AM i Ready for fish??

[ksh_cx]

Ok... Its been 3 1/2 weeks now and i think my cycl just ended. last week everything went up and i just tested today and everything is pretty much close to zero for nitrate. nitrite and amonia is zero. am i ready to put fish in? just curious. also all the green algea is now gone, is that good?

 

[sepulatian]

What did you use to cycle the tank? How high did the ammonia and nitrite spike?

 

[nycbob]

3 weeks should be sufficient. add 1 fish at a time, or 2 small one. make sure they r hardy to begin with. wait another 3-4 weeks b4 adding more fish.

 

[florida joe]

i think my cycl just ended.
Hopefully it has come full circle and will continue

 

[locoyo386]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3071801
Hopefully it has come full circle and will continue
lol

 

[mkroher]

throw some mollies in there.. see how they do!
*hides*

 

[brokendeck]

I would wait another day or 2 then test water again to make sure. Add a hardy fish. Clowns would be a good starter fish!

 

[sepulatian]

Rather than just throwing in some "hardy" fish, that will have a better chance of living with their gills burning than others might, just ghost feed the tank and see how quickly the ammonia comes down.

 

[nw2salt08]

+1 No sense in having your fish suffer from the effects of a cycle if they don't have to. Definitely ghost feed and see where you are with it.

 

[locoyo386]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/3072059
Rather than just throwing in some "hardy" fish, that will have a better chance of living with their gills burning than others might, just ghost feed the tank and see how quickly the ammonia comes down.
If he ghost feeds, how does that compare to the bioload of a fish? I mean he is giong to put a fish and feed it. If he ghost feeds he is still missing the bioload of the fish, thus he is putting less ammonia than what will be there once the fish is in.
The initial level of ammonia that the tank is cycled with will determine the initial bioload that can be handled by the nitrifying bacteria. Personally I think that the initial ammonia used to cycle a tank will be enough to convert the ammonia that a small (1"-2") fish can produce including the feeding. Thus if there is no more (undetectable) nitrites, than he is ready for a small fish.

 

[hlcroghan]

Because then you know you won't kill and/or cause harm to the animal that you buy. It is a moral thing. Some people don't care, some do. I, personally, would give it another couple days after adding a little food. Test and then if you are 0 with everything, you are good to go!

 

[locoyo386]

Originally Posted by hlcroghan
http:///forum/post/3072158
Because then you know you won't kill and/or cause harm to the animal that you buy. It is a moral thing. Some people don't care, some do. I, personally, would give it another couple days after adding a little food. Test and then if you are 0 with everything, you are good to go!
I do not think it's an issue of morality but rather an issue of chemistry. Why would the ammonia be pressent if the bacteria can convert fast enough? How big of a bioload is the fish going to introduce vs the initial rate of ammonia?

 

[nycbob]

the cycling has already occured. there isnt a need really to shrimp-feed the tank imo. everyone new in this hobby should start off with only hardy fish anyway. for example, one should never add a flame angelfish to a new tank, even if the tank has been ghost-fed. more sensitive fish should be added only when the tank has been up for least 3-4 months, without any fish dying.

 

[hlcroghan]

Originally Posted by locoyo386
http:///forum/post/3072177
I do not think it's an issue of morality but rather an issue of chemistry. Why would the ammonia be pressent if the bacteria can convert fast enough? How big of a bioload is the fish going to introduce vs the initial rate of ammonia?
Because from what the OP says (s)he is not sure if the cycle is completely done. If (s)he puts some food in there and it does not cause a spike then (s)he can be sure. If not, then (s)he is just taking a risk. Either way the tank will get cycled. Just has to decide how patient (s)he is or isn't.

 

[ksh_cx]

ok... i just tested the water again today and everything is looking good, i tested the water myself then took it to three lfs to test... and then to another friend to test... so i just bought a clown fish and three hermits.... hopefully everything turns out good.... also, another question is should do i really need a anenome for the clown?

 

[arvins]

Nope, your clown will do just fine without one. As new as your tank is you don't want to put one in yet anyway and your clowns will find something else to host such as coral, cords, mag floats etc. Mine host a rock

.
Also you may want to grab some snails as a part of your clean up crew to go with your hermits. They eat more of the yucky stuff

 

[ksh_cx]

cool...thanks you guys...i just bought some snails to add in....seems like the fishs are doing fine too. I still need to get a protein skimmer( thinking about building one) does anyone have any advice to give. im thinking about counter-current with airpump and air stone.