Ready for Additions?

[Grant_J]

Hey Reefers,

So far this journey with the new (used) tank and fish is an adventure. Sunday, I drained the tank, moved the fish out, rinsed the sand, and put it all back together, with about a 10% water change. The water is on its way to healthy. Now, I have some Before and After water readings and would appreciate your input. Am I ready to start adding utility fish? Should I wait it out or do an ammonia treatment first? I don't want to do too much too fast, just planning for the coming couple of weeks.

Water reading March 7:
Salinity 1.025
Ammonia 1.0
Nitrite 160
Nitrate 0.5
Calcium 520
Alkalinity 12
Phosphate 10


Readings from home test kit this morning:
Ammonia 12ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~5ppm
PH 8.2


The tank has a Puffer and a longnose Cow today, no coral. Would you add a goby or snails or something at this stage or in the coming several days? I'm traveling for a couple of days and planning for the return.

Thanks all!

-G

 

[Tahoe61]

The tanks has been running for 3 day? You purchased a running system. ( I am confused)
What type of rock did you use?
I would not any ammonia with fish in the system.
I would wait for a couple weeks at least for the biological filter to grow before adding any fish.
How big is the tank?

Welcome to R2R.

:)

 

[Tahoe61]

Ok I am caught up now.
The tank looks great post clean up and transfer.
The fish and their food is going to provide the ammonia to feed the bacteria. It's going to take some time for that biological filter to catch up.
That gives you a lot of time to research testing, equipment and live stock.
It's a slow hobby, but the tank is looking good.

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I'm going to assume that your post ammonia test was really 1.2 ppm and not 12 ppm ;-)

But either way, I think you're reporting enough ammonia that I wouldn't be comfortable adding more fish at this point. I'd wait a little longer, let that ammonia settle down and the biofilter stabilize.

Good luck!

 

[Grant_J]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I'm going to assume that your post ammonia test was really 1.2 ppm and not 12 ppm ;-)

But either way, I think you're reporting enough ammonia that I wouldn't be comfortable adding more fish at this point. I'd wait a little longer, let that ammonia settle down and the biofilter stabilize.

Good luck!

@Tahoe61 and @Fish Fan , thank you both for the input. I'll hold back and monitor. It's tough seeing components of the whole ecosystem missing and not being able to do anything about it. Plus...manually finding and cleaning fish poop from the sand isn't fun. :) Ok, in it for the long haul. I'll hang for a 0 reading. For the actual reading 1.2 vs 12, I'm in a hotel room across the country so fair to assume you're right! I was in the low range of readings on the test is all I recall. Thanks again!