Of platies and algae...

[darthjoe]

Well, my 10 gal just finished cycling yesterday, so today I added my new fish to it.

I'm a little new to fish keeping, but have been reading these forums for about six months now, after an accident with a new tank and six tiger barbs. I've learned a lot, but still have more questions.

First off, I bought 4 platies (2 sunset, and 2 blue mickey mouse) and 3 bronze cories. I have read on here before, that after doing a fishless cycle, you can stock your tank with no worries, as long as it's not overstocked. Now, after searching the forums, I just read something that seemed to contradict that. My question is, will my tank be okay adding all of these fish at once? It has been fully cycled...ammonia/nitrite was zero when I tested it this morning, and the nitrate was high...I did a 90% water change, and went to get my fish after the temperature stabalized.

Secondly, a little algae built up on the plants that are in the tank during cycling, as it took about two months since I didn't put any gravel or any other source of bacteria in from an established tank. Not a lot, but a little nonetheless. The platies seem to love it and are gulping it up. Is this normal behavior for them, or are they just starving to death?

 

[Dragonslair]

Even after cycling a tank, fish should still be added gradually because any fish will immediatly add a spike to the nitrogen and ammonia cycle. All cycling means is that the beneficial bacteria have colonised and get start to get to work immediatly.
I presume that you carry out regular water testing. You may want to lower the phosphates down in the water though. whilst algae may look pretty at the moment and your fish enjoy the odd nibble because its soft and fresh. They will soon lose interest if it blooms out of control. the question of starvation. How often do you feed your fish and how much do you feed them. Often uneaten bits, will cause a nitrate spike if left to accumulate.

 

[darthjoe]

I presume that you carry out regular water testing. You may want to lower the phosphates down in the water though. whilst algae may look pretty at the moment and your fish enjoy the odd nibble because its soft and fresh. They will soon lose interest if it blooms out of control.

It wasn't much. Just a little here and there on a few of the plants. There's none left now...the platies cleaned it up last night.

the question of starvation. How often do you feed your fish and how much do you feed them. Often uneaten bits, will cause a nitrate spike if left to accumulate.

I just got them from my lfs last night, so the question is how well my lfs fed them.

 

[darthjoe]

Even after cycling a tank, fish should still be added gradually because any fish will immediatly add a spike to the nitrogen and ammonia cycle. All cycling means is that the beneficial bacteria have colonised and get start to get to work immediatly.

This is exactly what I mean by conflicting information.

I posted a topic similiar to this one in the fish emergencies forum last night, and in that topic I asked if I added too many fish, too fast, after doing my fishless cycle. The person who responded to that thread said it should be fine as long as the cycle was complete...which it was.

Now, I'm being told that they should be added gradually, like when you do a normal cycle, using fish.

Myself, I thought that one of the perks of doing a fishless cycle was to build up the beneficial bacteria, so they can handle a full load right away...that's why you wanna add an amount of bacteria that is equal to 5 ppm, and then cut that in half once you get your nitrite spike.

After looking through the forums here, I have read numerous posts that say you can add a full load after doing a fishless cycle, and a few posts that say you can't. Is there anyone out there that can clarify this a bit more?

Until then, I'll continue to check my water parameters daily, just to make sure I don't get any ammonia or nitrite spikes.