Hi Folks

[scottlawson14284]

Hi guys,

just new to keeping tropical fish and to the forum. I havent added any ammonia to my tank or any additives but decided to add some fish. I left the water in my tank for 8 days before adding any live stock.

is this a bad idea?

The fish i added are doing fine. eating and swimming around

 

[Staxx]

yeah. just look up "fish in cycle" and go from there. just involved a lot of water changes lol

 

[4seasons]

Hi guys,

just new to keeping tropical fish and to the forum. I havent added any ammonia to my tank or any additives but decided to add some fish. I left the water in my tank for 8 days before adding any live stock.

is this a bad idea?

The fish i added are doing fine. eating and swimming around

If you didn't add dechlorinator to your tap water then that is bad. Chlorine in tap watere kills fish. Fish produce ammonia and unless you tank has been cycled the ammonia will kill your fish. You have lots of reading and work ahead of you to keep your fish alive now. Go to the beginner resource section and read up on fish-in cycle.

 

[Staxx]

after 8 days enough chlorine will have evaporated for it to not be harmful anymore?

i could be wrong though

 

[scottlawson14284]

Hi guys,

just new to keeping tropical fish and to the forum. I havent added any ammonia to my tank or any additives but decided to add some fish. I left the water in my tank for 8 days before adding any live stock.

is this a bad idea?

The fish i added are doing fine. eating and swimming around

If you didn't add dechlorinator to your tap water then that is bad. Chlorine in tap watere kills fish. Fish produce ammonia and unless you tank has been cycled the ammonia will kill your fish. You have lots of reading and work ahead of you to keep your fish alive now. Go to the beginner resource section and read up on fish-in cycle.

Sorry I added dechlorinator to the water container as I was putting it in. Reading through the articles on here, I feel really stupid now. I havent even bought any test kits. My 1st purchase tomorrow will be test kits and some ammonia. Will it be ok to add plants at this point or leave it for a while?

 

[ShinySideUp]

Sorry I added dechlorinator to the water container as I was putting it in. Reading through the articles on here, I feel really stupid now. I havent even bought any test kits. My 1st purchase tomorrow will be test kits and some ammonia. Will it be ok to add plants at this point or leave it for a while?

If I read correctly, you already have fish in your tank? Do not add ammonia, you will kill your fish. If you have fish in the tank it is too late to try fishless cycling as the ammonia is a substitute for fish waste.

Yes you can add plants...but NO ammonia.

It's a bit of a pain starting a fish tank properly but worth it in the end: Better-looking tank, clear water, good plant life and most importantly no (or very, very few) fish death and disease.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Welcome!

 

[scottlawson14284]

Sorry I added dechlorinator to the water container as I was putting it in. Reading through the articles on here, I feel really stupid now. I havent even bought any test kits. My 1st purchase tomorrow will be test kits and some ammonia. Will it be ok to add plants at this point or leave it for a while?

If I read correctly, you already have fish in your tank? Do not add ammonia, you will kill your fish. If you have fish in the tank it is too late to try fishless cycling as the ammonia is a substitute for fish waste.

Yes you can add plants...but NO ammonia.

It's a bit of a pain starting a fish tank properly but worth it in the end: Better-looking tank, clear water, good plant life and most importantly no (or very, very few) fish death and disease.

Ok, thanks. I cant find anything about fish in cycling. Can you give me a link?

 

[ShinySideUp]

Ok, thanks. I cant find anything about fish in cycling. Can you give me a link?

Right here on this forum:

Fish-in cycling

 

[colleen0309]

Don't be too worried, almost all of us have made the same mistake. A fish in cycle can be very hard on your fish, if you don't do lots of water changes. If you are willing to do the proper water changes and keep the ammonia and nitrites as low as possible, you will do fine. Just don't slack off. Keep up the hard work and you will be rewarded. I have been keeping fish for almost 40 years and I have NEVER done a fishless cycle.But I have 18 tanks running, fully cycled. I just barrow a little media from my cycled filters to start a new tank. Good Luck. Any questions, just ask. We will get you through it.Oh! Welcome to the forum!

 

[the_lock_man]

Adding plants would be beneficial, as they will feed off the ammonia, reducing the amount of ammonia that is there to poison the fish. The more plants, the greater the benefit.

I would also recommend only feeding once every 2/3 days, this will reduce the amount of ammonia produced by the fish.

 

[colleen0309]

Yes. If you are doing a fish in cycle, the plants will help. A fishless cycle, you shouldn't add plants till you are cycled