I transferred all my live rock and filter media with a cup of my old sand into my new tank from my old tank. 29 to 29 gallon. The rocks were out of water for probably maybe a minute. The tank has been running with everything for about 2 days. I thought I would have had an instant cycle but my API test kit shows .25 maybe .50 ammonia with 0 nitrites and 5-10 nitrates. Why is there ammonia in the tank without nitrites? I'm thinking the ammonia present is from the die off of the live rock. My old tank had been up for over a year+. Not sure what to do.
Seeded tank still has ammonia?
- Thread starter Fishboy15
- Start date
Stirring things up and moving all the rock could have caused a little cycle perhaps. If you have ammonia and nitrate but no nitrite, it could be that the ammonia has not processed into nitrite yet. I wouldn't expect much of a cycle, and I think it will go quickly. Did you use the same water? It could have had nitrate in it from your previous set up if so. If you have any livestock, I'd suggest a partial water change. Otherwise, wait it out and let it finish cycling.
I used brand new tap water, I didn't transfer any old water from the old tank. I brought over he sponge filters though so maybe that's where the nitrates are coming from. The fish are in the old tank still running but without the rock and filter. The sand is still there with a power head and (air stones to help). If you are correct with the ammonia hasn't processed into nitrite, the little ammonia I do have shouldn't last long and should convert to nitrites to nitrate rather quickly, maybe even skipping and not even seeing the nitrite on a test kit, right? I tested yesterday, my ammonia was .50-1.0 with 0 nitrite. Today it's .25-.50 but I think it's .25. So hopefully tomorrow the greenish tint will turn yellowish. I hope my other fish in the other tank will be okay for a little bit. For sure will test both tanks daily.
