How many days do you wait for a NEW fish? - Aquarium Advice

Christine22780 · 08-20-2008, 12:41 PM

Is the grace period about 10-14 days? b/c of the ammonia--->nitrite---->nitrate cycle

Does it matter if the fish are small or large the cycle and days are still the same?

LandGhoti · 08-20-2008, 02:40 PM

You can add fish when you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and ~40 ppm nitrates. How big is your tank? The cycle takes as long as how much of a bacteria source you have. What do you have in there?

After I first cycled my tank, I added 9 SMALL fish at once and I've never had a problem since. Now I have 13.

EDIT: Upon re-reading maybe you've already cycled? If so, you shouldn't have to wait to add a new fish. If you have a sufficient biofilter, you should be fine.

**roka64** · 08-20-2008, 03:38 PM

I wouldn't put 9 fish iin a newly cycled SW tank. You can add 2-4 (depending on what fish). The beneficial bacteria needs time to adjust to the new bio-load.

cmor1701d · 08-20-2008, 03:43 PM

If your tank is established then you should wait at least 2 weeks between adding another fish (or 2), but preferably about a month. As Scott said the tank needs to adjust to the increased bioload.

I would strongly suggest that you QT all new fish for a month before adding them to the tank. That involves having a QT tank ready and a filter 'simmering' in the main tank for an instant cycle in the QT tank.

LandGhoti · 08-20-2008, 03:59 PM

Oh shoot--sorry!! I didn't even look to see that this was posted in SW. Yikes. Never mind anything I said. LOL. I'm at work and frazzled, so probably wasn't smart to try and be smart.

**melosu58** · 08-20-2008, 05:43 PM

No problem Andrea. LOL I agree with the others that your tank has to catch up with your bioload. Add your fish sparingly.

**roka64** · 08-20-2008, 06:19 PM

Don't sweat it Andrea, I have had the same issues as well!

Innovator · 08-20-2008, 07:52 PM

Saltwater or freshwater, rules still apply. I would do as Cmor suggested in waiting 2 weeks if not 1 month to allow your benthic faunas to populate before adding fish that prey upon them. How many fish to introduce depends on what species you are interested in. For example, an animal that gets over 5" you'd probably be better off adding one to see how your new system reacts, but some animals may do better as a pair or even in harems (4+)...

08-20-2008, 12:41 PM	#1
Christine22780 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: S. Manchester, NH Posts: 97	How many days do you wait for a NEW fish? Is the grace period about 10-14 days? b/c of the ammonia--->nitrite---->nitrate cycle Does it matter if the fish are small or large the cycle and days are still the same?

08-20-2008, 02:40 PM	#2
LandGhoti Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Le Midwest Posts: 819 Images: 1	You can add fish when you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and ~40 ppm nitrates. How big is your tank? The cycle takes as long as how much of a bacteria source you have. What do you have in there? After I first cycled my tank, I added 9 SMALL fish at once and I've never had a problem since. Now I have 13. EDIT: Upon re-reading maybe you've already cycled? If so, you shouldn't have to wait to add a new fish. If you have a sufficient biofilter, you should be fine. __________________ Andrea 29-gallon FW 1 yoyo loach, 2 polkadot loaches, 6 cherry barbs, 2 turquoise rainbows, 1 chinese algae eater, 1 rubberlip pleco, too many MTS to count

08-20-2008, 03:43 PM	#4
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,927 Images: 43	If your tank is established then you should wait at least 2 weeks between adding another fish (or 2), but preferably about a month. As Scott said the tank needs to adjust to the increased bioload. I would strongly suggest that you QT all new fish for a month before adding them to the tank. That involves having a QT tank ready and a filter 'simmering' in the main tank for an instant cycle in the QT tank. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

08-20-2008, 03:59 PM	#5
LandGhoti Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Le Midwest Posts: 819 Images: 1	Oh shoot--sorry!! I didn't even look to see that this was posted in SW. Yikes. Never mind anything I said. LOL. I'm at work and frazzled, so probably wasn't smart to try and be smart. __________________ Andrea 29-gallon FW 1 yoyo loach, 2 polkadot loaches, 6 cherry barbs, 2 turquoise rainbows, 1 chinese algae eater, 1 rubberlip pleco, too many MTS to count

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

08-20-2008, 07:52 PM	#8
Innovator Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,597	Saltwater or freshwater, rules still apply. I would do as Cmor suggested in waiting 2 weeks if not 1 month to allow your benthic faunas to populate before adding fish that prey upon them. How many fish to introduce depends on what species you are interested in. For example, an animal that gets over 5" you'd probably be better off adding one to see how your new system reacts, but some animals may do better as a pair or even in harems (4+)...