Now what?

[Juansamdi]

So my tank finished cycling three days consistent reading at the right parameters. Did a water change and waiting two days to add my first clown pair. This is teaching me lots of Discipline and patience. But I want to add fish at least once a week and add my clean up crew. It's a water box peninsula 25 gallon.

Ammonia 0
pH 8.1
Nitrate 5.0
Nitrite 0
Salinity 1.026
Temp at 77/8 degrees.

 

[Fish Fan]

Your tank looks good!

Just to be clear, did you do anything initially to raise the ammonia, like adding ammonium chloride or some fish food? Your nitrate strikes me as a little low, but could be accurate.

If your ammonia was up to about 2.0 ppm and is now zero and you're measuring nitrate, I think you're safe to slowly add some hardy livestock

It's a really good idea to consider quarantining at least your fish, or buying pre-QT'd fish, or at the very least choose happy, healthy fish from a quality local fish store.

Good luck!

 

[Juansamdi]

Your tank looks good!

Just to be clear, did you do anything initially to raise the ammonia, like adding ammonium chloride or some fish food? Your nitrate strikes me as a little low, but could be accurate.

If your ammonia was up to about 2.0 ppm and is now zero and you're measuring nitrate, I think you're safe to slowly add some hardy livestock

It's a really good idea to consider quarantining at least your fish, or buying pre-QT'd fish, or at the very least choose happy, healthy fish from a quality local fish store.

Good luck!

I put ammonium chloride in it only about 1/4 teaspoon after I added a 4oz bottle of FritzZyme Turbo Start 900. Then measured everyday for two weeks.

 

[Fish Fan]

I put ammonium chloride in it only about 1/4 teaspoon after I added a 4oz bottle of FritzZyme Turbo Start 900. Then measured everyday for two weeks.

What did your ammonia measure at its highest?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

But I want to add fish at least once a week and add my clean up crew. It's a water box peninsula 25 gallon.

IMO add your first fish then wait 3-4 weeks to get the next fish, don't add fish weekly or you can overload the biofilter in a small tank.

 

[Juansamdi]

I put ammonium chloride in it only about 1/4 teaspoon after I added a 4oz bottle of FritzZyme Turbo Start 900. Then measured everyday for two weeks.

What did your ammonia measure at its highest?

Right now the pH dropped a lot 7.8 I’m going to wait a day or two and see if it goes back up. My ammonia was at its highest 4.0ppm this last week and nitrite was at 5.0 ppm around the weekend and went down to 0ppm on Tuesday.

 

[Juansamdi]

I put ammonium chloride in it only about 1/4 teaspoon after I added a 4oz bottle of FritzZyme Turbo Start 900. Then measured everyday for two weeks.

What did your ammonia measure at its highest?

Right now the pH dropped a lot 7.8 I’m going to wait a day or two and see if it goes back up. My ammonia was at its highest 4.0ppm this last week and nitrite was at 5.0 ppm around the weekend and went down to 0ppm on Tuesday.

Nitrate is at about 2.0ppm

 

[Juansamdi]

I put ammonium chloride in it only about 1/4 teaspoon after I added a 4oz bottle of FritzZyme Turbo Start 900. Then measured everyday for two weeks.

What did your ammonia measure at its highest?

Right now the pH dropped a lot 7.8 I’m going to wait a day or two and see if it goes back up. My ammonia was at its highest 4.0ppm this last week and nitrite was at 5.0 ppm around the weekend and went down to 0ppm on Tuesday.

Nitrate is at about 2.0ppm

Correction 5.0ppm

 

[Uncle99]

Forget PH.
7.8 is just fine.
Hard to get a consistent measure on it.

 

[Fish Fan]

To me, if the ammonia was up to 4.0 ppm and is now zero, and you're getting at least something for nitrates, I think you're good to slowly add some hardy livestock.