New tank chemical readings and advice please

[OgreMkV]

OK, I started the xP3 today. It must have taken two gallons out of the tank. It's quiet. Not totally quiet, but good enough when it's in the cabinet with the door closed.

It is very powerful though. With the dispersion head near the top of the tank and the nozzles pointed down, the outflow was digging a hole in the sand. I rotated the dispersion tube 90 degrees so the outflow hits the back glass of the tank. That seemed to help. Hopefully, the water will clear noticeably in the next few days.

Chem readings:
Ammonia .25
Nitrite: .05
pH: 6.2 (which is about what the other tank is. Our water is like that.)

This seems to say that I've kind of started the cycle already. I have no fishes now, but I took the filter out of the other tank and just dropped in the bottom of this one.

Now, dumb me, I left the rest of the test kit in the lab when I brought this stuff home. I don't know the hardness or alkalinity of this tank, but it should be pretty close to the one at work. Hardness is good (120ish), but the alkalinity is low.

Any ideas on bringing the alkalinity up... is that what the crushed coral in the filter is for? What about the cycle info? Should I wait to bring in the fishes (3 Zebra Danios)?

Now, I know some are big into the fishless cycle, but I have less than two weeks to get this tank ready for 3 Zebras and 4 Neons. Advice?

 

[cohazard]

Crushed coral will increase alkalinity, but most experienced enthusiasts will advise that you not tamper with the chemistry of your tank, beyond what comes from your tap.

The thinking behind this is that using chemicals and other methods can lead to swings in PH which will be detrimental to your fish.

Just be sure to acclimate your fish carefully, and beyond that you don't need to worry much.

Besides, an acidic ph is what these fish would prefer anyways.


If you recently transfered established media to this aquarium, monitor the params on a daily basis, and the ammonia and nitrite should drop fairly soon, well within your timeframe.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

are you adding ammonia?

 

[OgreMkV]

I'm not adding ammonia, I dopped a few shrimp pellets in. That's it. That's why I was planning on bring the 3 Zebras in on Wednesday.

 

[OgreMkV]

Ammonia: .25
Nitrite: .2