When can I add fish?

[aws2266]

I've got my 120g filled and up to temp yesterday. I used 15g of water from an already established marine aquarium and there is no ammonia present as of today. Do you think I'd be ok to add a couple of green chromis now? I'm worried about there being an ammonia spike of significance and the fish suffering but with the tank being so big and benificial bacteria added I'm thinking they should be ok. Oh, there is no live rock or live sand in my tank. Give it to me straight comrades

 

[Azedenkae]

I've got my 120g filled and up to temp yesterday. I used 15g of water from an already established marine aquarium and there is no ammonia present as of today. Do you think I'd be ok to add a couple of green chromis now? I'm worried about there being an ammonia spike of significance and the fish suffering but with the tank being so big and benificial bacteria added I'm thinking they should be ok. Oh, there is no live rock or live sand in my tank. Give it to me straight comrades

I mean, you only added a relatively minute amount from the water of an established tank, so doubt it would be okay.

Live sand does not seem to really help either, I had tried it before and it does not seem to significantly impact ammonia.

Why don't you just do a simple cycling test? Dose 2ppm ammonia and see if it can be oxidized within 24 hours.

Or since it is a 120 gallon and you only want to start with a couple of chromis, could also aim for less - 0.5ppm ammonia within 24 hours should work too.

 

[aws2266]

I mean, you only added a relatively minute amount from the water of an established tank, so doubt it would be okay.

Live sand does not seem to really help either, I had tried it before and it does not seem to significantly impact ammonia.

Why don't you just do a simple cycling test? Dose 2ppm ammonia and see if it can be oxidized within 24 hours.

Or since it is a 120 gallon and you only want to start with a couple of chromis, could also aim for less - 0.5ppm ammonia within 24 hours should work too.

Right, it is a small amount.

Is any ammonia safe? I've never been shopping for it so I couldn't tell you the brands or if there are different types. Great suggestion though, thank you!

 

[Azedenkae]

Many different types work, but if you are new to ammonia-dosing I'd suggest something easy to work with like this:

Dr. Tim’s Aquatics Ammonium Chloride Aquarium Treatment for Fishless Cycling – Chlorine Free, Fish Tank Cleaner for Saltwater, Freshwater, Reef Aquariums – 100% Natural
designed for ammonia-dosing during the cycle, easy to follow instructions too.

 

[Garia666]

Anyway after your cycle is complete you can add a fish let the bacteria get used consuming the amonia and slowly build up

 

[gd1985]

Don't do what I was advised! I got my tank up to temp, added atm colony then come back from LFS with 8 fish. Tank completely crashed, the fish had ich.

I ended up going fallow & have only got back up & running a couple months ago

 

[Lyss]

Wait. Did you add any rock or media from the established tank? Water isn’t enough. If you can’t add any seeded media then I would do bottle bac. Dose the ammonia listed above per manufacturer directions. Then test ammonia/nitrite/nitrate until the cycle has been established. Like mentioned above, you should be able to dose the ammonia and see ammo go away on a test w/in 24 hrs.

 

[Waters]

Unfortunately you have added no bacterial at all....adding water from another tank won't do much, if anything. You should either add bottled bacteria, live rock from another tank, or just cycle the tank normally prior to adding fish.