120 / 150 cycling - 150 behaving differently

[dr exum]

I’ll post pics. Tanks started running on 12/1 - both have fx 6 / 120 has 2 EMP 400’s and the 150 has 350’s. Both started with Ammo for fishless cycle, after reading seems folks liked stability. I’ve been dosing that since 12/3 per bottle instructions.

Seeded the filters from old cartridges from various established tanks.

The 150 was a little cold 75ish for the first few days, I had not plugged in the second heater. Both tanks are 82 now.

I started the 150 the day after the 120 which was 12/4

So why is the 120 look how it should and the 150 seems to have never really had a nitrite spike? Is it done? Better media in that one?

Pics are in order of Begining to now.

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[dr exum]

May be the variable, I did dump a bottle of this in one... can’t remember which tank it was...

 

[dr exum]

Added ammonia last night got 1.0 ppm from each, the 120 processed it, 150 did not.

 

[Rocksor]

The 150 did start colder for a few days after 12/4, and there is an optimum temperature for ammonia eating bacteria. So just be patient. Add the Dr Tim's to the 150.

 

[dr exum]

Think the 120 is good, it’s day 7/8 of stability.

Gonna watch it for 24 hours before thinking about a W/C...


150 looks to have the same results, that tank never really had a big nitrite spike... I did add a bottle of dr Tim’s to it...

I’m gotta say stability works!

 

[TheWolfman]

If you steal some bio media from one of your cycled filters and place it in the new ones you can insta cycle the new aquariums. Every tank I’ve ever started I’ve done it that way and never had a ammonia or nitrite spike.

 

[dr exum]

If you steal some bio media from one of your cycled filters and place it in the new ones you can insta cycle the new aquariums. Every tank I’ve ever started I’ve done it that way and never had a ammonia or nitrite spike.

I did, used the dirty 350 cartridges, and swapped the bio wheels...

I expected more of a nitrite spike out of the 150.

Thanks for tip!

 

[lp85253]

media from cycled tanks works well to cycle other tanks .. be generous in the amount you use if you can .. if you use borrowed media keep a close eye on the parameters for awhile after stocking..

 

[dr exum]

Did not want to start a new thread,

got two 40g breeders I started on 3/17 so two weeks or so.

started with prime for conditioner on day 2 after letting them run a day. All new media. (Where i faltered) - snails....

the temps are 82 on the left high ph 8.0 ( buffered with substrate for Africans)
And 82-84 on the right tank normal ph or 7

I added a dose of fritz 7 for each tank as well as stability on day 3 as well as liquid ammonia

I had nitrites day 2 after adding stability.

day 7 added more liquid ammonia to see if tank uses it / pushes the cycle along

day 12 - added used filter cartridges from established tanks

I’ve been adding stability for 14 days now...

still have nitrites -

question is - continue with stability every day or wait it out, I know it can take 30 days...

Values from today - looks like the gravel tank has little ammo

 

[esoxlucius]

Did not want to start a new thread,

got two 40g breeders I started on 3/17 so two weeks or so.

started with prime for conditioner on day 2 after letting them run a day. All new media. (Where i faltered) - snails....

the temps are 82 on the left high ph 8.0 ( buffered with substrate for Africans)
And 82-84 on the right tank normal ph or 7

I added a dose of fritz 7 for each tank as well as stability on day 3 as well as liquid ammonia

I had nitrites day 2 after adding stability.

day 7 added more liquid ammonia to see if tank uses it / pushes the cycle along

day 12 - added used filter cartridges from established tanks

I’ve been adding stability for 14 days now...

still have nitrites -

question is - continue with stability every day or wait it out, I know it can take 30 days...

Values from today - looks like the gravel tank has little ammo

View attachment 1411265

View attachment 1411266

I was about to answer the OP's post and you've gone and muddied the waters with your post. You should have started a seperate thread really so both issues can be addressed seperately without confusion.