FishProfiles.com Message Forums

My cycle is over and my nitrites and ammonia levels are oppm. Do I need to do a water change or can I put the fish in rite away?

Hi,
Once the cycle is complete, you can add the fish.
Depending upon the size of the tank and the size
and quantity of the fish, remember that the tank
was cycled on just so much ammonia. If you add
more fish that supply even more ammonia than what
you started with then the tank will "mini cycle"
as the bacterial colonies increase in size to
make up for the increased fish waste.

Don't wait too long to put the fish in the tank
either, as the bacteria needs the fish waste to
live. Don't starve them after so carefully
cultivating them.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Well I have to set-up the tank and the fish I want (dwarf puffers) wont be coming into the store for another 2 weeks. So will it be ok if I wait a couple weeks. Are there steps I can take to keep feeding the bacteria?

I assume you've been fishless cycling? Just keep putting in ammonia at some small-but-constant level, say up to 0.5 ppm per day, to maintain the colony. And at the end of the two weeks you will probably need to do a large water change, because the tank will be producing nitrates all this time.