Tank Cycle Question

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
TheBigB

TheBigB

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Nov 1, 2011
503
3
33
North Texas
Ok, so I have had my 400 gallon up and running for 3 weeks or so. I am running a fluidized bed using K1 kaldness. I have seeded the filter multiple times using media and mechanical filter floss and dosing ammonia to grow the needed bacteria. The ammonia readings subside within a day after adding a capfull and I have been getting Nitrite readings for almost 2 weeks but they havent budged. I've noticed a some very low Nitrate readings for a week or so but Im not sure why this is taking so long. I have seeded new tanks in the past and they were ready to go within a few days.

I understand the fluidized bed grows a slightly different type of bacteria but I assumed I would be ready for fish by now. Am I leaving out a step or am I just being impatient? Any advice?
 
Nitrobacter grow a lot slower. If your pH is outside of optimal range (7.6-7.8) or optimal temperature (82-83), it will take longer. I'm not sure what "seeding multiple times" means, but if you physical disturbing a lot of the media (too much), you could be removing BB.

Nitrosomonas seems to have wider optimal range and it can replenish population faster. I'm guessing you're close but not done.

Also, are you doing WC and if so, how often, how much?
 
Drop some food in (a little bit) to help it out. Also by seeding you mean using, pre used filter media and putting It into the new filter on the new tank I assume ? Try some bio right in the tank also not just in the filter.
 
Are you still dosing with ammonia at the same levels of concentration? The beneficial bacteria needs something for the colony to feed on and multiply.

Don't throw in food just continue with the ammonia. Throwing in food to try and cycle a tank can lead to bad dissolved organics rotting in the water column and potential for bacterial outbreaks.
 
CanadianKeeper said:
Drop some food in (a little bit) to help it out. Also by seeding you mean using, pre used filter media and putting It into the new filter on the new tank I assume ? Try some bio right in the tank also not just in the filter.
Click to expand...

Yeah I took a few filter pads from other tanks and sqeezed them out in the main tank and in the filter section. I also added media from another tank to the filter section to try to speed up the process.

Reedmaster16 said:
Are you still dosing with ammonia at the same levels of concentration? The beneficial bacteria needs something for the colony to feed on and multiply.

Don't throw in food just continue with the ammonia. Throwing in food to try and cycle a tank can lead to bad dissolved organics rotting in the water column and potential for bacterial outbreaks.
Click to expand...

What do you mean at the same concentration? I have been dosing ammonia and taking readings a few hours later. I always just dose a capful first thing in the morning and by the end of the day the ammonia levels are gone.

Im sure its working or I wouldnt be getting nitrite readings. I just need to be more patient. Thanks for the tips....
 
When I started my 210 I took the old filters of my 125 that's been running for a few years with no problems and put them on the 210. It was ready in a week no joke. I move a AGTF and ray and an armatus into it and they had no problem.
 
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