Stocking After Cycling

[P&J]

I'm just about to finish my fishless cycle, and I have a question about stocking. I've heard that you can fully stock immediately after the cycle because sufficient bacteria has been established, but is it necessary? I don't think I want to stock fully right away, but I don't want all my bacteria to die from under-stocking.

Will I be OK putting 4 platies in a 20G, or will I be in trouble once I try to up it? Will I be in a mini cycle when I try to add more?

-P

 

[Fried rice]

adding four platies at a time is fine, then wait a week or two and add more platies or whatever type of fish you plan on keeping, but dont stock the tank full right away!

 

[dzsigmond217]

Actually, as far as I've been told, if you fully stock your tank all at once right after cycling you are bound to put your tank back into a mini cycle. The bacteria needs to grow and adjust as you add fish. So start with a few at a time and allow time in between additions to let your bacteria 'catch up'!

 

[Shrimper]

You don't have to fully stock after a fishless cycle if you don't want to. The unused bacteria will die but they will breed again nice and quickly when you add more fish. I've been told the bacteria can double in 24 hours so wont take them long to get up to numbers again up when you add more fish. So long as you don't add too many fish at a time after the original stock you should avoid a mini cycle.

If your going for platies then you will probably want the extra filter capacity for fry anyway, so yea 4 will be fine.

 

[P&J]

If I wait longer than a week or two, would that be bad? I'm just afraid that my bacteria will die down after all that cycling work!

Edit: Wow, 2 more responses while I was responding! Thanks everyone! I want to stock slowly, so it's good to know that the bacteria will catch up quick.

-P

 

[Shrimper]

So long as there are some fish in the tank once it is cycled then the bacteria shouldn't die