Why does my IDLE tank have bad levels...?

[FordForever]

My 30G sat for 2 weeks with nothing, then for the past two weeks I have been running gravel from my established 10 gallon in the filter. My 10 gallon has perfect levels... (0,0 and a little over 5 nitri). I just did a water change in my 10G and cleaned the filter in that bucket of water...Then I dumped that water into my 30G. I have been replacing the gravel in my 30G with fresh from the 10G for 2 weeks now.

The 30G reads 0amm, SUPER DARK purple nitrI, and 10 NitR....

I have had it with searching for special ammonia, I just need to get these levels safe for my zebras so I can cycle this tank. Why would the levels in the 30G be this bad? Is possible it has spiked/cycled with the gravel and water I have been adding?

Thanks for the help!

[skinni]

its reading funny because you are adding water from your other tank. See there may not show any nitrite in your other tank but thats becuase the bacteria is converting it, when you move the water over to a tank with no bacteria then there is no way to convert it therefore it begins to show up on testing, Without a steady flow of ammonia your bacteria will never get established. If you cant find the correct ammonia to add you really have no choice but to do a fish cycle. This isnt that bad of a deal, just make sure you keep up with water changes and have something such as ammo lock to detoxify the ammonia.

[Wild Turkey]

you could have also brought some decaying matter from the other tank with the gravel, it rots, and produces ammonia. I dont recommend using ammonia reducing chemicals though alot of these just mess with your readings.

Also, if you cant find the proper ammonia, you can order it online or try and find bacteria cultures. Try to avoid cycling with fish and do it only as a last resort. good luck!

[FordForever]

Thank you for the response, that makes sense. What should I do to lower the readings to safe fishey level?

[skinni]

water changes

[FordForever]

I do believe there was decaying matter brought from my other tank because this was the water that I vacuumed out while cleaning the gravel.

[skinni]

oh yeah that was prolly not a real good idea, From what i understand its best to use some type of decor or gravel and try to avoid using water from another tank. The decor or substrate will have the bacteria on or in it. If i recall correctly the bacteria you need will not really be suspended in the water.

[FordForever]

I would probably have better luck if I just move the new filter to the 10G how long will it take to grow the good bacteria? I have a 10G with a small HOB wisper. My 30G has an aquaclear 50...Will this work since I can not find the ammonia I need? How long will it take?

[MandyL]

It will take about 2-3 weeks for the new filter to get established in the old tank. At that point, move it to your new tank and add fish immediately so the lack of ammonia doesn't starve your bacteria off.

[FordForever]

It will take about 2-3 weeks for the new filter to get established in the old tank. At that point, move it to your new tank and add fish immediately so the lack of ammonia doesn't starve your bacteria off.

Allrighty, this is my next best bet since I have no ammonia. Should I set this filter on its minimum flow setting or max? When I remove the filter from the 10G will it affect the tank at all? The current filter has supported the bioload perfectly in the 10g?

[MandyL]

I've never heard of it being a problem when moving the new filter to its tank. Personally I would put it on low flow since it's a large filter for a small tank.

[FordForever]

Thanks for the help, my little filter on the 10G is on the back right corner. Where should I locate this larger filter, does it matter?

[skinni]

pretty much anywhere i would think.