Not seeded?

[Steve]

Need some help I set up a tank (20gL) for my holding lab.  I "seeded" it with media from my 55 that is going for 8 months now. I dosed it with amonia 1ppm last night....tested it this eveing, still 1ppm....even with the media from my 1 yr cycled tank. Why is that?? makes no sense to me?

[linuxrulesusa]

If you used Prime in the last 24 hrs it can throw off your readings.  Is that a possibility?

[Steve]

No Prime, just normal dechlorinator is all so far.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

I know this is not what was asked but Smart Start Complete will cycle a tank in 24 hours...

Going back to your original question:  I believe it takes some time for the seeded bacteria to multiply in a new tank, give it another day or two and you should be good.  Try moving some decorations from the other tank into this one, might speed up the process...

Good Luck !

[Regalblue]

Do a 50% WC on the main tank,  add your dechlor,  stir up the substrate making the water cloudy, use the cloudy water to do a 75% WC on the newly setup tank. Or clean out your main filter media in the new tank.

[linuxrulesusa]

No Prime, just normal dechlorinator is all so far.

Sorry, should have said has the water been dechlorinated in the last 24 hours...I know Prime especially but I'm sure some of the other brands will also throw off the ammonia reading.

Blair's suggestion is probably your cheapest option.   You want that brown cloudy water that comes off the sponge/media in your main filter, as I'm sure you know.

If you wanted to buy a bottle, Tetra SafeStart or TLC StartSmart both work well.  Might even be a free sample floating around still.

[African cichlid Keeper]

No Prime, just normal dechlorinator is all so far.

Sorry, should have said has the water been dechlorinated in the last 24 hours...I know Prime especially but I'm sure some of the other brands will also throw off the ammonia reading.

Blair's suggestion is probably your cheapest option.   You want that brown cloudy water that comes off the sponge/media in your main filter, as I'm sure you know.

If you wanted to buy a bottle, Tetra SafeStart or TLC StartSmart both work well.  Might even be a free sample floating around still.

I agree I use Tetra SafeStart.

[Steve]

Looks like it's almost there now. I had dosed it with 1ppm ammonia on Monday night and now this afternoon it is under/around .5ppm so I am thinking by tomorrow it should be good to go.