How fast can a cycle establish?

[Talvari]

I was just curious, if you used an old filter cartridge from a previously established tank, how quickly would the new tank be cycled?

I started up a 10 gallon tank on this past Sunday. Put the water in, added conditioner, added some flake food to help add ammonia and placed a filter cartridge from my 55 gallon tank into the filter.

I did a water test today, out of curiosity, using a masterkit.
Ammonia: .25
NitrIte: 0
NitrAte: 10

There is no way the tank can be cycled already.... Right?

 

[barterking85]

If its from a cycled tank it's almost instant but you need a bio load to keep the bb alive I add my fish right away when I cycle with my used media and check my water 2 times a day for a couple weeks

 

[Talvari]

I added my two remaining tiger barbs from my 55 gallon tank into there this morning after testing. They will be rehomed next week so its not a long term situation, but I figured that would be better than the other options.

Not to mention the little buggers were going after my cory cat fish. It was never a problem before, but now that they are done from 6... They have become decidedly more aggressive.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

It is entirely possible to cycle a tank in a few days (or even instantly) with enough seeded media. I've done it many times.

 

[jmpgop]

You're right where I'm at with my 10 gall. I pulled a filter from another 10 gal Saturday - tested today and have .25 ammonia - no trites and about .10ish trates. I was surprised.

I'm getting it going for my 11 baby cherry barbs so I'm going to be a little bit more careful about adding the fish. I did put some *deli shrimp in a mesh bag in there today. I'd love to get that ammonia down to zero and the trates up just a little bit more. I want to wait out a nitrite spike so I'll be testing those daily from here out.

 

[barterking85]

You're right where I'm at with my 10 gall. I pulled a filter from another 10 gal Saturday - tested today and have .25 ammonia - no trites and about .10ish trates. I was surprised.

I'm getting it going for my 11 baby cherry barbs so I'm going to be a little bit more careful about adding the fish. I did put some *deli shrimp in a mesh bag in there today. I'd love to get that ammonia down to zero and the trates up just a little bit more. I want to wait out a nitrite spike so I'll be testing those daily from here out.

Well if your showing 10 trates you likely passed the trite spike

 

[jmpgop]

Well if your showing 10 trates you likely passed the trite spike

I'll check again this morning. I'm a bit gun shy. I had trates established in my 36 gallon when I started it this summer and introduced a new fish and trite spiked. Granted it was a dirty fish, BUT still- I'm just a little gun shy...

 

[barterking85]

I'll check again this morning. I'm a bit gun shy. I had trates established in my 36 gallon when I started it this summer and introduced a new fish and trite spiked. Granted it was a dirty fish, BUT still- I'm just a little gun shy...

Well it's good to be cautious I am just saying most cases but while it's still showing ammonia better to be safe

 

[tarpon]

.25 ammonia means it is not cycled. And the 10 trate could be from all the old filter gunk

 

[jmpgop]

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f12/crazy-high-ammonia-and-trites-in-new-tank-186729.html

I just posted the above thread on my 10 gallon cycle.