Questions About The Stage After A Fishless Cycle

[Tropical_Fish]

My tank is now at the end of it's cycle, it is processing both ammonia and nitrite down to zero in 12 hours.

I would like to add four of five guppies on Saturday and would like to plan exactly what to do in the best way.


My Nitrates are currently sky high due to the cycle so at some point I need to do a nearly full water change.


Questions:

1. During the water change do I thoroughly clean the gravel with my vac? I know most of the bacteria will be in the filter but there must be some in the gravel?

2. When should I do the water change? Would Friday night be best to get it as close as possible so I don't have to add much ammonia before the fish go in?

3. How much ammonia should I be adding now each day to keep the ammonia alive?

4. Any other tips?

 

[degsod]

My tank is now at the end of it's cycle, it is processing both ammonia and nitrite down to zero in 12 hours.

I would like to add four of five guppies on Saturday and would like to plan exactly what to do in the best way.


My Nitrates are currently sky high due to the cycle so at some point I need to do a nearly full water change.


Questions:

1. During the water change do I thoroughly clean the gravel with my vac? I know most of the bacteria will be in the filter but there must be some in the gravel?

Give the gravel a good clean prior to changing the water

2. When should I do the water change? Would Friday night be best to get it as close as possible so I don't have to add much ammonia before the fish go in?

Friday is fine, don't forget to add declgorinator

3. How much ammonia should I be adding now each day to keep the ammonia alive?

Keep adding the same amount that you have been adding during your cycle

4. Any other tips?

Don't add fish that are sensitive to water conditions such as Neons as they really need a tank that has been established for at least 6 months.

As the bacteria colony yoiu have built up is robust you can probably add anything up to 75% of what you final stocking will be. But adding fish slowly is not a problem.

Also now is the time to add plants if you are going to.

 

[OldMan47]

If you wait until the last minute to do your water change, you can just not ever add any ammonia to the tank after the change. If you do it 3 days ahead and are processing in 12 hours, just don't dose the day that you go for the fish. There should be nothing in the gravel to clean if you have been doing a fishless cycle. If you want to practice with the gravel vac, go ahead, it won't hurt anything.