How soon can I add livestock to the tank?Updated a month ago
Fish are best introduced when the aquarium is biologically mature. Fresh aquasoils release ammonia and other volatile substances. It will take a few weeks for the tank's microbial biology to mature and for the filters to process organic waste efficiently. While the suppressed pH of fresh aquasoils can prevent ammonia toxicity from setting in, it is much better to wait before introducing animals to the tank. Depending on the setup, tanks can take as little as 2 weeks or as long as 8 weeks to reach biological maturity.
Steps that help accelerate biological maturity:
- Adding mulm/starter bacteria from old filters
- Having good oxygen and flow
- Having higher tank temperatures
- Having adequate filtration