Cycling New Quarantine Tank Check

[antelope321]

Hello, I am already familiar with the Nitrogen Cycle and have been running a 55 gallon tank for almost 2 years. I want to get some more fish to restock my 55 but want to confirm the process of setting up my 10 gallon tank to quarantine the newbies.

I've set one up in the past using used filter media/sponge filter and vacuumed out water with waste from my 55 gal but still ended up with spiked levels of Amm > Nitrite and then finally settling down to normal levels of 0, 0 and some Nitrate. It appeared it was still going through the cycling process (after fish added) even after a few weeks of initial set up (before fish).

I just want to confirm my plan this time around and see if I'm missing anything or if anything can be improved on:
- Set up 10 gal tank with used filter media/sponge filter and waste water from existing 55 gal
- Use Dr Tims ammonia (haven't used before but will follow instructions)
- Wait a few week(s) (whatever the Dr Tims bottle says) and check levels are normal
- Introduce a few fish

 

[Scotslad]

What ammonia source did you use the previous time?
Once you moved over the filter media from an established filter you should have been able to add fish straight away to keep the bacteria fed.
Depending on how many fish needed quarantine. Obviously you cant put loads fish into the quarantine tank straight away.
How long was it running without fish in it?

 

[antelope321]

What ammonia source did you use the previous time?
Once you moved over the filter media from an established filter you should have been able to add fish straight away to keep the bacteria fed.
Depending on how many fish needed quarantine. Obviously you cant put loads fish into the quarantine tank straight away.
How long was it running without fish in it?

The only thing I used last time was the used filter media, sponge filter, waste water and some decor that has been in my established 55 gal. I added seachem stability as well. Maybe not having an ammonia source was my problem? I think I assumed at the time the filter media etc. would establish the cycle without the need of an ammonia source.

I transferred all that over in the new tank, had it running for maybe 2 days and then added 5 cories. The levels started to go out of control about 1 week after the fish were added. It seemed to go through the cycle from high Amm, then high Nitrite, Amm leveled down, Nitrite leveled down and then Nitrates were normal around 5-10.

 

[Scotslad]

The beneficial bacteria shouldn't have died off in 2 days, Perhaps there just wasn't enough filter media transferred over for the 5 cories. It definitely sounds like it went through a cycle though.
I keep a small filter running in one of my main tanks and when I need to set up a quarantine tank I just move the whole filter over.

 

[antelope321]

Assuming for this next tank set up, if I do transfer over a lot more media etc., is the ammonia source needed or should it suffice with just the filter media?

Last time (maybe when I didn't add enough) it didn't start to show numbers (amm, nitrite, nitrate were all 0) until after I added the cories (then the cycle started Amm>Nitrite>Nitrate).

 

[KiwiWillow]

Some source of ammonia is always needed to feed the beneficial bacteria you have shifted over. It’s either supplied by your fish as their waste, or by the Dr Tim’s. The media you shift won’t supply ammonia. There’s a limit to how long the bacteria will survive without ammonia.

I have just been through a similar thing though. Set up a quarantine tank by transferring some media, and theoretically should have been instant cycling. Fish introduced, but still had ammonia and nitrites appear. I find it’s easier to do a 50% daily water change to ensure levels are controlled. A bucket suctioned out with visible waste, and a bucket back in. Takes 10 minutes, keeps the numbers safe and saves me stressing too much about the cycle.

 

[Scotslad]

There wouldn't have been any numbers. amm nitrite and nitrate would all read zero as it was a tank of new fresh water.
The beneficial bacteria wouldn't have been giving off any readings as there was no ammonia source for them to process.
You always need an ammonia source either pure ammonia dripped in or fish waste.
Remember the beneficial bacteria live in the filter and not the water column.

If you move enough filter media over and only add 1 fish to quarantine then there will surely be enough beneficial bacteria to cope with the 1 fishes waste.
If you add loads fish all at once to quarantine there may not be enough beneficial bacteria to cope and so some ammonia will go unprocessed as well as some nitrate etc so you will get readings.

If your going to go the dr Tim's method you will have to dose ammonia according to tank size or you will have no way of keeping track of ammonia amount in the tank. That's just how the method works.
There probably won't be enough bacteria in the filter media to start off with so you'll have to cycle the tank as a new tank (all be it with the old filter media in) so you won't be able to add fish to quarantine till its cycled.

I would Just add lots established filter media or a filter from an existing tank (dont clean it) and add very few fish.

 

[Dechi]

There is no beneficial bacteria in the water column, or very little. Don’t bother with it. Adding bacteria in a bottle would help though.

 

[ckarta]

I keep a small filter running in one of my main tanks and when I need to set up a quarantine tank I just move the whole filter over.

I agree with this, if you have some time on hand, keeping an extra filter in the main tank is the easiest and surest way to get stable bacterial colony. In my experience if you have taken substrate and media both from the original tank, cycling time can be shortened for a quarantine tank with over-filtration and lower bioloads.

• With a new filter, you can fill it up to about half with media form the original filter and the rest can be new media. Refill the original filter with new media too.
• Keep this running for a few days in the original tank so the new colonies establish in the new filter. This way you avoid having to add ammonia.
• Then move the new filter to the quarantine tank and add a few fish. Start with 2-3 and if the parameters are OK add more.

I am very skeptical of chemical additives as they require very strict maintenance to be safe and get benefits, and I don't enjoy that routine. Of course the rewards are also much better if you can manage it.