cycled filter left for a few days.

[accordztech]

I had my tank setup with this 2217 eheim filter. I went to setup a new tank and transfered this to it. I had to get another tank because of a defect. But I just let the filter sit there. After a few days I opened it up and it had a slight smell. It wasnt bad. Just smelt like a towel that hasnt been cleaned after it was wet.

So I shoved a air pump in it for the last few days.

Is this safe for my new setup? Or will the bad bacteria just kill anything in my tank?

[rodcuda]

It is hard to say how bad your bb got hit. I would just clean it before using it. I'm not saying to nuke it or anything, just clean it to remove any nasty water or dead bacteria. I bet it will bounce back and there will be a small cycle.

[GeToChKn]

I've left one sit for a day or two and didn't seem to have a problem. I think at some point, bacteria dies, that gives the other bacteria food to live on and reproduce and gives them some life. lol. They can be more resilient than people give them credit for. I know a few people on turtle forums that have a 150gal stock tub with like 3-4 canisters on it that drain the tub and clean and the filters with a hose with tap water and never have a problem with a cycle. Everyone's mileage will vary of course.

[EnigmaticGuppy92]

it shud b ok but as mentioned expect a mini cycle

[accordztech]

Oh that's good.

So its not bacteria that will wipe my tank out?

[accordztech]

well...it seems that my good bacteria is gone. I had my tank running with ADA soil for over a week, still have ammona, no nitrates, and no nitries. The ada soil was used.

Oddly my ph is still at 7.6.

Maybe ill get some biospira or something.

[Diana]

Biospira is not available for fresh water tanks any more.
Look for Nitrospira in the ingredients. Several products have the right species of bacteria.

Dr. Tim's One and Only
Tetra Safe Start
Microbe Lift's Nite Out II

and perhaps some others.

[accordztech]

Well diana, im going to try your suggustions. Hopefully I can find some near by.

My tank is STILL not cycling. ammonia is still at .50 and no nitrates or nitries. I even put a HUGE sponge filter from my other tank and risked snail transfering to help it cycle...and STILL NOTHING.

I thought this ADA stuff is loaded with ammonia.

[Diana]

Most ADA products do indeed add a lot of ammonia to the water.
Even a heavily planted tank cannot keep up with the ADA soils.

That the ammonia is only showing .5 ppm suggests that perhaps the test kit is not accurate.

However, even .5 ppm ammonia is enough to be feeding the bacteria, and I would expect to see some nitrite in just a few days to a week. Nitrate in about 2 weeks.

If neither nitrite nor nitrate are showing up, then there is something wrong.

These bacteria thrive under these conditions:

High oxygen (that is what kills them in a shut-off canister- no oxygen)
Some carbonate. KH at least 3 German degrees of hardness. (ADA substrates are known to remove the KH from the water)
No toxins like fish meds, H2O2, chlorine, chloramine...
Ammonia and nitrite not higher than 5 ppm.

[accordztech]

Yeah I used giggle at people who cant cycle tanks because I cycled my tanks easilly. But now im pissed cause nothing is happening. I use the API drop test kit, and I even took it to the LFS and they used those innacurate strips to confirm my results.

Its been almost a month and im still stuck at square 1. I threw some shrimp in there...only 1 died that I can see. If I have time tomorrow im going to do a 50/50 swap of my bio media from my other tank.

[Diana]

I have cycled quite a few tanks by sharing media. Do not take so much that the established tank has any problems.
I have taken as much as 25% of the media from the filter of an established tank. Remember that there are bacteria on all the surfaces in the tank as well as the filter, so that 25% of the filter media might really only be about 1/8 of the bacteria population. That seems to work out OK. The remaining bacteria catch up really quick.

[accordztech]

I confirmed that my test kit works by testing my other tank thats cycled.

and I have had a spong filter in there for 2 weeks from my other tank


Could it just be that the plants are absorbing everything?

[Diana]

That sure can happen. If so, then the tank is cycled!
Bio filter can be plants, nitrifying bacteria or both.