[rgr555]

I completed a fishless water cycle.

Two weeks ago I added 5 fish, 3 shrimp.

I would like to add 4 more fish at least (make a group of 6 CPDs). If its OK, I would like to add another group of 6 fish (chilli rasboras). So 10 fish total.

I've read and heard from people to wait a few weeks or months before adding more fish. Whats your advice?

Thanks

 

[DogFish]

I would advise you to STOP adding fish and set up a 10gl. quarantine tank. Simply a bare tank, heater & HOB or Sponge filter and Hornwort. Take 10gl of water from a change and fill the Q-Tank with it. Run your filter and put a little fish food in the tank each day for a week. Then do another water change from the 55 to the 10gl. This time syphon out any fish food waste from the 10gl.

From this point on any fish you buy go in the 10gl Q-Tank for a month 1st to observe for signs of Ick or other health problems. You DO NOT want to bring problems into your display tank.

It's also much easier to medicate a small tank.

I keep a snails in mine to keep the Bio-filter active. Hornwort gives cover and sucks up nitrates.

I'm guessing NOT the answer you were hoping for. :icon_eek:

But, you will thank me in the long run.
Good Luck
:icon_mrgr

 

[Leah]

Have you been testing the water parameters? The reason to wait is for the population of "good" bacteria to catch up with the tank's bio-load. When ammonia and nitrites are 0, you know that that has happened. The other reason to wait is to make sure that all current tank inhabitants are healthy, the tank is stable, etc. Before you add any more fish, read up on quarantining the new inhabitants! I skipped that once--adding more fish of the same type from the same source so I thought it would be OK. I won't make that mistake again, and many people here say the same thing.

Leah

 

[rgr555]

I would advise you to STOP adding fish and set up a 10gl. quarantine tank. Simply a bare tank, heater & HOB or Sponge filter and Hornwort. Take 10gl of water from a change and fill the Q-Tank with it. Run your filter and put a little fish food in the tank each day for a week. Then do another water change from the 55 to the 10gl. This time syphon out any fish food waste from the 10gl.

From this point on any fish you buy go in the 10gl Q-Tank for a month 1st to observe for signs of Ick or other health problems. You DO NOT want to bring problems into your display tank.

It's also much easier to medicate a small tank.

I keep a snails in mine to keep the Bio-filter active. Hornwort gives cover and sucks up nitrates.

I'm guessing NOT the answer you were hoping for. :icon_eek:

But, you will thank me in the long run.
Good Luck
:icon_mrgr

What are you talking about? I don't even have a 55 gallon. :icon_eek:

Have you been testing the water parameters? The reason to wait is for the population of "good" bacteria to catch up with the tank's bio-load. When ammonia and nitrites are 0, you know that that has happened. The other reason to wait is to make sure that all current tank inhabitants are healthy, the tank is stable, etc. Before you add any more fish, read up on quarantining the new inhabitants! I skipped that once--adding more fish of the same type from the same source so I thought it would be OK. I won't make that mistake again, and many people here say the same thing.

Leah

Ammonia, Nitrates are 0...is it safe to add 10 more fish?

 

[rlswaney73]

There should be a little Nitrates, maybe not if you doing WC everyday. but Nitrates=0 normally would mean the cycle is not completed. Maybe its Nitrites=0?

 

[JasonG75]

I have never Q any of my fish/plants. If you buy from a reputable store, that Q themselves this isnt needed.

However I will add, add fish a little at a time in order NOT to throw your filter into a cycle because it cant keep up with the new bioload.

 

[wendyjo]

I have never Q any of my fish/plants. If you buy from a reputable store, that Q themselves this isnt needed.

This is very very bad advice.

 

[JasonG75]

This is very very bad advice.

IT wasnt advice...It is my method.

 

[DogFish]

What are you talking about? I don't even have a 55 gallon. :icon_eek:

My apologies, I really don't know were I got that "55gl" comment from. I should of have more coffee before logging on. :redface:

But, you did ask for advice and mine is solid. I've had aquariums since 1972, made most of the mistakes people here ask about, before they were born. I try to pay forward when I can.

