? It's rather unsightly against my once clean and pretty white gravel... also, should I suck out all of the decaying fish flakes? I don't want to disturb bacteria colonies... but I figured that by the time the cycle ends there should be a sufficient enough amount built up in the filter media, correct?

Thank you!

 

[Lawngnome]

The black debris you are talking about it probably carbon. It will not hurt if you lightly vac out the flakes off the surface. Your right that there should be a good amount of good bacteria built up in the filter but I would still use caution about completely gravel vacuuming just yet. Try to pick the carbon out with your hands the best you can.

 

[ejaramillo01]

I agree with the above post.

But you should have enough bacteria in the filter, so I will suggest to vacuum good, if not super deep, but remove the debris that is bothering you.

 

[mandy2936]

Okay, thank you. I will suck out the black debris and the fish flakes.
The debris is carbon? I have carbon in my 20g's filter, but I didn't squeeze that into the cycling tank. I only squeezed the foam insert. Anyway, because of a bit of conflicting info, would anyone like to add whether or not I should do a thorough vacuuming? I'm about to do a final water change.

Thanks a ton!

 

[Lawngnome]

Carbon was just my guess, I don't actually know I cant see it.

 

[tyspot1000]

Just in case, I wouldnt vacuum a whole bunch. Today, I am getting new fish for a newly cycled tank also. That being said, I am only doing a water change with a small skim over the gravel (With the vac)

 

[mandy2936]

Thanks Everyone!

Thanks everyone for your help and input! I will suck up the black stuff and the flakes, but won't grow crazy just in case.

Carbon was just my guess, I don't actually know I cant see it.

Okay, I was asking because I wasn't sure if it could still be carbon if I hadn't squeezed it into the tank. Thanks for your help, though. I suppose it doesn't really matter exactly what it is- all I know is the contents of the used filter media helped cycle my tank pretty quickly!

Will test again today and if the Ammonia is gone I'll be getting a Betta! YAY I'M SO EXCITED lol