Is there any way around an ammonia spike when setting up a new tank?

[jcarson]

Hey MFK

Ive set up 3 new tanks using seeded media from existing tanks and there was always an ammonia spike for the 1st couple days.

Is there any way around this?

Also since I am running out of space in my filters as I am using alot of sponge filters now would a bag of bio media sitting in my tank for weeks be the same as pulling it out of my cannisters?

 

[imabot]

What do you mean by sitting in your tank? Was the biomedia actually in the filter?

 

[kno4te]

Hey MFK

Ive set up 3 new tanks using seeded media from existing tanks and there was always an ammonia spike for the 1st couple days.

Is there any way around this?

Also since I am running out of space in my filters as I am using alot of sponge filters now would a bag of bio media sitting in my tank for weeks be the same as pulling it out of my cannisters?

Could always add some carbon/ammo block to absorb but I would leave so it be used by bacteria for the cycle.

Yes. Leaving media in the tank will bio media in the tank will hold bacteria as if it was in ur canisters. Not sure if u got enough bacteria in the media if it’s been weeks.

 

[Kittiee Katt]

If you have light stocking in the tank that the established media came from it could be that there wasn't much bacteria on the media you selected. I would assume that in a lightly stocked tank the bacteria would be fewer and more spread out than in a heavily stocked tank, where there is lots of waste to supply a large colony.
I don't know how much merit there is to what I've said above, but it makes sense from a "common sense" type of view.


Also may I point out that while a majority of the bacteria may be in your filters, they are also on almost every surface in your tank. For this reason I not only take media, but also a handful or two of substrate, as well as any décor I can spare from established tanks when setting up new tanks.


Disclaimer: I am not an expert, nor do I claim to be. This is what has worked for me in my tanks. Results may vary.

 

[jcarson]

What do you mean by sitting in your tank? Was the biomedia actually in the filter?

In this case no, I have had some lava rock, sponges and matrix sitting in the tank for a few weeks now because i knew this new tank was coming.

Could always add some carbon/ammo block to absorb but I would leave so it be used by bacteria for the cycle.

Yes. Leaving media in the tank will bio media in the tank will hold bacteria as if it was in ur canisters. Not sure if u got enough bacteria in the media if it’s been weeks.

I thought so, it has been a few weeks in my tank and will probably be another week before the new tank gets filled with water.

If you have light stocking in the tank that the established media came from it could be that there wasn't much bacteria on the media you selected. I would assume that in a lightly stocked tank the bacteria would be fewer and more spread out than in a heavily stocked tank, where there is lots of waste to supply a large colony.
I don't know how much merit there is to what I've said above, but it makes sense from a "common sense" type of view.


Also may I point out that while a majority of the bacteria may be in your filters, they are also on almost every surface in your tank. For this reason I not only take media, but also a handful or two of substrate, as well as any décor I can spare from established tanks when setting up new tanks.


Disclaimer: I am not an expert, nor do I claim to be. This is what has worked for me in my tanks. Results may vary.

The media in question is from a heavily stocked tank, and has been there for a few weeks now.


Thank you everybody for your replies.