New Tank - mature biofilter?

HI I am new to this site. Great stuff!

So I picked up a used 80 gallon set up a couple months back. I took some time to reline the tank and refurbish the stand etc. - you know do it right. I also aquired the old gravel and canister filter including the media. The media had been rinsed and has sat the last two months in ziploc bags at cool/cold temps in my garage. Always stayed damp. I thoroughly washed the gravel with cold tap water outside with a hose shortly after aquiring, and it too has sat in my garage for almost two months - cool and damp.

I got everything set up on Feb 25. I used Prime to dechlorinate. The water had a slight whitish haze right from the start. I'm pretty sure it was not micro bubbles etc. and have assumed it was a bacterial bloom possibly connected to the old gravel and media not being pristine. The next day I tested the water (API Master Test Kit) with the following results; PH 7.2, Ammo 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates <5. On Wednesday Feb 29 I put in 6 small Pristella Tetras and did not feed them until Day 2 and then just once a day since. They have been in there for 5 days now and doing well. The water is now crystal clear. I have tested the water almost every day since I set it up and always get similar results. In the latest test from yesterday the PH looked closer to 7.0 and the Nitrates were a strong 5 - I'd say >5 but not to the 10 color. Ammonia and Nitrites are 0 and have been on every test.

The plan is to add maybe 3-4 swordtails and a school of Corys before adding the centerpiece of about 6 Angels in the comimg weeks.

Did I get lucky and aquire a mature biofilter? Or are the tetras too small to register increased ammonia readings in such a large tank? Either way should I consider adding more fish now and continue watching for the ammonia to increase? Or wait longer? If so - how much longer before I add more fish?

Any help is appreciated. Am very interested to hear an experienced aquarists take on all this. Thanks!

 

When I added my fish to my 75-galloon tank I added three and then waited a week to add three more so as not to disturb the equilibrium in the tank My last add for four weeks later when I added seven Tiger Barb.

 

Welcome to the forum

If your nitrates are the only thing increasing, they your the bacteria colony is established. I'm very curious to see how things progress for you, so please keep us updated.

 

Thanks Jaysee - will do. I think at this point I will probably add the swordtails later this week if the Ammonia & Nitrite stays at zero. That would be week or longer since the tetras were added.

Cheers!

 

Yeah, the last thing you want to do is overload the filter.

 

I'm questioning whether the beneficial bacteria could survive for 2 months without ammonia/nitrite and in cold temps. I honestly don't know. If you don't have nitrates in your tap water, then something is producing nitrate. I'll be interested to see others' comments and your progress.

 

I have read that the EPA limits nitrates to less than 10 ppm in tap water. I measured our tap water and we have zero (Reno, Nv). What I have read is that the bacteria sort of hibernate till ammonia comes out. Any one else have a take on this?

 

If I recall correctly, they can enter a state of suspended animation. But, before that happens predation sets in and as bacterias consume other bacterias, the integrity of the biofilter is compromised.

 

Thanks for all the discussion everyone. It sounds like there really isn't a way to know 100% at this point so I will err on the side of caution. No need to rush things at this point. I'll keep testing and wait awhile longer before the next addition.

What should be my mindset for maintenance at this point? Should I do any PWC's if the ammonia & nitrites remain at zero?

 

I wouldn't change the water for the next week. Just let everything be - if you are still getting 0, 0 and more nitrates, then you're in luck!

 

Update. 8 Days now since adding fish. Latest test results; PH 7.2, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites, 5ppm Nitrates - exacly the same readings since the first day I set up the tank. Today I also did a Nitrate test on the water straight from my faucet to see if there was any. The result was zero (color was yellow). So now at least I know that the Nitrates are coming from the aquarium and not the water.

A couple things to throw out there. How could I have nitrates even before I added fish if it is not coming from the water? Does this prove that I indeed got lucky and retained the old biofilter?

And second, I plan on adding about three small fish this weekend - probably swordtails - and testing daily for a week or so before adding the next group and so on. Does this sound reasonable? Should I add the swordtails and then the Cory's or add the cory's next - then the swordtails. Does it matter?

I appreciate the help and discussion!

