is it too late to add filter media from another tank?

**genocidex** · 02-03-2011, 11:06 PM

ive been cycling this tank for just over 10 days now and the ammonia is dropping but no nitrite rise. my friend has this tank hes about to change the filter on. is it too late to use this to speed things along? i should say that his tank has been very poorly kept. he said its been years since he did any sort of a water change (he just adds water when it evaporates) and its infested with algae.

should i use his filter medium, or just leave it?
and its an all in one type of cartrage, how do i use it just throw it in my tank?

**smaug** · 02-03-2011, 11:13 PM

That's not a good idea if the tank was very poorly kept. There could be all sorts of pathogens in the media. But to answer the question,no it wouldn't be to late and it would cycle the tank if the media was added to your existing filter.

**Fisharefriends27** · 02-03-2011, 11:15 PM

I wouldn't. Only use filter media from healthy tanks. Why woild you want to add some filter media from a tank that wasn't going well to just make your tank worse? Better safe than sorry.

Good Luck!

**genocidex** · 02-03-2011, 11:19 PM

thanks thats what i was thinking but it was worth an ask lol

**Lady Hobbs** · 02-04-2011, 12:44 AM

You've only been cycling for 10 days? No wonder your tank is not done cycling. Be calm, take deep breaths and wait it out.

**genocidex** · 02-04-2011, 08:43 AM

i know its not suposed to be done but i was expecting the nitrites to rise by now lol

**Fisharefriends27** · 02-04-2011, 11:58 AM

Remember it will take awhile. Breathe in Breathe out...see that wasn't hard was it? Now just hang in there!

Good Luck!

**silver_ghost** · 02-04-2011, 03:36 PM

I've been waiting over 30 days now! Just about ready to pack it in and start again the old fashioned way.

**smaug** · 02-04-2011, 04:21 PM

Are you cycling with fish?

**silver_ghost** · 02-04-2011, 04:38 PM

Nope, household ammonia (the non-foaming kind). I've got the temperature at 30C (84F) and a hang-of-the back filter making lots of bubbles. Ammonia has been at 4ppm for the past 13 days and was sitting from 0.5-2 before that. My (dechlorinated) water has been cloudy for the past week but nitrites are holding steady at 0.3ppm, as they have been for the last 20 days.

The fishless cycle seemed like the way to go, but if I don't see any nitrite movement in the next week I think I'm going to change all the water and pick up a few zebra danios (which are the fish I want to start with anyway).

I do have a charcoal cartridge in the filter (which I now understand isn't required) that I worry might be interfering with the bacteria, but I havn't been willing to remove any potential bac. habitat.