Seachem’s stability and establish media

Hello everyone so I have a new bow front 33 gallon tank set up and I put some media from an establish 20 gallon tank that’s been running over a year. I was wondering how long would it take the tank to cycle with some of the established media in the canister and using Seachem’s stability (today was day 2 of using it)? I currently don’t have any fish in it but I was thinking about adding my angelfish to help feed the BB. Today I did drop some fish food in the tank to help produce some ammonia for the BB.

I guess I want to know what is the best way to go about cycling a tank with established media? How will Ik when it is finished?

 

I guess I want to know what is the best way to go about cycling a tank with established media? How will Ik when it is finished?

Given the number of variables involved (how much established media was transferred, the bioload of the cycled tank, the planned bioload of the new tank, . . .), there isn’t a clear answer to your question.

The only way to know for sure is to introduce an ammonia source to the tank, which you’ve started to do by adding fish food. And then test your water parameters. If this was my tank, here’s what I’d do (I’m assuming you want to avoid a potential fish-in cycle) .

Get some pure ammonia (no scents or surfactants) or Dr. Tim’s ammonium chloride. Dose the tank to 2 ppm ammonia and you’ll know it’s cycled when the ammonia fully converts to nitrates in 24 hours. In other words, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and some level of nitrates 24 hours after dosing.

 

Given the number of variables involved (how much established media was transferred, the bioload of the cycled tank, the planned bioload of the new tank, . . .), there isn’t a clear answer to your question.

The only way to know for sure is to introduce an ammonia source to the tank, which you’ve started to do by adding fish food. And then test your water parameters. If this was my tank, here’s what I’d do. . .

Get some pure ammonia (no scents or surfactants) or Dr. Tim’s ammonium chloride. Dose the tank to 2 ppm ammonia and you’ll know it’s cycled when the ammonia fully converts to nitrates in 24 hours. In other words, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and some level of nitrates 24 hours after dosing.

Am I able to find some ammonia at my LFS?

 

Am I able to find some ammonia at my LFS?

I’m not sure. . . Pure ammonia has been relatively hard to find the past couple years. I’ve always used the Ace Hardware brand, but that has also been hard to find.

Here’s an option on Amazon. . .
Amazon.com

 

Am I able to find some ammonia at my LFS?

Fritz fishless fuel, or fritz ammonium chloride powder (which is more than you need, but works), or dr timms ammonia. Those are specifically made for aquarium cycling. Finding ammonia for house cleaning that has no fragrance or surfactants is hard.