Bio media only?

[Diamondhitch]

Awhile back I posted looking for advice on a filter setup for a 180g. I ended up going with the Fluval FX5 filter and on several members suggestion put bio media in all 3 trays. The bottom tray was some cycled media from the filter on another tank and the other trays were new. I am 2 weeks in now and have been monitoring for Amonia and nitrite spikes from the new tank setup and have seen no spikes at all. Yesterday I had a dead Bala Shark and today the other 2 are belly up. I tested for Nitate today and found very high levels.
My question is this. Is this normal for this kind of setup? Is it that much more efficient with that much bio media that you dont notice increases in Ammonia or nitrite, just nitrate?

 

[cbfreder]

I have cycled a small tank with large amounts of old media and saw no spikes at all. If you have nitrate, then your cycle is complete. So I assume that the same thing has happened to you. You also might want to throw a little bit of mechanical filtration in there to keep the water clean.

Brandon

 

[WyldFya]

If you had enough media from the established filter to handle the bio load of the fish in the new tank, you may not even have it cycle.

 

[RadleyMiller]

It sounds like your tank is always cycled and your media is fine. Now just do water changes to combat the nitrates.