Wolfgang8810

So my 10 gallon planted tank finaly finished the cycle however the nitrates are only 10 should i do a water change before adding shrimp or fish? I attribute the low nitrates to plants.

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capekate

I believe that the nitrate level of 10 is in the acceptable range.
Good luck with your new cycled tank!

~ kate

jsalemi

Nitrates at 10 is great! Anything under 20 is ideal; anything over 40 is getting to the danger point. Your plants are most likely helping to keep the nitrates low.

Barbrella

Just want to say - that's a really pretty setup!! So natural and soothing.

Jim

you're probably ok to start introducing fish, but I'd only do it one or 2 at a time, so you don't throw the cycle back off. Also, I love your setup. Your plants are arranged quite well, and it should fill out to be a beautiful little garden tank.

Howeyg

very nice setup you have there what fish are you planning on putting in

Wolfgang8810

red cherry shrimp its going to be shrimp only

Wolfgang8810

putting some cherry barbs in it today and they will move to my 50 gallon when i get my red cherry shrimp.

guppy07

wolfgang8810,

I had a question for you. You said your 10 g finally cycled! How long did that take? How did you cycle, with fish or fish less? If you went fish less what method did you use? Thanks in advance for the help!

susitna-flower

Your DO have a lovely tank. As for the nitrates, I would do a 25% change before adding fish.

Shrimp on the other hand HAVE to have low nitrates......When you get them, make sure you have the nitrates down to between 5 and 10 and maintain that with water changes as needed to keep it that way. Lots of work for that Master test kit! But it will be well worth it!

Wolfgang8810

to cycle my tank i put 2 cocktail shrimp in the ottom and just let them rot away to produce ammonia. I had the bio filter for that tank burried on the cravel of one of my other tanks for about 5 days to seed it with bacteria. The whole cycle took 16 days. I got the red cherries yesterday and my nitrates are about 10. I wilol be doing a water change in a day or so. Three of the females are already carrying eggs.

susitna-flower

You will love the cherries. When I got mine I got 25 about 10 of which were carrying eggs. Even though my tank had low nitrates, about 4 of the first females died! Now however they have recovered, and in about 4 months there are about 100 females carrying eggs! I do 50% water changes at least twice a week, but then I have fish and snails in this tank also. Just yesterday I found a dead female full of eggs! A water change yesterday and today. This is my favorite tank, 55 gal., it has so much going on, but few fish!

I highly recommend people look to this method of enjoyment of a tank, without overcrowding with fish to just "fill it up".

I would love to see a close up of your shrimp in that lovely planted tank!

Wolfgang8810

the cherries havent got their color back yet from the 4 day ride but here is a picture of my tank as of now.

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Barbrella

The cherries will be very happy in that tank. They just love plants and will spawn in them.