IheartmyOscars

so, i set up a 55 gal. last saturday. it went thru its bacteria bloom the second day. the third day i added gravel from an established tank, and by the fifth day the tank was clear. i sent my boyfriend to the store for a test kit, and he returned with a screaming baby (ours) and no kit. he left it on the hood of the car while dealing with baby, and PetSmart has no idea what happened. i happened to have a bottle of nitite test stuff from use in a previously established tank. i assumed that once the bacteria bloom went away, the tank would be showing nitrites. but it hasn't shown any at all. I use NitraBan in my tanks, and i added it to this new tank upon set-up. does this mean i won't have a nitrite spike? or nitrates? please help!

susitna-flower

Hi ! and Welcome to fishlore! I know you have been posting, but I have never had the chance to answer anything.

Don't you just HATE that, when you spend lots of money, then for one reason or another, it doesn't make it home..... But I am afraid to tell you, you really can't be sure of your tank without testing. The bloom is a good indication that there IS activity, but it might not be enough to keep up with your fish that you already have in the tank. Your readings should be 0 for ammonia and nitrite, and SOMETHING for nitrate. If the nitrate gets up over 5, or the others over 0 you need to start with the water changes..... When my nitrate is over 10 I do 50% water changes every day, until it gets down.

You said you also have a pleco in with the Oscars? That too will add to the overcrowding, they sometimes can get very large. Have you started feeding your Oscars live food yet? I have never had them, but I am sure there are many here that can tell you all about their feeding needs. I believe this is one of the other reasons you have had the advice that 2 Oscars will overcrowd the 55 gal. Because the contamination created when they are fed the way they are suppose to be. It gets messy! Best of luck!

Fish in the Frozen North. 8)