RivendellTS

I am a strong believer in "if it aint broke, don't fix it" but I also want to make sure I am not causing anything to break.

I don't want to needlessly add anything to the tank. My water parameters continue to be good. Same as yesterday (tanks only been running two days....at my house anyway) except the nitrates actually went down from 20 to less than 10 this morning (color was darker than 5 but lighter than 10 on my API liquid test kit). Fish all seem happy and healthy. I think I have been so lucky because the person I bought the tank from saved all the filter catridges etc for me (kept them wet to preserve the bacteria) and I used the same substrate (that was kept wet as well). So essentially what I did on Sunday when I set the tank up at home was more like a giant water change than starting from scratch (even tho for me it was starting from scratch).

The setup I bought came with aquarium salt and I also have stress coat at home for my daughter's 10g tank. Since everything so far seems to be running OK, Should I be adding ANYTHING to the 55g tank or would that be tempting fate? On the one hand I feel like I should be doing something to help maintain the tank the way it is but on the other I don't want to mess with it if it doesn't need to be.

Lucy

It sounds like everything went smoothly.
At this point just keep your eye on your parameters and do weekly maintenance.
If you start to have ammonia/nitrite readings then you can take action.

jdhef

I personally don't believe in using aquarium salt, so I wouldn't use that.

As far as your nitrate test, if you are using the API liqiud test kit, bottle 2 needs to really be beaten and shaken pretty vigorisly. Apparently it contains crystals suspended in liquid, and the crystals parcipitate out. If not thoroughly mixed, you will get a false reading.

RivendellTS

Thanks jdhef...I noticed yesterday the first time I used it that the directions said to shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Not sure I shook it long enough this morning so maybe thats why the nitrate readings went down.

Jaysee

I'm not a fan of salt either.

Perhaps I missed it, but did you add fish to the tank since you set it up with the well preserved media and gravel? The fish need to be added immediately, or you should be adding ammonia every day until you add fish in order to sustain the colonies.

RivendellTS

Yes Jaysee the fish came with the tank (purchased used - transported separately of course) and they went in Sunday night a few hours after I got the tank set up. I posted a link yesterday with pics. Perhaps one of the moderators could help me link it back to this thread.

Shawnie

My new 55G tank
I agree leave it be for a couple weeks to be sure ...great job it looks awesome!