I just took my 60 gallon saltwater tank down and took those filters from that tank after cleaning them up and put them in my 90 gallon freshwater tank and my ammonia went up. one filter is a bio wheel and the other is a canister filter the filter media on the biowheel is from the filter I had before on the 90 gallon but I washed it off and the canister has the same charcoal as it did in the saltwater tank but its washed out. I'm a little worried because I'm getting a ray most likely by the end of the week if I can fix this.
Same Tank, Same water, New filters but amonia spike???
- Thread starter Tworner54
- Start date
My salt knowledge is next to zero but I have always been under the impression that salt and fresh water utilize different bacteria to break down ammonia. I may be completely wrong though.
Did you wash them with tank water or tap water?
This may have also been a problem.
I hope you have some established fresh water media to help remedy this situation befor the ray arrives.
Did you wash them with tank water or tap water?
This may have also been a problem.
I hope you have some established fresh water media to help remedy this situation befor the ray arrives.
Hello; Did you leave the filter that was running the 90 gallon in place in addition to the new filter setup? Did you replace the original 90 filter and medium with the cleaned filter and media from the saltwater tank? You may have removed a substantial protion of the beneficial bacteria. There will be some beneficial bacteria in the 90 gallon, but it may take time for the population to build back up enough to cancel the amonia. Perhaps if you suspend feeding the fish for a few days, this may help lower the ammonia load untill the bacteria can build up? This is a bit of a guess as it is not clear what you did.
In the biowheel I used the same filter media I had in the old over hang because thy were the same size but the canister is just washed out and I let it dry out for a few days before putting it on my tank my ammonia Is at one miligram per liter
Hello; Sounds like the only filter material you kept in place from the freshwater tank is a biowheel, the rest of the filter and media is from the saltwater tank which has been cleaned and dried out for several days? If my assumptions are correct the bacteria left on other surfaces in the freshwater tank will reproduce enough in time to deal with the ammonia and will seed the new filter media. Not sure that this will happen soon enough to accomodate the addition of the ray right away. I imagine that water changes can help reduce the concentration of the ammonia. Others on the forum may be able to suggest chemical additives to help deal with the ammonia.
There are different types and levels of beneficial beneficial bacteria for saltwater and freshwater. You've essentially started a new cycle.
There is no crossover in bacteria from saltwater to freshwater or vice versa. As Wiggles mentioned above, you have started a new cycle.
Would adding some beneficial bacteria speed this process up? And how long would you think for the canister filter to finish cycling
Hello; Do you have any other freshwater tanks set up and that have been running for some time? If so you could take some of the filter media from that. members have posted about hanging such media in a mesh bag in a newly cycling tank. Some filters have double slots of filter media, one could be removed. Some run sponge filters with the sponge media cut in halves so that a half can be used to help seed a new tank setup.
I have assumed that the 90 gallon had already been setup and running for a time before the filters were switched? The other surfaces in the tank will have some BB (beneficial bacteria) on them and this should speed up the cycling somewhat. I do not know how to guess about the time this will take.
I have assumed that the 90 gallon had already been setup and running for a time before the filters were switched? The other surfaces in the tank will have some BB (beneficial bacteria) on them and this should speed up the cycling somewhat. I do not know how to guess about the time this will take.
Nope this is my only tank I got it about 4 months ago I have a sw biocube but until Christmas this is my only freshwater tank, I've had freshwater tanks for the past 10 years but I just got into monsters/oddballs when I purchased this tank and I can't stop 