 

I vote for cories only because it would give you something on the bottom to help clean up, and because cories are so cute. Will watch for other opinions.

Sounds like you have some beneficial bacteria working.

 

You win ... I brought home 4 Cories last Friday. Three days in now and still no change in test results. Even if ammonia and nitrites are zero shouldn't my nitrates be rising?

 

That is not many fish in an 80g tank. Maybe that is why you're not seeing a big rise in nitrates. Did you say before that you are really shaking the bottle #2 and actually hitting it against a table or the floor to dissolve the crystals that are in the test solution?

Also check the date in the lot #. I'll find a link for how to read it, as I've read it on here before.

Congrats on your cories. I have SterbaI cories in my 46g, and they entertained me for hours last night with their courting dance and egg laying behavior.

Edit: Here's a link about expiration dates. https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...or-api-freshwater-master-test-kit-users.6439/

 

I didn't say - but I am shaking for at least a minute and smacking against the palm of my hand. Thanks for the info I will check the Lot#'s when I get home tonight.

BTW I got a pair of Jullis and a pair of Pandas. I would like to add a few more perhaps of the same type(s) or albinos or adolfis. Your thoughts?

 

I would add more of one of the types you already have because different types may not shoal together. Then later, if you still have room you can add a shoal of albinos or adolfis (I don't know what adolfis are--I'll have to look them up). Maybe get 3 pandas and then 3 juliis or vice versa.

 

Be careful! I thought my tank had cycled completely ( before finding this site relying on my LFS for information) and added more fish only to loose roughly half (poor little fellas) and it was all due to the small bio load and misinformation from the LFS. I am new to this and the biggest thing I'm learning is to read lots, ask more questions from more experienced Aquariusts and be patient on adding fish.

 

**Update**

Added 3 small angels last Tuesday night. Tests are still 0 ammo, 0 nitrite, 5ppm (Nitrate). Did a 20% PWC Saturday (It needed it). I am still cautious and will continue to add 3-4 fish at a time about a week apart. I plan on 3 more angels, a couple more corys and am still considering a small group of livebearers. All the additions are young/small fish, but they should max the tank size once they all mature.

Looks like I did get lucky with "aquired" biofilter.

 

good for you!

 

That is good to know about the biofilter lasting that long in cold storage. Would love to see some pictures of your tank when you have them.

 

Pics from a crappy phone

 

That's a nice looking setup you have. Cant wait to see it fully stocked.

Are those live plants or fake ones? I couldn't tell from the pics. If they are fake, have you considered live?

 

They are silk (fake). I have thought about live plants but my enemy is time for maintenance etc. right now. I wanted to concentrate my efforts towards the fishes at first and just plain learn the craft. As I get more confortable as time progresses I hope to take that step. The guy I got the tank fom had plants, I know the gravel I go from him is fluorite. Though I am not 100% sure what tat means.

As soon as I can I want to take and post better pics that include the residents!

 

They are silk (fake). I have thought about live plants but my enemy is time for maintenance etc. right now. I wanted to concentrate my efforts towards the fishes at first and just plain learn the craft. As I get more confortable as time progresses I hope to take that step. The guy I got the tank fom had plants, I know the gravel I go from him is fluorite. Though I am not 100% sure what tat means.

As soon as I can I want to take and post better pics that include the residents!

I just started acquiring plants this year. Don't let them rush you into it

 

Oh absolutely never rush into anything.

 

I just started acquiring plants this year. Don't let them rush you into it

lol rushing is better than being a slacker

 

I may be lazy, but I'm no slacker!

 

Very nice looking tank. Thanks for sharing.

 

A Question....

My tank is now in a full on brown algae (diatom?) bloom. Ammonia and nitrites are still 0 and nitrates are 5ppm. Should this change my stocking strategy? I have been thinking of introducing a bristlenose cat to go with my corys in the "cleanup crew"- would this be a good time to do that? And do they eat the brown algae? Thanks in advance for any advice you may have!

 

the diatoms will go away in time on their own. Or you can wipe it clean. There are fish that will enjoy eating it, but know that there is a limited supply so I wouldn't get anything you wouldn't want to get anyway.