question about my cycle. is it really done already?

[bob965]

If you took a filter cartridge from an established, cycled tank and put it on the new tank, then that new tank is now cycled, assuming there isn't a huge difference in the bioload of the old tank and the new tank.

Since you took all the fish out, there's nothing left in the tank to produce ammonia, so the bacteria on the old media have started to die off. If you're not getting fish for awhile, I would add ammonia to the new tank to ensure you keep your bio-filter alive.

Then, once you get your test kit, you can verify that the tank is cycled, because the ammonia you add will disappear overnight, and you'll have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and some amount of nitrate. At that point, you can do a big water change with dechlorinated water and add your fish.

 

[Deaths Sting]

the tank read zero on ammonia before the remaining two goldies got taken out. i didnt take the whole filter i meant the cartridge pad. it was covered in stuff from my other tank. i took the goldies back to the pet store and asked her not to try that again with me. but im going to just wait for my master kit because the one i have doesnt do nitrates for some reason. if none i will re-cycle it but till then im not messin with it.

if the tank has had no fish in it for some time now then it needs to be re cycled. all the beneficial bacteria probably have died off because of a lack of ammonia. do u understand?

even if ur tank was finished cycling, u have now restarted it! you have done this by starving ur biological filtration. the cycle cannot exist without an ammonia source.

 

[JakeH]

If you stop the ammonia right now, the bacteria will starve & you will have to start the cycle over. Just FYI

 

[kallmond]

fish poop ammonia. Ammonia is eaten by bacteria that then poops nitrite. Nitrite is eaten by a different bacteria that poops nitrate. Nitrate is eliminated by water changes.

No fish = no ammonia = no food for ammonia eating bacteria, and they starve to death, which means they stop pooping nitrite.. Nitrite eating bacteria then have no food and they die off.

 

[thepwner70]

Kinda what happened to my 5 gallon tank

 

[JakeH]

gettin all Playskool on that mofo! HA! Poop.

 

[Deaths Sting]

fish poop ammonia. Ammonia is eaten by bacteria that then poops nitrite. Nitrite is eaten by a different bacteria that poops nitrate. Nitrate is eliminated by water changes.

No fish = no ammonia = no food for ammonia eating bacteria, and they starve to death, which means they stop pooping nitrite.. Nitrite eating bacteria then have no food and they die off.

+1
excellent, i couldn't of said it better myself.

gettin all Playskool on that mofo! HA! Poop.

unfortunately, the way the thread was going, it was only a matter of time before the situation would have to be simplified. even now i am still hesitant to accept the fact that the OP will fully understand the situation. however, this has been a learning process for me as well! i say this because it lets myself and others practice different teaching methods and most importantly patience, something that is rarely found.

the bottom line is, Ive already come this far in the thread. im not going to stop posting until i know the OP fully understand the situation. however, if kallmond broke the learning curve then that would be excellent!