First fish...how soon ?

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scarysdad

scarysdad

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Mar 22, 2005
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My newly set up FOWLR tank is nearing the end of its cycle(NO2 down to 0.25 today...was >5 2 days ago)....now how soon can I start to introduce my first fish was looking at getting 2 juvie (~3") fish to start of...

From what I have read elsewhere it would seem that just after cycling the usual order of things is to add a 'clean up crew' of inverts....as I plan on keeping a trigger inverts are out so I'll have to go straight to fish...

Any input welcome...don't want to go too fast....
 
what size tank is this? it seems like the cycling is just about through so if you would like you could add a few starting fish you would be able to. I would say wait a few more days. has the brownish algae started showing up on your glass and sand?
 
smurph1415;1939975; said:
what size tank is this? it seems like the cycling is just about through so if you would like you could add a few starting fish you would be able to. I would say wait a few more days. has the brownish algae started showing up on your glass and stand?
Click to expand...
brownish algae=diatom algae...
 
Thanks for that Smurph.....starting to see the diatoms on my LR should be minimal as I am running a UV sterilizer....

Getting some conflicting advice tho' over on RCentral I was advised to wait another 2 weeks...????
 
well 2 weeks would be better. but you could do it in a little as a few days..

where exactly is your nitrite reading? if it's under .25ppm you'd be fine adding hardy fish... RC tends to go with 0ppm and then wait some more... not a bad thing.. just more conservative
 
i agree as well. most of the time, its the improved possibilities that the fish will be fine with 0 being the end result of your readings. Id say wait 3 more days, do a small water change and then add a fish or two, depending on your tank size
 
Thanks guys....was never going to add any fish until NO2 was at 0 for a couple of days....I just thought a couple of weeks was a bit extreme as all the beneficial bacteria I have cultured would have become algae food by that time with no ammonia to process....

my tank was built to a custom size for my narrow upstairs hallway and measures 72" long x 20" high by 12" wide ~ 75 gallons....
 
I would wait till the trites go to zero and then do a water change of 20%, you should also have a nitrate reading by now. Truth is with a water change you are probably ready to go now, but by waiting till the nitrites hit 0 you are ensuring the bacteria are processing everything in the tank, by adding fish you are in theory adding more of a load to a system that can't handle what it has now.

Good luck with the tank
 
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