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[shookONES]

Alright, some background.

I setup my 120 about two weeks ago. Prior to filling it and running the filter (FX5), I had the majority of the filter media in an established tank to seed it with bacteria. This was a week before it went into the filter, which was setup last Thursday.

On that same Thursday, I added my 3 pbass and marbled sailfin cat to the tank. All of them are doing fine and eating like pigs, fyi.

So, here I sit. I am planning on getting rays this weekend. My water tests caused me to raise an eyebrow...pH is 7.0-7.2, ammonia is slight, nitrites/ates are zero. Should I just do a waterchange tomorrow? I think I avoided a tedious cycle and the slight ammonia may be from fish waste and misc crap. What is your take?

 

[rallysman]

wait on the water change.
let the amonia go to 0, and wait for your nirtates to raise before changing water.

 

[oops88]

any ammonia is a sign that your bacteria bed is immature.

wait at least one week prior to adding any more fishes.

 

[shookONES]

Forgive me, as its been years since I've setup a new tank, especially one this big. I've also noticed that the water is slightly cloudy. Can this be attributed to the 'new tank' syndrome?

I guess I will play it safe and wait another week at least. Rays aren't cheap and aren't tolerate to sub par water conditions, so better safe than sorry.

 

[messiner]

wait until the bacteria kicks the ammonia. rays are too fragile to risk it.