AlekN
Member
So I have set up my 2nd tank being a 55 gallon and I used media from my 10 gallon to seed the filter by squeezing the sponge and putting a piece into the filter. The tank is I would say not quite heavily planted but close to heavily planted. I added fritz zyme 7 to the water to help speed up the cycle. I read that adding the fritz zyme allows for immediate introduction (Is this true)? and have read that seeding the filter allows for fish to be introduced immediately but have also read that you should wait a few days to weeks. I have also read that if you see plant growth, then it is safe to add fish because the plants are naturally filtering the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I do see new plant growth and yet I test the water and get about .25 ppm ammonia and .50 ppm nitrite and 5.0 ppm of nitrates. Everywhere I read people say when they cycle with plants they don't get any readings in ammonia, nitrites and nitrates because the plants use it to for new growth and are able to introduce fish immediately. I have many stem plants like amazon swords and rotala magenta, scarlet temple, pogostemon octopus, and vallisneria that are growing but I am getting these readings. Am I missing something here? Is it safe to add some fish or should I wait until readings show a completed cycle. It has been a week since I first seeded the filter, added plants and fritz zyme. Also this is my first time and post on fishlore it seems like a great and helpful community I hope someone can help shed some light on my ignorance!