Cycled in 24 hours!?!?!?

[JakeCox]

Before you say it I am not a beginner at cycling. I know it should take at least 3-4 weeks.

I cut up one of my pond filters and put it in my canister for bacteria medium this morning came home and wanted to be curious so I took readings.

7.2 pH
80 ppm Alkalinity
75 ppm (GH) Hardness (soft)
0 ppm Ammonia
0 ppm Nitrite (NO2)
20 ppm Nitrate (NO3)

I also used Nutrafin Cycle at twice the recommended dosage.

Is there any way in that place down below that this is possible? Tested 3 times all with same results one by filter, one in middle of tank at the bottom, and one at far side of tank from filter.

 

[JamesF]

What exactly is in the tank?
It's quite possible to instantly cycle a tank by using media from an established filter, but you shouldn't be getting a nitrate reading.

 

[JakeCox]

Some ghost shrimp and some Convict fry. That is it.

 

[JakeCox]

And put in sand this morning after a rock incident. Put artificial plants and my driftwood in there and wanted to get it all cycled before putting my live plants in there and stocking it

 

[big dovii]

Its not cycled....its just began its cycle.

 

[fishmamma]

Mine basically did the same thing.. although I didn't add fish right way..125g I used two established HOB filters and Seachem Stability.. it's been set up since 3/26 and has not fluctuated...

 

[JamesF]

Why are you waiting till after a cycle to add plants?
They prefer ammonia to nitrate, so toss them in right away.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Whats the nitrate reading of your tap water

 

[Addikted2Cichlids]

Why are you waiting till after a cycle to add plants?
They prefer ammonia to nitrate, so toss them in right away.

I learn something new everyday, I love this site.. I have never kept live plants though.. good to know for future reference.

 

[JakeCox]

0 ppm. Just checked it. And I'm going to wait until the Cycle should be complete any way to stock the tank just because I don't want to kill my fish off. And went ahead and threw my plants in, didn't know that they would thrive like that.

Threw ammonia in this morning, raised it to 5 ppm

3 hours later was getting nitrite and nitrate readings again?