Go Ahead, Ask Me What My Nitrites Are...LOOK AND RESPOND EVERYONE!

[hnf2k]

0!!!!!...WOOOHOOO! does that mean my tank is finally finished cycling?!?!?!?
well not actually zero, they are like at .15 and my nitrates are at like 20 or 30....30 gallon water change? and i can add fish?!?!?!?!?!?!? SOMEONE RESPOND QUICKLY IM ANXIOUS! ENOUGH PATIENCE. IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY FOR MORE THAN A MONTH!

 

[hnf2k]

hate to say it, but i sincerly doubt that. im going to the lfs tomorrow. having them test my water. then i will do my water change. and im adding fish. i didnt spend a few thousand dollars to watch an empty tank. i waited for it to cycle. now it's time to add fish. i dont have any other friends with a fish tank, so i cant get any handfuls of sand. ill do what everyone told me which is wait till my trites drop, then wait and see that your trates drop, they both did. then do a big water change, and i can add fish.

 

[hnf2k]

dont really have one...my wishlist is far different from my reality. my wish list is made up of a tessy eel, with a lionfish, pufferfish, triggerfish, grouper, and a full cleanup crew...the reality of my tank is going to be a community tank. i want a full cleanup crew, crabs, lobsters, snails, CLEANER SHRIMP, the whole works. i dont know what my first fish should be. i have an ro/di unit, just not hooked up yet though. would it be wise to wait until i have it hooked up to do my first water change? the water in the tank now is tap. what would be a good first fish? NOT A DAMSEL. tang maybe? at what point should i add a cleanup crew? im not very handy at all. i hate working with my hands and doing manual labor so i really dont know when my ro/di unit will be setup. maybe ill hire someone, who knows. im only 18 so i hafta go by my moms rules. and i dont know where to put the ro/di unit either. basement would be ideal for looks, being that nobody would ever see it, but it would be a pain to hafta carry buckets of water throughout my house. any ideas? on anything?

 

[hnf2k]

if you read what i wrote i said that that is my WISH list, BUT MY REALITY IS A COMMUNITY TANK. and you are the only person that has said to wait a few more months after my tank has cycled. so im kinda leaning towards what everyone else says, being that that way i can add fish within a few days. and i waited over a month, and now it's time to add fish.

 

[fshhub]

maybe not months, but I would definitely wait and test for about 2 weeks to make sure it is not only ZERO, but stable too.
some do want to wait wweeks, and this is their choice, and definitely no harm at all, but I would still wait more than a day or 2

 

[bdubbya]

I would deffinently heed the advice given by sammy and fshhub. When you are sure your levels are level my suggestion for a fish would be a true or false percula clown fish. These fish have great personalities. I had one for a while that would nibble on my arm anytime I had it in the tank. HTH. Good luck.

 

[broomer5]

HNF2K
Congrats on your patience so far - but now is a very delicate time.
If you are measuring ANY nitrites, then the tank's not done cycling.
.15 is not zero, and it has to be zero for a period of time before one would say the tank's done cycling.
You've got bacteria now. Enough to convert the ammonia to nitrite. Enough for some of the nitirite to be converted to nitrate.
But it's always best to go slow as everyone has mentioned.
I'd give a couple more weeks if it was my tank as well. Let the tank simmer a little bit - and see how things look in 2-3 weeks.
A month isn't squat - in the life of a maturing tank - especially a larger one such as yours.
I would wait until the nitrites reads ZERO or is immeasurable on your kit. Then add a few clean up janitors and see how they do.
I rarely if ever comment on people's choice of fish - but in this case I will.
I don't think your first fish should be a Tang. Especially if you're not planning to quarantine it. Tangs are notorious for having ick, which I wouldn't want to introduce to a brand new tank. Plus Tangs are not the hardiest first fish choice in my opinion, and there are compatibility issues with future fish addtions as well.
So far most of your questions have been of the mechanics of setting up and cycling a tank. Looks like you're getting close - but still not there quite yet.
Now would be a great time to post your fish wish list - and get a feel for what you want - short term and long term.
You'll be glad you did this - before rushing out and doing the LFS impulse buying.

 

[hnf2k]

golfish, i answered that already....that is my wishlist, but the reality(what my tank is going to actually be)is a community tank. and those fish arent even compatible together.
i will bring my water to the lfs today, have them run some tests and see what they say. another week or so i could wait, months forget it. and i got class in 50 min and im not even dressed yet, gotta run. thanks for the advice, later.

