Water Readings?

[Chrs]

Whats the ideal water readings for a new tank?

 

[helterskelter]

Depends on how long you had the tank and how your cycleing it
do u have fish? and stuff like that first.

 

[indigoj]

You want to aim for 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and less than 40 nitrate (that's ppm - parts per million)

These levels will of course be 0 in a brand newly set up tank - will then fluctuate during the cycle - and once the cycle is complete you are ready to add fish.

IF you have taken the advice of your LFS (local fish shop) and already have fish without cycling - many people do so you would not be alone in this - then you are aiming to keep the ammonia and nitrite as close to 0 as you can with daily big water changes until they read 0 all the time. (this can take a few weeks)

 

[Chrs]

My tanks been set up for a week but I want to know what it should be at when I can Add fish

 

[K-Holed]

You can keep your tank up and running for as long as you like. Until something it added to it to start the bacteria growing, it will never be ready for fish.

Your choices are a fish-in cycle (not recommended, takes longer and is more effort) or a fishless cycle (reccomended by alot of people on this forum)

Check out the stickys at the top of this forum..

Kind regards

Jimi

 

[helterskelter]

What test kits do u have you should have ammonia, nitrite, nitrates and perhaps pH

Once u have steady 0 ammonia and nirtires and some nitrates in the water the beneficial bacteria are doing their job.

You should them add 4-6 small fish or 2 medium fish at a time then add more after 7-10 days until stocked