adding fish after 1 week?

[gallatea]

I purposely told the fishman to give the tiniest 2 fish they had. They are about a half inch each. You consider that 'overstocking'?
I guess for me putting anything in it when you know the bio filter isn't matured is stupid. I guess in that sense it's over stocked. Yeah, I'm stupid but I had help ..someone bought them for me. I didn't want fish so soon, but I gave in. In a way it is cruel..I never thought of it that way. They are doing well, but perhaps it's tougher on their bodies living in a new tank.
I don't think a week is enough to say it's cycled. I wouldn't even bother testing because it's just common sense that it isn't cycled. Maybe after 6 weeks granted you're not putting in animals. Just a waste money to think your tank is mature after a week no matter what you do with it or how much money you've spent on equipment, chemicals and testing kits.
I guess if something was going wrong (fish were dying) I'd test. But like I said, I've had tanks, never tested them, didn't have fishes dying before, BUT I was a fanatic about having the biggest overkill bio filter I could find, having proper substrates, only having 1 or 2 fish the proper size for my gallons and so on. I also did water changes. My water and glass were always crystal, but I think it's because I always had the proper equipment and kept it clean and didn't have too many fish. I've seen people buy a lamp at walmarts and set it next to the tank for 'lighting' and expect things to be ok and then they are surprised when it's filthy and the creatures aren't doing well. I guess those are people that need a test kit to prove it to them that yeah, you have to buy proper eqiupment and you can't have a walmart el cheapo filter and a walmart light bulb and expect things to be ok. Sorry walmart if you're reading this.

 

[gallatea]

Also..they test the barrier reef because they are worried about it. Not that we are leaving it alone and all of the suddent here are problems. We humans mess with it, over harvest it, pollute it..and then out come the test kits. If we just left it alone ....well I guess there would still be someone out there wanting to test it, just for the sake of studying it to see how it works. OK....Test kits rule..are you happy?

 

[ophiura]

Whoa, no need to be snippy! What you do works for you but is not the best advice for people who don't have the experience, or "over filter" or do water changes etc. I said you were NOT overstocking (but that you admitted to this in the past which caused a problem). Light stocking, choice of fish, set up, water changes, etc was key to why your current situation works for you. Many people do not do this, which is why there are often big problems.
I agree that putting anything in without knowing the biofilter is mature IS stupid but how do you know without testing? That is kind of the point of this thread. I would push the tank with some food or something to see if the ammonia spikes at all. If it doesn't, I would say the biofilter may be OK. I don't know specs on the tank...cured LR or not, for example. I guess for me, and many others, knowing when the biofilter is matured is measured by following a particular pattern of water chemistry, and not just assuming that it is a set period of time.

 

[sw65galma]

Originally posted by gallatea
that is why I said if things are set up right with the proper lighting, bedding, water changes, etc...I had tanks before for years..never a problem mr. test kit. Obviously you check the spec. gravity when you do water additions and add salt accordingly. You have proper mechanical and biological filtration, etc.etc..
...don't buy into the pet supplies industry so easily..they are always ready and waiting to sell, sell, sell and put the fear of god in you if you don't use their new and improved product . Leaving things to cycle naturally with the proper substrates and NOT over crowding your tank with fishes that pollute and set off the chemistry is key...no one uses a 'test kit' on the great barrier reef last I heard...Mainly, my personal opinion is to just let the tank cycle for 6 weeks when it's new and don't add fish. Just be patient. I got my 3 dollar fish, but like I said, it would be no great risk, I've done it before, but if you're going to get expensive creatures, just wait 6 weeks and let it cycle naturally.
So you take the reactionary approach...when the fish die or look like they are dying you do something...I guess there is nothing wrong with that...
I like the ProActive approach. If I see my PH dropping, I can react appropiately...oppossed to waiting till the fish look sickly.
To each his own I guess..