 

[richard rendos]

I would also have to say to wait a little while longer. You didn't spend hundreds of dollars to look at an empty tank....how about a tank full of dead fish? Don't get in a hurry. Patience is truly the most important thing an aquarist can learn.

 

[sal t. nutz]

I understand how you want to add fish. I was the same way. Personally, I disagree with Golfish on this one. I would not wait months more unless you plan to keep adding dead shrimp. If you don't supply the bacteria that have evolved with a food source, they will die off. You need to add A fishto supply your tank with ammonia. However, do not add it until the Nitrites are 0. .15 is not acceptable, they are highly toxic to fish. Also I would not add a Tangfor at least 3 months. Then only a Purple or Yellow or Sohal Tang, as they are the hardiest. I would add a Clownfish. My first fish was a Gold Stripped Maroon Clown, and I coulnd't be happier with that decision.

 

[fishfanny79]

300 gallon...now THAT I would like to see pics of. Even if you just have pics of an empty tank. I wanna see what a 300 looks like...and I thought my 125 was big...

 

[sal t. nutz]

I will definately post pics after the makeover. I bought it used and the stand was in bad shape, and the tank itself was scratched beyond beleif. I am almost done removing all the scratches, and my wife is giving the stand a makeover. When it is finished, I will post pics of all our hard work.

 

[iechy]

HNF2K congrats on your progress. Please consider the advice given though and wait another week or so. I am a VERY impatient person and had to be talked out of something about a month ago and I'm glad I took the advice given here. I have not had any losses except for a few hermits which killed each other adn everything is looking great and progressing nicely. I agree with not making the tang your first choice as well. They are not really the hardiest of fish and could infect your tank and cause you to wait months after it dies to be sure your tank was safe for more fish, and I'm sure at this point that is not what you want. I'd suggest a false perc or two very hardy very entertaining and, in my opinion, a must for every tank. Good luck and hang in there it's very difficult to be disciplined and patient (I struggle everytime I go to to the LFS and want everything they have) but it is worth it in the end

 

[jake22]

Since your tank is so big i would definently add a couple different types of clown fish. The best way to do this is buy one that is big and proabaly female. Then get a bunch of smaller ones. Some clowns that i know that mix well are saddle back, false perc, true perc, sebae, skunk, and i forgot there names but there like sebae except really black. I am not saying to add all of there clowns but maybe add the three that interest you the most.

 

[j21kickster]

He's 18, you advise him to drink a beer? golfish,? j/k

 

[jake22]

?? he said that would be his wishlist not what he would actually get.?? He is going comunity. And by the way i have a pcoket protector is there a problem with them??

 

[buzz]

Ouch...this is getting kind of heated in here...
Advice is what was asked for in the first place...that advice was given by some very knowledgeable reefkeepers.
It's up to you on whether to listen to the advice...just remember that you are the one who asked for it. Consider the experience that backs up that advice.
You're call...either way, hope things work out for you!

 

[clarkiiboi]

Let the trItes go down, it wont be long. Do you have a QT tank cycling at the same time? If no QT then why not start with a small clean up crew and add as needed. Then if you dont want damsels, which I do not blame you, try some chromis or as mentioned the percs. HTH

 

[j21kickster]

I didnt see this fact in any one of the posts, so here it goes.
We all know the urge to put fish in a tank right when the bacteria cycle ends.( Which in your case it really hasent) I also wanted to ask your ammonia levels, i assume they are 0 but you never know. If you put multiple fish in all at once, the bacteria colonies wont initially be able to handle the amount of waste. So starting slow gives them a chance to further populate your tank. Putting many fish in can start another significant cycle with elevated NH3-NH4, then your trites go up and you start the cycle over. The bacteria colonies that are present in your tank are large enough to handle what is in there now( as far as biowaste, which there is very little of) When you add just a few small fish it is easier to the colonies to process this waste quicker and thus grow faster, If you add sever med to large fish it will be overloaded with the new work it must complete. And when it take longer ammonia leveles build as well as nitrites and post a serious threat to your organisms.
So do you see why everyone is saying slow down, there is no point in taking the risk of wasting the fishes life as well as your money if you dont have to. Soak in this advise as well as most other of the advise from previous posts. We have been there, done that, and for some found it out the hard way. Good luck to you.

 

[j21kickster]