Regular Member Shannan Gilbert Posted March 30, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted March 30, 2015 Last night I went from a 20G to a 40B. I moved all my filter media, rocks, and plants over to the new tank (I am relatively bare bottomed, with some large rock). My 20G was cycled, and it always took 3 days for the ammonia levels to get to .25, at which I would do a 50% WC. Well just from last night (about 6pm) till this morning (about 10pm) the ammonia level jumped from 0 to .5 I have done a 30% WC which has dropped it to .25, maybe close to .3 I am going to do another 30% this evening (currently have a house full of toddlers, so doing a big WC is almost impossible) OK, so my questions are.... Is my tank recycling? Or is this just the bacteria adjusting to the new water volume? How long can I expect this to go on? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Chai Posted March 30, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) Just keep an eye on it for the next week or so. Even with fully cycled filters/tanks, upgrading causes a bump often. If you can't do a water change right away, just add a double dose of prime (two capfuls a for a 40 breeder). Edited March 30, 2015 by Chai 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member fantailfan1 Posted March 30, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted March 30, 2015 If your 20 gallon showed ammonia after 3 days, it wasn't cycled. What filter(s) and media do you have on your 40? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Shannan Gilbert Posted March 30, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted March 30, 2015 I have two hob filters, one is an aqua tech 20-40, it came from my old 20G (I had two 20-40's on my 20G) And I also have a new Aqua tech 30-60. They have those bio-filters in them. I moved the bio filter from the 20-40 I did not use to the new 30-60. My 20G had been set up and running for 3 months. I was clueless in the beginning, and jumped right in a bought two fish. They died of ich three weeks later. I kept the tank running and "thought" I did a fishless cycle. It ran unoccupied for 6 weeks before I added my two new little guys 3 or 4 weeks ago. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member DieselPlower Posted March 30, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted March 30, 2015 Were you adding ammonia while trying to do a fishless cycle? Sounds like your new tank will need time to establish. As noted getting to .25 ammonia in 3 days means the cycle is not fully established. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Shannan Gilbert Posted March 30, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted March 30, 2015 I did add ammonia, but only twice. Now that I am rereading the info on a fishless cycle, I guess I did not under stand it correctly. Thank you all for your help. I am full on bucket brigade, so this is gonna be fun. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Shannan Gilbert Posted March 30, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted March 30, 2015 So I did manage to do 2 more 30% water changes and my ammonia levels were still at .25th. I tested my tap water and it tested at .25 (which explains why my water tested at .25 after only 3 days) So what now? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member fantailfan1 Posted March 30, 2015 Regular Member Share Posted March 30, 2015 Your bio filter will eventually be able to handle the ammonia within 24 hours. What water conditioner do you use? Have you tested for nitrite? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Shannan Gilbert Posted April 7, 2015 Author Regular Member Share Posted April 7, 2015 No. I have only been able to find a nitrate test kit. I have to order nitrite online and haven't been able to do so yet. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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