Seeding new tank with cycled Seachem Matrix question???

[joec]

I set up and cycled a 15G that will act as my QT tank, It's been cycled for a few weeks and now has 5 trochus snails and a skunk shrimp. I'm supplementing the snails food with algae wafers util I get more of an algae bloom. All animals are doing well.

My 53G DT will be ready to add water in a 2-3 weeks. I cycled the 15G QT with 2L of pond matrix in a media bag inside the tank and a HOB power filter. My intent is to seed the new DT with the 2L of presumably cycled pond matrix and place it in the sump of the new 53 G DT.

Will the new 53G essentially be cycled at that time or maybe not? If maybe not, what would be a good way to verify whether it is, how should I proceed? I would like to put the trochus and shrimp into the new DT asap, and then QT my first fish in the 15G, etc.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’d test it with an ammonia dose of about 2 ppm and see how fast it declines. [emoji3]