First Tank - Would it be alright to add fish now?

Okay, I can imagine you guys prob get asked this all the time, but I'm wondering when I should add fish...

I bought this tank used and it already had a clown and another fish (I cant remember the name), but those fish died in the temporary container they were in for traveling..

Anyways, so it was a cycled tank and everything and I have a Bubble Coral and Sea anemone along with a few hermit crabs living in there now. So would it be alright to add 2 clowns and a few more crabs?

Ammonia: 0 - .25ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0 - 5ppm
PH: 7.6 (I know, it's kinda low)
Temp: 77.9f

If you want to see the tank:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...073741832.100001722802439&type=1&l=6303a395e7
(if you ask why I don't have a Skimmer - I got a new one. The one I had sucked and didn't barely work anymore)

 

Welcome to 3reef. ;D

Nice tank, congrats.

No I would not add any fish or other coral/and or inverts until you have no detectable ammonia or nitrites.

For now I would do some small water changes and continue to test. Give it a week or so. If the sand bed was disturbed and the tank was previously set up for more than a couple months you want to proceed with caution and patience.

Consider getting some Prime and MB7 should you run into problems.

That pH value is fine.

 

Thanks!

Alright, I will let it just sit and run for now then. I'm just anxious to get some activity in the tank besides corals

 

My 2 cents.... I have read in some places that if you are using certain kinds of water testing it can show ammonia up to .25 and you not have any at all. As Coralline has stated you can wait and do small water changes and keep an eye on your ammonia and nitrites. Which is the best option. I would probably take your water to a LFS and have it checked so that you will know for certain your parameters.

Enjoy the hobby,
Zgetman

 

Are you feeding the hermits? Even if empty, the tank should be fed once daily to keep the beneficial bacteria alive and spreading. Wait at least a week while feeding and watch for ammonia and nitrite.

 

+1 to the advice you've been given

 

+1 to everything. If you are using an API test kit, it is very hard to distinguish between 0-.25PPM. I would highly recommend getting a Seachem Ammonia Alert badge. They go inside your tank and will show ammonia levels down to .02PPM.

Either way, wait at least a week or two to get the tank stable before adding anything.

 

Thanks for your all help guys!

 

yes this

 

I have done some reading about the Ammonia alert badge vs the API ammonia test. The API tests for NH3 and NH4 which are both ammonia, but the NH4 is not harmful to fish. That may be why you are getting readings with your API testing. The Alert badge tests only for NH3 and will only read if you have harmful ammonia in your system. I hope this helps.