Is it possible my tank cycled in a week!?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
itsKRUDD said:
Okay so in the sump I hve a layer of standard filter floss, under the floss is a layer of carbon, under the carbon is my bio balls, from there it gets pumped back into the tank.

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itsKRUDD said:
Before and after water changes still 0 all around, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate


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I'm sure it's because you are running carbon. Is this layer of carbon new? I don't use carbon at all unless I had to medicate the tank or a quarantine tank.
 
sincebeen said:
I'm repeating myself from an earlier post elsewhere but, yes, your tank is cycled. Having zero ammo and nitrite, in a tank that has had ammo introduced, means that you have developed the two nitrifying bacteria (Nitrosomanas and Nitrobacter). However, "cycled" is a relative term. It is cycled to the point that it can sufficiently convert the amount of ammo you've been "feeding." But what you're trying to achieve is a colony that can convert the amount of bio you aim to feed. If you threw an 8" pleco in there right now, you would be plagued with spiking ammo and nitrite in the coming weeks, guaranteed.

As far as the idea that "nitrates have to be present" in order to gauge cycling, this is nonsense. I have a 125G that has not had a reading of nitrates since it was finished cycling 5 months ago. I have two 6-8" pleco, six growing SA cichlids, and another ~dozen dithers and bottom feeders. The existence of nitrates has more to do with insufficient bio-media paired with ridiculously high turnover rates IMO.
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How would it relate to insufficient Bio media? BB makes nitrates (essentially.) A quick refresher- bb converts ammo->nitrite and nitrite->nitrate. That is the last step in the nitrogen cycle. Either I am missing something or you are misinformed.

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I had my 180 gallon cycled in less than 2 weeks, it is possible, I did mine with a few plants, rocks and gravel from an established tank and a few small Gudgeons to produce some waste to get the cycle kickstarted.
 
the carbon is likely pulling your nitrates out... I'de pull the carbon and see what nitrates do... If your numbers stay zero it's possible your nitrites are dilluted to not showing... but with carbon in a new set-up it's hard to say "yes" or "no" it's not cycled when carbon is involved. I also haven't run carbon in my tanks for years unless i need to pull a chemical out ect.

I'm also abit confused how high turn-over rates, and biomedia play any part in nitrate levels lowering.... If I didn't have a high turn-over rate my tanks would be plagued with ammonia and nitrite issues, because my bio-media woulnd't have access to the ammonia and nitrite before them came to lethal levels.. and convert it to nitrates. which are then removed by regular water changes ( Aquarium water chemistry 101 )
 
MonsterMinis said:
the carbon is likely pulling your nitrates out... I'de pull the carbon and see what nitrates do... If your numbers stay zero it's possible your nitrites are dilluted to not showing... but with carbon in a new set-up it's hard to say "yes" or "no" it's not cycled when carbon is involved. I also haven't run carbon in my tanks for years unless i need to pull a chemical out ect.

I'm also abit confused how high turn-over rates, and biomedia play any part in nitrate levels lowering.... If I didn't have a high turn-over rate my tanks would be plagued with ammonia and nitrite issues, because my bio-media woulnd't have access to the ammonia and nitrite before them came to lethal levels.. and convert it to nitrates. which are then removed by regular water changes ( Aquarium water chemistry 101 )
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Yes the high turn over rate removing nitrates didn't make sense to me either. I didn't realize that carbon could have an effect on the nitrates like that. I haven't had a chance to remove it yet but it's on the agenda for today. Yesterday we actually re plumbed everything to get the most drainage possible. The pumps are working at 1800 gph now, so a 15x hourly turn over rate. It will need to be high as it will be a grow out for pbass, oscars, pleccos, aros etc for a pond.


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