Is my tank cycled?

[LostFisher]

Ok I have a 7 gallon take with some substrate, the tank was used for about 1 year and then I had to drain it for a long move. It has now been over a month and I just added water back into it. It has been about 48 hours and both the ammonia and nitrite are testing 0.0.

On another note about 30 seconds after I added water snails started to appear again, I thought that was pretty wild.

LF

 

[vaheelsfan]

No, it's no longer cycled. Your ammonia is reading 0 because there are no fish producing waste in the water, and you nitrites are 0 because the ammonia isn't being converted to anything. I don't know what kind of waste snails make or anything, but I've never heard of anybody cycling a tank with them and I don't think they count against a bioload, so I guess it's very minimal. Your tank will have to be cycled again. That is pretty neat what happened with the snails though

 

[RobUK]

Yeah probally best let it sit for at least a week and then add maybe a goldfish or some small tolerant/hardy fish (danios, neons etc) and then give it at least another week and see were you are.

I guess the snails must have had eggs laying in wait for you to add water LOL what a cheek

 

[anonapersona]

Test and see

If the gravel was slightly damp, the bacteria may still be able to revive.

Fill the tank, dechlorinate, get temp up to regular fish temps. Then add some ammonia (clear, non-sudsy, no fragrances -- the cheapest sort!) and test, add by 1/4 teaspoons until you see it at 4 to 5ppm. Stop.

Retest 24 hours later. If you see a dramatic reduction in the ammonia levels, then the bacteria is still alive and you have a headstart on regaining the cycle. If the ammonia is at zero, then your bacteria is in great shape. Begin testing for nitrites then.

It is a long shot, but the bacteria may still be there and willing to wake up and be functioning in not too long a time.

Test, and record the data.