Can I add the fish now?

[Jessu]

My tank has been running for 2 days. I tested for ammonia- 0 and pH-was fine. The lady at the pet store was convinced that I did not need to test for nitrite and nitrate. I said I wanted to and she went on how you dont need too, just test the ammonia, she never tests for that, none of the tanks in the shops get tested for it either. When I tested my water about a year ago It did not have any nitrite or nitrate.

Should I add the AquaSafe now. I know I can let it go by itself but I dont have a test for it. It has been 2 days.

Dose hard water effect fish? If so what do you do for it?

How do I know if theres enoughf oxygen in the tank for them. There is little bubbles on the sides and plants.

 

[Importskyline22]

The lady at the pet store was convinced that I did not need to test for nitrite and nitrate. I said I wanted to and she went on how you dont need too, just test the ammonia, she never tests for that, none of the tanks in the shops get tested for it either.

Is this a chain petstore or local?

It IS improtant to test for nitrAte and nitrIte. Cause when the cycle gets going your going to get spikes of all 3 (ammonia, nitrAte and ite) Then eventually they are all gonna reach zero except for nitrAte which should stay around 5.0 ppm.

And only 2 days of running the tank. There is no way it has spiked. The reason you have zero Ammonia is because you dont have any thing to produce the ammonia.

Once you throw a fish in there your Ammo is gonna start going up. Later followed by your NitrAtes and Ites.

Once the nitrItes come back down to zero and the nitrAtes go to around 5.0ppm and your ammonia THEN reads zero. You are cycled and can add your fish.

But you still could add some hardy fish to get your cycle going.

 

[Jessu]

I have 3 facygoldfish who are now in a 5g and the new tank is a 55g. It is a local store. Should I get a fish just to start the cycle? I would want to keep him after and give him a good life also. What type of fish should I ge?. Would a ranchu be okay?. Afterwards would he get along with the three fancy goldfish? And how long after the fish is in should I test the nitrate and nitrite levals.

 

[Importskyline22]

Should I get a fish just to start the cycle?

For a 55G you would need a few fish to get enough ammonia for the bacteria to generate. As far as what fish to recomend i am unsure. Many people advice not to do a fishy cycle. But its the only cycle i have ever done.

I had my 6 rasboras to get mine kicked in. Just keep an eye on your ammonia, If it gets over about .50ppm do a 25% water change.

Would a ranchu be okay?.

Im not familar with that fish so i cant really say. Im sure someone else could give you an answer.

Afterwards would he get along with the three fancy goldfish?

Goldfish are a cold water fish. They wont fit in with most tropical fish because of the temp diff. (My dad has one in his, Its working now, But im sure in the long run its gonna be bad)

And how long after the fish is in should I test the nitrate and nitrite levals.

Personally, When im cycling i check everyday. I check ammo, NitriAte and Ites. I usually dont worry about the Ph. Cause it really dosnt fluctuate too much.

But im sure thats over checking things.

 

[Jessu]

Is the water okay for my fish(and 1 snail) to be in now? There is no fish in the tank. I got the tank a few days ago. The filter and all have been on for 2days. I dont see how I can cycle the water with out adding fish.

 

[Dangerdoll]

additional fish would not be ok for the tank, this was said in another thread. The reason I say this is because of your intention on keeping the fish after the cycle has completed. The best bet is to get them goldfish out of the 5 gallon pronto...therefore in this case, your only choice is to go fishy. Here's a thread you can read on cycling:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81388

 

[Importskyline22]

Is the water okay for my fish(and 1 snail) to be in now?

From what i have heard, Snails are sensitive to ammonia. But i dotn know from experience.

There is no fish in the tank. I got the tank a few days ago. The filter and all have been on for 2days. I dont see how I can cycle the water with out adding fish.

2 days is not enough to cycle a tank. It usually takes about a month.

You can put some cocktail shrimp in to start the ammonia development. Also with a fishless cycle you can add pure ammonia.


This is a good read if you havnt read it already.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

 

[Sploke]

If you want to add fish now, what you can do is take the filter off the 5gal and run it on the 55. If all the fish in your 5gal are moving to the 55, move the filter and all the fish over. Run the filter from the 5gal as well as the filter you have on the 55. Run both for a week or two, and that will allow the bacteria from the smaller filter to populate the new filter, then you can remove the smaller filter. If you do this, you might not even have much of a spike because you're keeping all of the filter media with the fish.

The other option is fishless cycling, where you dose pure ammonia (found in the cleaning section of supermarkets usually) to cycle the tank instead of having a live fish to produce ammonia. Do a search for fishless cycling and you should find all the information you need.

 

[liv2padl]

cycling without adding fish:

http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/misc/fishlesscycling.html

goldfish are not very hardy to the ammonia which will inevitably result from you 'cycling' the tank and thus, i would recommend NOT putting them in the new tank while you're cycling it if you decide to use fish.

neither can 3 fancy goldfish survive in a 5g tank ... thus, you have a dilema.

The lady at the pet store was convinced that I did not need to test for nitrite and nitrate.

you need a new fish store. she doesn't know what side of her bread is buttered.

 

[Importskyline22]

lol dangerdoll. We refernced to the same thing. But differnt....if that makes since .