I haven't had to do a true cycle on a tank since my first a 29 gallon sometime back in the 90s. I always move old filter pads from my 150 (long time established show tank) into whatever tank I just set up. This has been fine for countless tanks. I never stock too fast and do consistent water changes anyway. A juvenile oscar caught my eye last week and had to have him. I set up a 20 long I had laying around to grow him out a little in. I put two whisper 60s on(I have a lot of them laying around) and let it stabilize for a day. Brought the O home and put two old pads from the 150 in one of the filters. A couple of days later and two water changes, I checked the ammonia. Not sure why I am not good about checking for anything other than nitrates, I got lax due to not having problems and staying on top of maintenance. Had 10ppm so did a water change and brought down two more old filter pads. Twenty four hours later and all ammonia is gone and everything else is great. Don't know why the bacteria didn't work/survive the first time.
Learned on this one I have to check levels a little more diligently. Also don't start about the 20 gallon and the O, he is just a little guy, won't be long til he is big enough to go the 75, and I'm overfiltered.
Learned on this one I have to check levels a little more diligently. Also don't start about the 20 gallon and the O, he is just a little guy, won't be long til he is big enough to go the 75, and I'm overfiltered.
