Water Params - When Will it Be OK to Add Fish?

[DGalt]

So I simultaneously switched my substrate to ADA aquasoil and changed my filter, creating a wonderful ammonia spike in my tank. Needless to say, all of my fish have been moved to another tank with an old filter.

It's been about 2 weeks. My current water params are:
0.5ppm ammonia
0ppm nitrites
7.5ppm nitrates

which I find rather odd. Maybe it's because the aquasoil is continually kicking out ammonia, but I don't quite understand why I'm seeing nitrates and ammonia without any nitrites.

Should I just wait until the ammonia reads 0? I don't really know how much longer I want to keep the fish in the tank they're in (I had to move all the inhabitants of my 15g into a 10g....nothing else available unfortunately :headshake2.

 

[rocker92]

when the ammo. goes down slowly start adding fish, do it over a couple days or even a week or 2 if need be. constantly moniter your ammo. nitrite and nitrate readings and if the ammo. goes up or the nitrate goes up do a 30-50% water change.

if you take it easy and do it slowly all your fish should suvrive.

 

[DGalt]

well the ammonia certainly has gone down. it started at about 1.5-2ppm. it's been sitting about 0.5ppm for a couple days now though

 

[jm1212]

dont add any fish until your ammonia is at 0. if aquasoil is supposed to release ammonia, and your ammonia has been constant, then your filtration is adapting.

 

[jpappy789]

There may have been something decaying under your old substrate that was disturbed and released into the water. Or your tap has some ammonia.

Either way I would wait until the bacteria is at full force...you can always seed from your established tank.