New 275L (Around 73 Gal) Tank

[Sebi]

Hi everybody,

I just moved house and decided to start a new aquarium (had one about 9 years ago).
I got an awesome deal on a 275 liter tank and I am now looking to stock it slowly with fish.
The tank was cycled fishless for 1 week at which point I made numerous tests and got the all clear from the closest fish expert.
In the tank I have now 8 black neon tetras, 4 three-lined pencilfish and 5 cherry barbs, eventually I would like to add Siamese Fighters (1 male and about 2-3 females) but this is not for another 3-4 months due to the maturity of the tank.

What I would like some help with is the stocking, what fish can I place in the tank bearing in mind the eventual Siamese fighters.

Many thanks for your help!!!!!!!

 

[KittyKat]

How did you cycle? Did you seed the filter? What ammonia did you add? I have never heard of a from-scratch fish-less cycle finishing in one week.

 

[Sebi]

I am not sure why the water was so quickly so perfect but then again I did use spring water rather than tap water. As I said expert assured me the quality was perfect to place the first group of fish in.

 

[Ifti]

These 'experts' will say anything to make a sale...... fishless cycling takes a lot longer then a week - several weeks at the least.
How did you cycle the tank, and what kind of tests did you perform?

 

[Sebi]

I added the recommended amount of gravel, and added plants to the tank obviously switched all appliances on. It is a Fluval Tank so it came with a Fluval filter but I added one of those air rocks.

I am using the AP test kit currently and checked the water twice a day I have to add that the tank was more or less running for a months I officially cycled about 1 1/2 weeks ago.

Anyways I checked the PH level, ammonia nitrite and nitrate levels and made sure that I follow the instructions from the guy I know (he had fish for a long time and he does not sell fish). He gave me all that I needed and set it up more or less for and with me. Added ammonia to be eventually converted to the useful bacteria that is needed in the tank.
He also checked the tank numerous of times and gave the all clear on Monday. All I can say is that I trust the guy and the fish I have are a lively as can be, I should also add that the tank and filter was used previously by the place where I had bought it for quite a while hence the awesome deal.

 

[KittyKat]

You might find this slightly confusing, but I will try to explain...

The "good" bacteria which live in the filter convert ammonia (fish crap) into nitrite and nitrite into nitrate (plant food).

These good bacteria are present in all water supplies in small quantities, but these quantities are not large enough to support a fish.

If the bacteria are not there, the ammonia and nitrite produced by fish remain in the water. Both are toxic at quantities over 0.25 ppm.

An established filter (like yours) normally will have the right numbers of these bacteria to support fish life.

But, when the filter is off for a period of time, or when there is no source of ammonia, the bacteria start dying off. A filter would be off for a long time, for example, if a tank was being moved or set-up, but without any fish or ammonia added.

A cycle is the act of adding ammonia to the tank to grow these bacteria. If a tank sits without a source of ammonia in it, even if everything is running, that is only running the tank, not cycling. Cycling specifically requires addition of ammonia in the form of pure ammonia, rotting matter or a live fish. If you did not add ammonia during the week you left the filter sitting, all it would have achieved would have been to starve (kill) some of the bacteria off. This is why we asked about *exactly* how you "cycled".

But, the bacteria are very resilient and some would have survived. Even a week without food will not kill all of them, so your filter still have some, but this does mean that you need to stock slowly (as you are doing) so as yo not cause an ammonia or nitrite spike (which would harm the fish). Do note that the spike can occur anywhere from 1-2 days after addition of fish, up to a few weeks later. In other words, keep up the testing and make sure you don't run out of dechlorinator.

If you want to know more about cycling, read the beginners resource.