Best of luck whatever you decided to do.
:wink:

 

[Realistik84]

I have never Q any of my fish/plants. If you buy from a reputable store, that Q themselves this isnt needed.

However I will add, add fish a little at a time in order NOT to throw your filter into a cycle because it cant keep up with the new bioload.

This is very very bad advice.

IT wasnt advice...It is my method.

In his defense - not everyone has the ability to setup a Q-tank, and there are "methods" to providing a healthy tank without a Q-setup.

Sure - no one would argue it wouldnt be better, but nor is it the end all be all.

 

[redfalconf35]

I've not regularly quarantined either, however you have to know that you're taking a non-zero risk that you're introducing some disease into the tank.

Typically you will want to specify how big the tank is and the water parameters if you're gonna ask stocking questions. If you're looking to add 6 more fish to a 10g, that's completely different than adding the same 6 fish to a 100g.

 

[Hoppy]

I have never had a quarantine tank, not because it isn't a good idea to have one, but because I almost always completely stock my tank within a month when I set it up. I also don't do "cycling". I heavily plant the tank, start fertilizing, wait a week or two, then add a few fish, wait a week and add a few more, wait a week and add the rest of them. That has always worked well for me. But, no question, if you pay a lot for your fish, and I don't, you should quarantine new fish before giving them a chance to infect your investment.

 

[JasonG75]

I also don't do "cycling". I heavily plant the tank, start fertilizing, wait a week or two, then add a few fish, wait a week and add a few more, wait a week and add the rest of them. That has always worked well for me.

For those that don't know this is refered as a "Silent Cycle" I have never tried it yet but hope to during my next setup.

 

[wkndracer]

typing one handed so no caps lol.
is this you're Fluval Edge 6 gallon setup?
with low nitrates and zero nitrites and ammonia (imo) you can add the 4 filling in the group.

 

[wendyjo]

"If you buy from a reputable store, that Q themselves this isnt needed. " - sounds alot like advise to me. Just saying.

Anyhow it's not hard or expensive to set up a Q tank, especially if your main tank is stocked with smaller fish. A 5g is better than nothing and will hold a few fish at a time, which is really all anyone should be adding at once anyhow. I find it reckless to not quarantine because then you are choosing to risk the health of all your other fish. I doubt people would do this with their other pets but it seems to be OK with fish for some reason.

 

[rgr555]

typing one handed so no caps lol.
is this you're Fluval Edge 6 gallon setup?
with low nitrates and zero nitrites and ammonia (imo) you can add the 4 filling in the group.

Yes this is for the Fluval Edge 6 gallon. I should have included that in the OP.
I'm going to fill the group later this week. But I also want to add another (6) group of Chilli Rasbora. Is this considered overstocking?

6 CPD
6 Chilli Rasbora
2 female guppy
1 endler
3 amano shrimps
2 plants..

The worker at my pet shop said I'm able to fit 20 CPD or Chilli Rasbora small fish in my 6 gallon due to their low biomass. Is this OK with the general consensus on this board? I know a lot of people suggest 1 gallon per fish but these fish are not even 1", and the chili are even less.

Thanks

 

[redfalconf35]

That's probably as full as i'd ever make it, but i think it's doable.

 

[JasonG75]

IMHO I think this is WAY to much for a 6 gal...And you know the filtration on these Edges arent the best.

Get a Betta, some Ammano shrimp and a few plants.

 

[wendyjo]

They are mostly nano fish so you can probably get away with it, but don't slack on the water changes. Personally I would only have one group of schooling fish to start out with and see how it goes from there.

 

[rgr555]

They are mostly nano fish so you can probably get away with it, but don't slack on the water changes. Personally I would only have one group of schooling fish to start out with and see how it goes from there.

What do you mean by "see how it goes" ?

I tested the water again today and its 0,0,5ppm for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates respectively. Also, 2 shrimps shed their exoskeletons..