Instant Cycle Worked?

Hello everyone, I started a new 10 gallon tank a few days ago. I added a sponge from an established 50 gallon tank in hopes of instant cycling the 10 gallon. Several days later I’m reading 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates, even after throwing in some sinking pellets every day. There is no livestock in it currently, but I plan to add some later today. Is this going to be fine? Thanks in advance!

 

You might want to move the filter over to the 50 until you add livestock, or add ammonia instead of fish food. The food will take longer to break down to ammonia and you might starve your cycle before you add fish. Aside from that, if you don't have any ammonia, you can also do some extra water changes on your 50 and add the dirty water to keep the cycle fed.
In short, yes you skipped the cycle, but until you add livestock you must mantain it.

 

Add ammonia and see how it performs. Food doesn't turn into ammonia instantly.

 

You might want to move the filter over to the 50 until you add livestock, or add ammonia instead of fish food. The food will take longer to break down to ammonia and you might starve your cycle before you add fish. Aside from that, if you don't have any ammonia, you can also do some extra water changes on your 50 and add the dirty water to keep the cycle fed.
In short, yes you skipped the cycle, but until you add livestock you must mantain it.

Thanks, and that makes sense. So I’ve had the cycled sponge in the new tank for 2 or 3 days, and was planning to add livestock today. That would add the ammonia needed to avoid starving the bacteria, correct?

 

Yeah if you moved your filter/media from a cycled tank to an empty tank you are cycled! No need to wait! A cycled filter=a cycled tank!

 

Thanks, and that makes sense. So I’ve had the cycled sponge in the new tank for 2 or 3 days, and was planning to add livestock today. That would add the ammonia needed to avoid starving the bacteria, correct?

I'd just dose prime for the first couple of days until the cycle balances out to be safe.

 

Thanks, and that makes sense. So I’ve had the cycled sponge in the new tank for 2 or 3 days, and was planning to add livestock today. That would add the ammonia needed to avoid starving the bacteria, correct?

Indeed it would. You still need to keep an eye on your paramaters to make sure everything remains in check since you can still cause a mini cycle by adding livestock. And like AvalancheDave said, you can always be safe and add ammonia to see how much you are processing and how quickly.

 

Okay, thanks everyone! I’ll get some prime today just to be safe!