Cycled Tank/new Media

HI guys
So I have a aqueon filter and I took the cartridge it came with, tossed it, and made my own. I also added biomax cuz the little space that they give you really don't cut it for growing bacteria. I kept the sponge on the bottom (they say it's an ammonia reducer but I think it's just a sponge) and all the blue pieces meant to grow the bacteria. I have a picture here so you can better understand if needed. And there's a sponge on the intake to. The only place I can fit the biomax is before my modified cartridge. As you can see it's gonna be a pain in the to take out the cartridge when I have to cuz I will have to take all those biomax out. Anyways I'm on day four now and my ammonia is zero and nitrites are between .2 and .5 and has been this way unchanged for four days. It's not terrible by any means I'm just wondering how long do you think it will take from here to go back to zero? I figured it would be zero by now since every 20 hours or so bacteria multiplies, but I would be wrong. What you guys think??

 

How are you cycling? Fishless? What are you using?

 

How are you cycling? Fishless? What are you using?

No it's been cycled that's what I'm saying. I'm changing out most of the internal part of the filter. It's way more effective and efficient if you make the cartridges and add the media yourself. Hense the picture. I added all those biomax rings the filter didn't come with those. So that was part of the question.

 

No it's been cycled that's what I'm saying. I'm changing out most of the internal part of the filter. It's way more effective and efficient if you make the cartridges and add the media yourself. Hense the picture. I added all those biomax rings the filter didn't come with those. So that was part of the question.

Gotcha. Give it some time. I know you kept some things but did you keep the actual old media floss? Just sounds like a minI cycle.

 

I couldn't because the whole cartridge insert was one piece so that wasn't possible. I did keep other things tho and it's a very low nitrite reading so I know I didn't lose to to much bb. It's day 5 now, same readings. I actually got some tss today and added some to the tank. I think that will help by tomorrow or Thursday. I cycled my tank in less than 5 days when I started it and used that stuff so I have faith I should be good now. That tetra SS is an amazing product.

 

When I took mine apart and redid it I took that whole blue cartridge holder out. I put a sponge in the bottom of the filter and a bag of bio media on top of that. No carbon, no cartridge. None of that. If I had to run carbon to get rid of meds or anything I just threw a bag of it on top of my bio media or on top of that front sponge. I hope that all makes sense. Worked great. Switched over to an aquaclear eventually because someone messed up the cord on that filter.

 

When I took mine apart and redid it I took that whole blue cartridge holder out. I put a sponge in the bottom of the filter and a bag of bio media on top of that. No carbon, no cartridge. None of that. If I had to run carbon to get rid of meds or anything I just threw a bag of it on top of my bio media or on top of that front sponge. I hope that all makes sense. Worked great. Switched over to an aquaclear eventually because someone messed up the cord on that filter.

Yea makes perfect sense. Like I said I did keep all the blue parts that supposedly house bacteria, although I know it's not enough. I also kept the small sponge you see right where the water hits before it goes back into the tank. So I didn't completely just throw everything out. I kept the thinks I could. I made my own cartridge with much better filter floss and carbon. (I always use carbon I love the clean clear water and both of us are smokers. Plus, huge help not making the aquarium smell up the kitchen.) And of course added all those biomax rings too. Anyways, thanks for taking the time out for me. I appreciate it!

 

I couldn't because the whole cartridge insert was one piece so that wasn't possible. I did keep other things tho and it's a very low nitrite reading so I know I didn't lose to to much bb. It's day 5 now, same readings. I actually got some tss today and added some to the tank. I think that will help by tomorrow or Thursday. I cycled my tank in less than 5 days when I started it and used that stuff so I have faith I should be good now. That tetra SS is an amazing product.

I just cut mine out and use the floss. It would have carried the cycle over. I too, put in ceramic beads lossely in my filter. You just have a mind cycle going. Shouldn’t be long. Good luck!