Trying to cycle a tank with established sponge filter

[Rantarzalt]

Im now trying to cycle my 8 gallon tank with established spong filter frm another tank and wood frm another tank and substrate frm another tank how long would this take to cycle cause when i put it in ammonia was 0.30 now it went to 1ppm is it concerning btw the items were from an established 48 gallon tank

Now
Ammonia: 1ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 5ppm

 

[awilkinson871]

There is no way to know. I could be 1-3 weeks depending on how much BB was on all the items.

 

[Papasmerf73]

I aways do this with filter media. I do add some Fritz 7 BB and use Prime and they are basically cycled. Test every day for a week or so just to be safe. I have never had any fish die and have done this for 4 consecutive tanks.

 

[Rantarzalt]

Ok im just worried those ammonia are frm the bb and not ammonia sorces like fish food i placed every day
Beacuse the sponge filter is big for a 8 gallon it was meant for a 48 gallon surely many bb will die

 

[Chrisfish7887]

If you’re daily feeding fish food it’s hard to control how much ammonia will spike or not spike I would just make sure the ammonia stays under 4ppm. But if the colony of bb isn’t large enough to consume the ammonia as it’s being created via rotting fish food then the ammonia goes up

Ok im just worried those ammonia are frm the bb and not ammonia sorces like fish food i placed every day
Beacuse the sponge filter is big for a 8 gallon it was meant for a 48 gallon surely many bb will die

Also keep the tank well oxygenated

 

[Donthemon]

When is the last time you did a water change? If there was bb on the sponge filter it should have been an instant cycle as long as you have an ammonia source. And fish food isn’t good to use as ammonia source. To inconsistent. Add fish or get bottled ammonia.

 

[ProudPapa]

I'm surprised to see that your ammonia increased. If the filter was well seeded that shouldn't have happened, and you should have been able to add fish immediately.

 

[Rantarzalt]

Guys im not seeing improvment the ammonia is at 1 maybe 2ppm and no nitrate this is bad guys help JettsPapa Chrisfish7887 Donthemon
Ive now added substrate from my established tank to help
This is the test

 

[mattgirl]

How long had the sponge filter been running in the big tank? What is the bio-load in that tank? Meaning does it have lots of fish?

What you did should have basically cycled the new tank. Cycling a tank simply means growing ammonia and nitrite eating bacteria. That bacteria should have already been in/on the sponge filter and on all the other items you moved over.

When you set the new tank up are you sure you added your water conditioner to the water before moving all the seeded media over to this tank?

When I do this I make sure the sponge filter has been running in the parent tank for several months but normally a month should be long enough. the tank I take the media from is heavily stocked so there is a lot of bacteria on the media. When i move the seeded media over I also add the fish I've set the tank up for. I've never gotten an ammonia or nitrite reading in the new tank and start seeing nitrates with a week or so.

Something happened here. Only you know all the steps you took when setting this tank up. Try to think through the steps and see if anything has been missed.

 

[Donthemon]

Also test your tap water parameters for grins.

 

[Rantarzalt]

The bio load is higj i have 25 cardinals 1 dawrf gourami 3 sparkling goirmi and 3 guppies the sparkling are waiting for thier new home
OH NO MAYBE I FORGETTEN TO DECHLORINATE WHAT SHLD I DO I JUST DUMP THE DECHLORINATOR
my bb is dying
mattgirl now do i just wait
I think its safe to say i have accidentally killed my bb colony because ammonia is now 0.25 but no nitrates

 

[Donthemon]

Do a large water change . Add dechlorinater, Add the fish and tetra Safestart plus