Can I Add More Fish

[jmain]

I'm in the process of doing a fish-in-cycle (its pretty much finish depending on how long you think it will last) I have been doing it for about 20 days now and my nitrites are at .25. I want to add some dalmatian mollies either 1m/2f or 2m/4f or 1m/3f just can't make up my mind also I want to get another cory cat so were looking somewhere around 5-7 fish.

Right now I have

3 tetra black skirt
3 tetra red eye
1 tetra serpa
1 cory cat
1 pleco

Will I be ok adding some more fish if so how many or should I let my nitrites get to 0?

 

[cowboy507]

finish the cycle first!!!
adding more fish will will add more ammonia that your cycle isnt ready for. Get nitrites down to 0 for at least a week then add no more than 3 fish at a time.

 

[Kelsyann]

I'd wait untill your nitrItes have hit zero, and all your ammonia and nitrIte are stable at 0 for about 2 weeks. Then you can add a small amount of fish. I'd go with the 1m/2f for now and next week if everything's still stable, get one more of each. And cories like to be in groups of 5ish, so I'd up that first. What size tank are we taking about?

 

[jmain]

I'd wait untill your nitrItes have hit zero, and all your ammonia and nitrIte are stable at 0 for about 2 weeks. Then you can add a small amount of fish. I'd go with the 1m/2f for now and next week if everything's still stable, get one more of each. And cories like to be in groups of 5ish, so I'd up that first. What size tank are we taking about?

75 us gallon (4ft x 18" x 21")

So you said wait 2 weeks even after my nitrites hit 0? Also whats any different from adding new fish to the fish that are in there creating new ammonia?

 

[cowboy507]

adding more fish adds more ammonia, your filter is handling the ammonia that you have right now and the nitrites are almost being handled, adding more fish creates more ammonia, thus more nitrites. This will make the process of cycling even longer.
If you wait for some time after you have finally reached 0 ppm of ammonia and nitrites then you filter become more robust and can handle more abuse.
the A-bacs and N-bacs multiply about every 24 hrs, although the N-bacs are a tad slower.

 

[arobinson1984]

Get the cycle finished first otherwise you'll be putting even more fish into a harmful situation.

Basically its the same as having a burning building, and instead of trying to put the fire out, you want to throw more people into the building instead lol

Andy