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I setted up my 55 gallon tank yesterday when can I put my cycling fish in I'm geting live plants today.

IMO. Plant the tank & wait 48 hours before adding the cycling fish.


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Slow down there!

First of all, congrats on being ready to start things up.

A few things:

First, you mentioned you're getting live plants today - what kind, and what kind of set up do you have with regards to lighting and substrate?

Second, and most important, please read as much as you can about cycling before you add fish - if you even want to do a fishy cycle. There are several options open to you here. You can cycle your tank using fish, and thus fish waste, to start the nitrogen cycle. This method is stressful on your fish, as well as on you, since it will probably take the longest to do it this way. You'll need to do frequent water changes to keep ammonia and nitrite below toxic levels to your fish, thereby delaying cycling time. As you've not yet added fish, I would suggest you stay away from the "just fish" cycling method.

Another option relates to how heavily you're going to plant your tank. Check out this link.

It gives instructions on how to set up a planted tank in such a way as to avoid cycling all together. If you're going to plant your tank right away and if you are committed to spending on and maintaining a decently planted tank, this may be a good method for you.

There's also fishless cycling, which requires adding ammonia and starter bacteria (products called "new and improved cycle" or bio-spira) to the tank before anything else to kick start the nitrogen cycle.

In any case the tank wont cycle until you add a source of ammonia to the tank. Depending on how many and what kinds of plants you add, you may be able to slowly start building up your fish stock right away without there being noticable ammonia and nitrite spikes.

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Back in the saddle!