When is My Tank Cycled

[Unexpected]

This a brand new tank and has been running for some weeks now. I jammed as many plants as I could from my long running tanks. Those plants brought in a handful of ponds snails and I imagine all these plants brought in bacteria. The snails, along with the decaying plant debris, are capable of feeding any bacteria existing in the tank to some level. If I never see ammonia or nitrites, via existing plant volume and bacteria; when do you know the tank is ready for fish?

 

[Yugang]

This a brand new tank and has been running for some weeks now. I jammed as many plants as I could from my long running tanks. Those plants brought in a handful of ponds snails and I imagine all these plants brought in bacteria. The snails, along with the decaying plant debris, are capable of feeding any bacteria existing in the tank to some level. If I never see ammonia or nitrites, via existing plant volume and bacteria; when do you know the tank is ready for fish?

I may miss some deeper meaning in your question @Unexpected , because you know better than I

I would suggest to measure ammonia and nitrites, as you do, and when both are at undetectable low levels you're good to go and start adding livestock while carefully monitoring their health for a couple of days. Water changes as always.

Tank cycling and biological maturity in planted aquariums

What is tank cycling for planted tank? This article discusses the biology 101 of tank cycling and signs of a biologically matured planted tank vs a tank that is not.

www.2hraquarist.com

 

[Unexpected]

I may miss some deeper meaning in your question @Unexpected , because you know better than I

I would suggest to measure ammonia and nitrites, as you do, and when both are at undetectable low levels you're good to go and start adding livestock while carefully monitoring their health for a couple of days. Water changes as always.


View attachment 5168

Tank cycling and biological maturity in planted aquariums

What is tank cycling for planted tank? This article discusses the biology 101 of tank cycling and signs of a biologically matured planted tank vs a tank that is not.

www.2hraquarist.com

That’s the thing, nothing is showing up. I’d imagine the plant mass, bacteria that rode in and now fed by a good number of pond snails and plant debris is being handled by the cycle (very small cycle). But when is it ready for fish?

 

[Yugang]

That’s the thing, nothing is showing up. I’d imagine the plant mass, bacteria that rode in and now fed by a good number of pond snails and plant debris is being handled by the cycle (very small cycle). But when is it ready for fish?

You did not mention it, but knowing how experienced you are I am sure you also seeded your sump with materials from your other established tank?

I have done several resets of my tank, taking all plants and substrate out then 'rinsed' substrate back in and replanted. In the process I did not touch my filter, and kept my plants in dechlorinated water. A couple of days following the job I would do water changes. I never lost any fish in the process, but I am sure bacteria needed a mini cycle to get back again to their usual vitality.

So it seems a reasonable assumption that when you take enough material from an established tank (plants, filter material, some portion of substate) you may expect a dramatically shortened cycling time?

But when is it ready for fish?

Take some fish from your established tank and monitor them in their new home. When signs of distress, seems unlikely, you may rescue them and bring them back to the other tank?

 

[Unexpected]

You did not mention it, but knowing how experienced you are I am sure you also seeded your sump with materials from your other established tank?

I have done several resets of my tank, taking all plants and substrate out then 'rinsed' substrate back in and replanted. In the process I did not touch my filter, and kept my plants in dechlorinated water. A couple of days following the job I would do water changes. I never lost any fish in the process, but I am sure bacteria needed a mini cycle to get back again to their usual vitality.

So it seems a reasonable assumption that when you take enough material from an established tank (plants, filter material, some portion of substate) you may expect a dramatically shortened cycling time?


Take some fish from your established tank and monitor them in their new home. When signs of distress, seems unlikely, you may rescue them and bring them back to the other tank?

I moved some media, and could add a ton more actually. I think what you say makes a lot of sense. The GDA is going away now so some good things are happening. I will execute what you said and monitor.