CoreyCat

my 55g has been cycling for 3 weeks with 4 gouramis (2blue & 2Gold) but after the 2nd week i changed the filter media.. i was wanting to buy fish this weekend. or did changing the filter media restart the cycle?

thanx

Dozey

Changing the media is not generally recommended. A large amount of the beneficial bacteria that you need is contained in the filter media. Simply rinse the filter media in tank water, not in the tank itself, but when doing water changes. Fill a bucket with tank water and rinse the filter media in the bucket of tank water.

If your filter has charcoal this should be removed. Even if your filter requires cartridges you can cut a small slit in the floss to remove the charcoal.

Lucy

What are your readings? That would determine if you're in a mini cycle or not.