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newbee0521 · Jan 14, 2021

Alrighty guys and gals! I’m brandy new to saltwater aquariums. Just bought the fluval evo 13.5. Put LV, live sand 1.5 inch and pacific saltwater for a week, added 4 snails and 5 hermits and a cultured live rock for the last 2 weeks and adding raw shrimp every 2 days. Ammonia has been holding at .25 on API “herd inaccurate” for the last 5 days. Is it time to add a starter fish? Nitrates and nitrites have been steady with 20 % water change every 5 days

J_Gard88 · Jan 15, 2021

I started off exactly like your doing but then added a few black mollies to get things going and to make sure I didnt waste money. After using them for a couple weeks, (They help cycle the tank as well) I just took them back and got credit towards some fish I really wanted.

King Turkey · Jan 15, 2021

Are you reading nitrites or nitrates?( if you think it's inaccurate). You would read 0 nitrite and start seeing nitrates.
Api tests are not the best I suggest when it says shake the bottle for the test like shake the he'll out of it for 5 mins on a timer.

polyppal · Jan 15, 2021

newbee0521 said:
Alrighty guys and gals! I’m brandy new to saltwater aquariums. Just bought the fluval evo 13.5. Put LV, live sand 1.5 inch and pacific saltwater for a week, added 4 snails and 5 hermits and a cultured live rock for the last 2 weeks and adding raw shrimp every 2 days. Ammonia has been holding at .25 on API “herd inaccurate” for the last 5 days. Is it time to add a starter fish? Nitrates and nitrites have been steady with 20 % water change every 5 days