xVitox

Hey yall,
i just got MTS and have started a 20H aquarium. I thought id be crafty and set it up the same day i needed to do a massive water change on my 55. So i took all the water out of the 55 and put it right into the 20. I also through a bunch of my plants into it too. A week later and i havent had anything change, no ammonia spike no nitrates or nitrites either.


Did i skip the cycle? Is it safe to put my baby balloon mollies into?

bolivianbaby

Was there a source of ammonia in the aquarium, such as ammonia or fish producing ammonia?

Tony G.

Its possible that you have not started your cycle. All you did was just add some dirty water into the new tak. You will be seeing the ammonia spike soon though, the gravel and the plants sure sound like they will get it going. If you would like to add the balloon mollies, you can just add TSS and add them with it.

aquarist48

Good afternoon. Congrats on the new tank I gather by the original post that there are no fish in the tank. Is that correct? If so, and you haven't added any pure ammonia into the tank or large shrimp or fish food then you haven't begun to cycle. I suggest taking some filter media from the established 55g filter and add it to the new filter in the 20g. Don't remove so much that it throws the 55g into a mini cycle. By adding established media it will just about give you an instant cycle. Once you add the established filter media, go ahead and add 2 or 3 mollies but I wouldn't recommend adding any more than that. Keep an eye on your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings once you do so. You want your reading to be 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 5-10 nitrates. Best of luck and keep us posted.

Tetra Safe Start (TSS) is a good option as well and many members here have had very good luck with it. Some have not.

xVitox

how quick is instant

aquarist48

Good morning. If you seed the tank with very well established media and substrate/gravel you'd be safe to add 2 or 3 small fish right away. By adding the fish right away it gives the good bacteria in the media/gravel food to feed from (food being waste that turns into ammonia). Keep an eye on your readings and "do not" over stock. I would say you could add a few more fish in a couple of weeks. These couple of weeks will help your good bacteria to get even stronger.
Ken

coffeebean

put some substrate from the other tank, and some of your filter media, more plants the better, throw in the fish and you are good to go.

xVitox

yeah im prob going to wait ten days to do this since i will be gone till the second week of august and am having my brother care for my fish

xVitox

yeah i think it might have cycled already it has slight algae growing on it and some pond snails from my other filter...that means its cycled right?

kimb

No, it does not mean it is cycled. You need to add gravel or filter media, then continue an ammonia source. There is not enough bacteria on plants or in your water to continue a cycle. If you are going to be away, move over some media from your other tank, and drop in a raw shrimp to feed it while your are gone. When you return, test your water, do a change and move over your fish. Good luck

xVitox

i left a filter and three used pads in my tank...and now its swarming with snails...would the presence of snails indicate it has cycled?