Just setup my 75 gal

[bigmixx]

I'm an old newbie that just got back into fish keeping and I setup my 75 gal yesterday. Added some gravel, few plants, fake driftwood, and some clay pots to provide some hiding places. I'm using an Emp 400 for filtration. I filled the tank and added some Prime for the chlorine/choramine. I waited about 30 mins and tested the water:

Ph: 6.8-7.0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0

I'm thinking I must've done something wrong so I tested it again. Same exact readings. I still not convinced so I left my wife test the water. She's a Lab Chemist and she's used to doing tests and stuff like this. She tested it again and you guessed it, same numbers. So, I went to my LFS and picked up a package of Bio-Spira, 2 baby convicts, 1 baby GT and 1 baby JD. Brought it home, added the Bio-Spira while the bag was floating and then I added the fish. I waited about 45 mins after added the Spira and Fish and tested the water again:

Ph: 7.0-7.2
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Ammonia: 0

The fish all seem to be doing fine. Swimming around, learning their new home. I'm going to test it again in a couple of hours and see what I get. What do you think? Everything OK with the tank?

 

[Swimfins]

Right now things are fine, but you'll need to monitor for the next 72 hours.
I'm wondering if you have enough bioload to sustain the bio-spira (amonia wise) for a 72g. I'd feed twice a day to create some amonia and watch for an amonia spike. If it spikes in the next 72 hours or so, (which it shouldn't)waterchange as necessary to reduce it.
With the bio-spira your not supposed to waterchange for a week or so, so avoid this if possible.

As I understand it, with bio-spira you are supposed to add your full fish-load at the same time. If you plan to add more fish to the tank, you might want to do it now.

 

[bigmixx]

Right now things are fine, but you'll need to monitor for the next 72 hours.
I'm wondering if you have enough bioload to sustain the bio-spira (amonia wise) for a 72g. I'd feed twice a day to create some amonia and watch for an amonia spike. If it spikes in the next 72 hours or so, (which it shouldn't)waterchange as necessary to reduce it.
With the bio-spira your not supposed to waterchange for a week or so, so avoid this if possible.

As I understand it, with bio-spira you are supposed to add your full fish-load at the same time. If you plan to add more fish to the tank, you might want to do it now.

I was wondering if I had enough fish to create enough ammonia for the bio-spira. I may go ahead and add a couple more fish. I fed them last night and I'm about to feed them again when my wife wakes up. She likes to watch them eat. I just tested again and levels are still the same. Ph is about 6.8-7.0 and Ni,Na,Amm are all zero.

 

[homerHart]

Bigmixx, why were you so surprised to have values of 0 and a neutral Ph?
Isn't that what it should be without fish in there at the beginning of the cycle?
Oh and swimfins - had a look at the pic of your tank - really nicely planted.

 

[Swimfins]

Thanks Homer I'm trying.
Yes, I'd say go ahead and add s'more fishies to the pot.

Don't worry the ph is fine. Keep an eye on amonia and NItrites. If you see either, waterchange. If you see nitrItes its ok, its not so bad as amonia, Amonia should always be 0. You can add salt, (I can't rememer the recipe ) to help with nitrites. I think its a tablespoon per gallon. But ONLY if you see higher nitrites.