Expert: Lauren - 11/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a 6 gallon tank with 1 male turquoise guppy. The tank has been set up for 6 - 7 days. He's brightly colored still, he's active. Actually, he's been much more active since his tank light broke about 3 - 4 days ago. I'm doing a fish-in cycle with him. Ammonia, Nitrates, and Nitrites were at 0, two days ago. He eats just fine. I'm worried that I haven't gotten an ammonia spike yet, isn't that supposed to happen when doing a fish-in cycle? How long is it going to take to cycle the tank?

ANSWER: the tank should be cycled by now...it usually cycles within a week, and then 3 days after the fish are added the bacteria levels will be wobbly...

you dont want high ammonia anyway, it will burn him and possibly kill him, if he's acting fine then i would just leave him to it =]

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, first of all. Second, i've read the water is supposed to get cloudy, but it never did. Why? Also, am I okay to get more guppies? If so, how many?

Answer
its not meant to go cloudy...some times it does when too mant fish are added at once as the bacteria get messed up, but since you only added one all seems well...

yeah your ok to get more...you could probably have about 6 max in that size tank, but what ever you feel looks right and not over crowded...dont add 5 more at once though as your water will go cloudy and you may loose the fish..add 2 maybe 3 tops at a time then wait a week..

good luck