If you did the fishless cycle, then it is OK to fully stock the tank right away. Waiting kills the bacteria you just finished growing.
If your tank is densely planted with fast growing plants (Wisteria and Anacharis are fast) then test for ammonia and nitrite. If these are consistently 0 ppm then you can add more fish.
If ammonia and nitrite are anything besides 0 ppm run, do not walk, to the store that carries any of the bacteria in a bottle that includes Nitrospiros species of nitrifying bacteria.
Tetra Safe Start
Dr. Tim's One and Only
Microbe Lift's Nite Out II
and a few others have the right species. Do not waste your money on anything else. Nitrospiros!
Do as large a water change as needed to get the ammonia well under .25 ppm and the nitrite under 1 ppm. (Closer to 0 ppm is much better.)
If there is nitrite showing add 1 teaspoon of salt (sodium chloride) per 20 gallons of water.
Add the right dose of the Nitrospiros product. Over dosing is not a problem.
Test daily, and when the ammonia and nitrite are stable, and 0 ppm, you can get more fish. Add Nitrospiros with each addition of fish.
If your tank is densely planted with fast growing plants (Wisteria and Anacharis are fast) then test for ammonia and nitrite. If these are consistently 0 ppm then you can add more fish.
If ammonia and nitrite are anything besides 0 ppm run, do not walk, to the store that carries any of the bacteria in a bottle that includes Nitrospiros species of nitrifying bacteria.
Tetra Safe Start
Dr. Tim's One and Only
Microbe Lift's Nite Out II
and a few others have the right species. Do not waste your money on anything else. Nitrospiros!
Do as large a water change as needed to get the ammonia well under .25 ppm and the nitrite under 1 ppm. (Closer to 0 ppm is much better.)
If there is nitrite showing add 1 teaspoon of salt (sodium chloride) per 20 gallons of water.
Add the right dose of the Nitrospiros product. Over dosing is not a problem.
Test daily, and when the ammonia and nitrite are stable, and 0 ppm, you can get more fish. Add Nitrospiros with each addition of fish.
