How Many Fish Should You Add At A Time To A Newly Cycled Tank?

[Wansui]

My 240L tank has finished its fishless cycle, and I was wondering how many fish should you add at a time. Then how long do you leave it before adding anymore fish.

 

[sawickib]

Id add about 6 at a time, and wait a week or two before adding more, of course it depends on what fish are being added as well.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Add a full fish load all at once, that is one of the two reasons for doing a fishless cycle. It leaves the tank able to handle a full load right away. if you instead add gradually you are sliding back into a doing fish in stocking.
 
The bacteria can survive starvation by going dormant. Low levels of ammonia merely cause the colony to shrink in size. Wait between additions and you essentially undo that benefit of having done fishless.
 
If one plans to stock gradually and still wants to do a fishless cycle, they should reduce the ammonia additions from producing 3 ppm to 1 ppm. The tank will be ready faster that way.

 

[sawickib]

O sorry for the mis-information tahnks TTA!

 

[Wansui]

Add a full fish load all at once, that is one of the two reasons for doing a fishless cycle. It leaves the tank able to handle a full load right away. if you instead add gradually you are sliding back into a doing fish in stocking.
 
The bacteria can survive starvation by going dormant. Low levels of ammonia merely cause the colony to shrink in size. Wait between additions and you essentially undo that benefit of having done fishless.
 
If one plans to stock gradually and still wants to do a fishless cycle, they should reduce the ammonia additions from producing 3 ppm to 1 ppm. The tank will be ready faster that way.

ah, thanks for clearing that up for me. Though, what would be considered a full stock for a 240L? I plan on only having 1-2 inch fish.

 

[starlitsunrise]

If you go by the 1 inch of fish to 1 gallon rule you could have anywhere from 30-60 fish in your tank

 

[b3cca]

How many fish you can actually have in there really depends on which type fish you want.
 
The size of the fish is not the only factor.. 1 Small territorial fish may actually need far more space than 8 schooling fish of the same size for example, plus different types will have different bioloads

 

[jimboshrimp]

hi
B3cca I noticed you have 6 male cherry barbs , I was thinking of getting some cherry barbs is there any particular reason you have all males or is it just coincidence I hope you don't mind me asking

 

[b3cca]

Lol no reason at all just coincidence.  I got 3 from the shop when I was a noob and got 3 more to make up their numbers I didn't even know anything about what gender they were
 
I think females are fairly hard to get hold off, certainly around here anyways I've only seen males in the shops I go to but they all get along great together

 

[jimboshrimp]

ha ha ok thanks was wondering if id missed something in looking for new fish