This is my first tank. It's actually in my office. ±250L/65gallon tank. Its on 6 weeks now. Should be cycled I assume.
Water parameters been consistent for about 2-3 weeks.
pH @ ±5.5
Ammonia @ 0ppm
I don't have a nitrite and nitrate test unfortunately. Will get one in the near future.
Currently, it has 10 neocaridina. 2 died days after delivery. The rest have been there (happily I think) for ±2 weeks. I saw multiple successful molts since then. Going to add another 10 neocaridina, 10 caridina since from what I've read , my water parameters seem more suitable for caidina. Wanted to give it a try.
Going to attempt to add green neon tetras and some round pelia moss.
Anything I should be adding or tweaking?
Posted by Sgt_Care_Bear
2 Comments
Don’t change anything, you did absolutely perfect!
Just don’t get impatient and ensure the nitrite cycle is fully completed. It takes longer when you use dirted substrate and plants because the substrate leeches ammonia. Keep checking the water parameters for another week+ before adding fish. Shrimp will not spike it quickly because they are extremely low bioload.
tank looks great!
super important to have a test kit when caring for fish, especially during cycling. i recommend the api master test kit. 25 bucks on amazon (usually) and it will last you a long time!!
as for cycling, the best way to check if you are ready for fish is to do the 2ppm ammonia test. you dose the tank up to 2ppm ammonia. after 24-48 hours you will check your levels. if your ammonia and nitrite are both very clearly 0, your tank can handle a decent bioload and you are ready for fish!
edit: sorry, i just saw you already have animals in the tank. this method is NOT safe to do while animals are in the tank. if you can take them out and put them in another temporary home you can do this method, but otherwise you should do some research on a fish in cycle. as the other commenter said, 10 shrimp is not really enough to spike your ammonia high enough get a cycle going on a tank.