The Tropical Tank

Edd · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:16 pm Post subject: New Tank

Hi to all, need a bit of advise as to weather my tank is ready.
I set it up about a week ago using some of the water from my other tank and have also been using filter aid to help speed things up.
Have done water tests 2 days running and both days have been the same.
I would like to know if you think it would be safe to put a few fish in yet.

water test results are:
Nitrate = 0-5.0
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
ph = 7.6

If I am correct in thinking that with those results I can put some fish in, all advise good or bad is welcome.
Thanks in advance
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grumpysteve · Member Joined: 07 Aug 2009 Posts: 160 Location: kent

have you been adding anything to create ammonia/feed the bacteria? the signs of nitrate might be from the water from the other tank, but may not mean you have sufficient bacteria to cope with the ammonia and nitrite. water itself doesn't carry any of the beneficial bacteria.

did you add any squeezes from your other filter media? try putting in some fish food, give it a few days to rot, then test the water again. or add a little bit of pure ammonia.
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Edd · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

Yes sorry forgot to put that I put some brine shrimp in and a block of frozan blood worm when I first set it up. Then some flake food about 3 days ago.
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grumpysteve · Member Joined: 07 Aug 2009 Posts: 160 Location: kent

in that case it should be ok to add a few fish. but personally i would stock the tank nice and slowly as it hasn't been fishlessly cycles in the way most people do it
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Apistogramma · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:48 am Post subject:

Either you got plenty of bacteria in...somehow...or your tank hasn't really begun to cycle yet - although with that amount of food going into the tank I would have expected to see ammonia by now if there was no bacteria population.
However if you have another tank just move a bit of mature filter media into the new filter. Cut a piece off to make it fit if you have to. Ready cycled...
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pandacory · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:58 am Post subject:

Another way to do cycle your tank is to give the media from your old tank a good squeeze into the new tank. The water will turn merky for a while but will clear within 24 hours ready for you to add fish.
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stuart

2x30ltr tanks

1x160ltr tank

permission granted for the big 1 now need the readies to get it lol