New 75 gallon (is it ready?)

[Finthusiast]

I have tested my water today and its now showing 0 nitrates and 20-40 ppm nitrates. The ammonia seems to be 0 but it could have a tiny reading its hard to tell. My question is now that I am reading 0 nitrites and a high level of nitrates is this tank ready for my fish? What do I need to watch for after I add my fish to make sure he is safe? Like how would I reduce ammonia or nitrates if they are raising again? Should this even be a worry or is that not common with a cycled tank? Thanks for reading and any info is appreciated!

 

[Eclipse390]

Sounds like you're nearing the end of your cycle! One big water change - and SLOWLY begin adding stock. Then just keep check the water to make sure the bacteria is keeping up with the newly added fish

 

[Rocksor]

How did you cycle your tank?

 

[Finthusiast]

Just added water and then added some plants and some biomedia from my currently cycled tank and some ghost shrimps and checked every other day till no nitrites

 

[Rocksor]

Yeah, you're going to have to stock slowly since I don't see those ghost shrimps producing a lot of ammonia in a 75g. Monitor ammonia and nitrite everyday for the next 3-4 months as you stock with fish.

 

[Finthusiast]

What do I do if I see a level of ammonia or nitrite? I am only adding one fish who is atm only about 3 inches grows to be about 13 after many years and very aggressive so for now alone till I learn who can join the scene lol.

 

[Rocksor]

What do I do if I see a level of ammonia or nitrite? I am only adding one fish who is atm only about 3 inches grows to be about 13 after many years and very aggressive so for now alone till I learn who can join the scene lol.

Do enough of a water change to keep ammonia below 0.25ppm. I would get Seachem Ammonia Alert, and it will tell you when you have toxic ammonia present.

 

[Finthusiast]

should I remove the ghost shrimp from the tank? I feed my fish ghost shrimp so will he eat them all and get ill from eating too much?

 

[Eclipse390]

should I remove the ghost shrimp from the tank? I feed my fish ghost shrimp so will he eat them all and get ill from eating too much?

You can leave them in the tank as a food source, will give him something to hunt. How many do you have in there? If you add decor/plants - they'll have somewhere to hide from your fish. What kind of fish is going in there?

 

[Finthusiast]

Theres more than 20 in there currently and as far as places to hide only a few plants and a sponge filter but Im going to be adding some rocks and more plants before adding my fish so I will hold off on adding him for now and keep testing water. Should I start doing water changes now even with no fish? Or is that not recommended?
Edit: mayan cichlid is type of fish