Adding fish?

[fishman1234]

I have had a 125 gallon going for almost a month now......I have turbo snails in there and all my levels are good except for my nitrates are in a caution zone. I am itching to get fish in there.......I am thinking about adding some chromis either today or tomarrow.....any thoughts?

 

[EllieSuz]

We don't measure the nitrogen cycle in time, but in water parameters. Please tell us your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate numbers. If your nitrates are really high, your cycle isn't quite done yet. When you begin to add fish, the bacterial load has to adjust to the increased waste. If you add too many at once or too soon, you'll have an ammonia spike, which can be deadly. That's a nice size tank and I sure understand your desire to add some life to it, but don't get ahead of yourself.

 

[Jstn]

Yes, high nitrates indicate usually the end of the cycle. At this time a water change would be advised. Nothing removes nitrates unless you are carbon dosing, DSB or water change.
The key is has your nitrites dropped and nitrates increased?

 

[fishman1234]

Nitrates...20ppm nitrites.....0ppm ammonia I don't have a test kit for.

 

[zt444a]

Nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia you definately need. CA and Alk, and a refractometer for salinity. Or find a local LFS to test your water for you. Make sure they are quality test kits too... It is more cash to outlay, but you will be happy you did.

 

[tmz]

I'd wait for 0 nitrite and at least a week of 0 ammonia;sometimes tehr is a secondary cycle. The time can be well spent setting up and using a quarantine tank for the fish to prevent introducing disease into the new tank.