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I've just set up my 18 gallon aquarium and have added 2 swordtails and 2 mollies after 4 weeks of the aquarium maturing. how long do i have to wait until i can add my next bunch of fish. and also, how many can i add in my next "bunch".
thanks,
***** *******

[span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-08-25 08:00][/span]

When you say mature, were you referring to the tank cycling? As in, was there a source of ammonia present? If not then I'm sorry to say your tank running for 4 weeks without ammonia being added. You have really been waiting for nothing. You should read thru this page and all the articles http://www.fishprofiles.net/faq/begin.asp thats if you haven't read it yet.

I would say (if the current fish live thru the cycle) in about a month you can add more. Even then I wouldn't add more than a couple of small fish.

HTH

[span class="edited"][Edited by phoneshannen 2004-08-25 10:27][/span]

No, no, i meant that my tank has matured for for weeks, so 4 weeks ago i was putting the gravle and water in. i read in my book that you have to wait for the filter bacteria to get going. now do u see what i mean?

Yes, but what are the nitrite,nitrate levels and ph and ammonia levels. Thats what we're looking for

The filter bacteria needs something to feed off of in order to grow. The link that was provided answers that. Basically what happens is the bacteria that you want is the byproduct of a three stage process, that only starts after fish or some other ammonia source is introduced to the tank. Simply adding gravel, even seeded gravel is not enough to cycle the tank.

^_^

Even if in those 4 weeks you didn't cycle, you luckily picked fish that are hearty and are good for cycling. You need to buy a test kit, either liquid or paper, that tests ammonia, ph, nitrAte and nitrIte. The fish will produce the ammonia and bacteria will develop and feed off this ammonia. You need to test the water for these 4 things at least every 3 days. When your ammonia spikes to a high point, the nitrItes will soon follow. You also test the ph and nitrate levels to make sure they are a safe level for your sigh.

Another option is to return your fish and do a fishless cycle instead. Fishless cycling doesn't take as long, but you're probably well on your way with a cycle since you have the fish.

Good luck

apaarently, accding to my dad says i've completed my cycle and all the nitrates and such and sucher r fine. so i got some swordtails and mollies. how long do i have to wait until i can add my next bunch, and how many can i add in that bunch

James we really do want to help you but in order to do so we really need you to provide a nitrite, nitrate, ammonia and ph reading.

Adding more fish before these levels are tolerable is potentially fatal to the fishies

If you just added fish today, then any test readings that you have right now are of no value. It'll take at least a day or two for ammonia to build up to measurable levels. Keep testing, and what you will probably see is that ammonia will start rising.

It's not at all sufficient to just have ammonia and nitrite at zero. You need to see them both rise, and then fall, to know that the tank cycled - even if that rise and fall is to 0.25 ppm. Only once you have evidence that ammonia and nitrite are being consumed by bacteria will you know that the tank is cycled, and you can only get that by watching them fall from one day to the next.


[span class="edited"][Edited by Silverlight 2004-08-25 18:23][/span]