i just got a 20 Gal long tank about 2 weeks ago. before that i had a 5 gal for about 3 weeks. i used some water and rocks from that in my new tank. the lfs gave me 4 danios to start the cycle. i have no amonia, high nitrites, and low nitrates. the lfs gave me some bio spira and after 3 days nothing happenend. they said no more water changes and come back later this week. does this sound normal? Also when its done cycling i planned on adding plants, two blue rams, and some neon tetras along with the four danios. is there a certian order i should do this. i was gunna get the plants and blue rams right away and then slowly add the tetras. would this work?
stocking fish after cycling
- Thread starter Jpenny84
- Start date
Well, the LFS should have never told you to fishy cycle, but we're retty used to hearing them suggest it on these boards. Also, with BIO-Spira the whole fish load is supposed to be added along with the BIO-Spira. Otherwise, what happens is the beneficial bacteria will die back and you end up with just enough bacteria to support your current occupants (the 4 danios). Then, as you add fish, you'll experience a mini-cycle as the bacteria try to build to actch up to handle the new bioload. Because of this, you have to add very few fish over a longer period of time. Basically, your LFS just wasted a bunch of BIO-Spira for you.
In my opinion, the optimum way to quickly cycle a tank without using seeded media from other tanks is using pure ammonia with BIO-Spira. That way no fish are harmed in case the BIO-Spira was either bad or just took a while to work (it can happen).
At this point, I would say if you added a whole lot of plants (and I do mean a bunch) you could probably add the rams at the same time. Otherwise, I would add only one at a time. Either way, after you add them, wait two weeks and keep testing your water daily while being prepared to do water changes if ammonia and or nitrites are rearing their ugly heads. After that, you could add a few neon at a time spaced two weeks apart to get your school.
Really, I think 8 danios and two rams would be stocked for a 20 gallon long. I'd personally skip the neons altogether.
In my opinion, the optimum way to quickly cycle a tank without using seeded media from other tanks is using pure ammonia with BIO-Spira. That way no fish are harmed in case the BIO-Spira was either bad or just took a while to work (it can happen).
At this point, I would say if you added a whole lot of plants (and I do mean a bunch) you could probably add the rams at the same time. Otherwise, I would add only one at a time. Either way, after you add them, wait two weeks and keep testing your water daily while being prepared to do water changes if ammonia and or nitrites are rearing their ugly heads. After that, you could add a few neon at a time spaced two weeks apart to get your school.
Really, I think 8 danios and two rams would be stocked for a 20 gallon long. I'd personally skip the neons altogether.