CalBears24

Background: I have a 7-gallon freshwater aquarium that I got from my friend, who used to have ~6-7 fish. We used his old gravel (after washing it quite a bit). There are two decorations- a fake plant and a half of a sunken ship thing. A day after letting the tank run, I added two long-finned zebra danios to the tank. The water did not get cloudy, as the PETCO guy predicted, and the zebra danios are doing fine, save for a little aggression that shifts between the two every so often (one is male and one is female, I think). It's been running for two weeks now, with no problems, except for a protein film that forms on top that I try to remove every so often.

When can I begin to add new fish to the tank? Is there any way of telling without having to go to the pet store and get the water tested to see if the nitrogen cycle is completed? Based on previous experience, are there any estimates out there on a time length for this situation?

Thanks!

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!! you can test the water yourself with an api test kit so you dont have to rely on LFS..it would be to your benefit to have one..and since you are doing a cycle with fish, you should always know what your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates are..there is no time frame on when its done, every tank is different

sirdarksol

Welcome to Fishlore!
Yes, you can find out if the tank is cycled without the petstore. You've just got to by a testing kit (API Master Test Kit is the preferred kit around here)

About the only thing I would suggest adding to that tank is one more danio. The general guideline is 1" of adult fish per gallon of water. Danios grow to 2", so three of them would be 6".
Honestly, though, I think it would be best with only the two in there. Aside from bioload, there's a matter of swimming space. Fish can get stressed if they lack their own swimming space.

CalBears24

Thanks for the warm welcomes! I really enjoy surfing this site! Seeing as how I don't have a test kit yet, I was wondering if there was an approximate time after the initial setup that I should go over to PETCO (where I got my danios) and get a free water test, with a good chance that the nitrogen cycle has completed, so I can buy a fish or two then without having to make another trip? The store is pretty far away...

Shawnie

Fishstores arent very reliable..hence why having your own kit will be so much better...dr foster & smith has kits that are affordable..id buy the kit before id buy more fish so you can be in control of all your readings

CalBears24

Thanks! DFS has good prices, but with shipping, it'd probably be cheaper to get it from a LFS. I was thinking 1 more danio, and two neon tetras? Bad idea?

jdhef

Kind of a bad idea to add more than maybe one Danio. As stated previously, the maximum stocking of a tank is 1" of adult size fish per gallon, so three Danios at 2" full grown size would be 6 gallons. Keep in mind that even though its a 7 gallon tank, you don't have 7 gallons of water since the gravel and orniments displace water.

In a larger tank, you can get away with being fully stocked a little easier than with a small tank, since with the additional volume of water, changes to water chemistry don't happen quite as fast or easily.

John

Shawnie

Once again, until you know your tank readings, I personally WOULDNT add anything ..you are already at 4 inches of fish and not sure you are even cycled yet..and you only have 7 gallons....and one more danio, as sir said would be max..

sirdarksol

Doctors Foster and Smith actually are cheaper than pet stores if you think ahead a bit. Order a bunch of stuff at once, getting just enough to come in right under their first tier of shipping costs. I usually do this when I'm starting a new tank and need substrate. Pet stores charge extra because shipping substrate is expensive. DFS, however, has a blanket price unless you choose express shipping. So four bags of substrate are each 5$ cheaper than at the store, shipping is only $10, I just saved $10, don't have to go anywhere, and my substrate is on my doorstep the next day.

Lucy

Hi CalBears, Welcome to Fish Lore

Your tank is 2 weeks old, it's a good bet that your tank is not cycled.

I agree with Shawnie and Sir. Get a test kit (api) and don't add any fish until the cycle is done.

No one has mentioned this, but when cycling with fish you must do daily water changes to keep the ammonia levels from killing your fish.

Good luck.

COBettaCouple

Yes, I'd recommend the API master Freshwater kit also and daily water changes of 25-40% if cycling with fish. Also, treat all water with Prime if cycling with fish. Prime is our preferred water conditioner for tanks.