Cleaner shrimp in new tank with high nitrites and nitrates?

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

Hey everyone.

I just finished cycling my tank, it a a 15g, and tomorrow I am going to get some fish and inverts for it. My nitrites are 5 at the highest, but I can't really match the color, and I know the nitrates are high, and I use a API test kit, so nitrates are inaccurate on that. Note I will be switching to salifert once I run out. I would like to know if I could pick up a cleaner shrimp tomorrow, or if I can't. I will do a water change before I leave tomorrow, around a 20% change. Please let me know your thoughts on this. Thanks!

 

[Uncle99]

Yes, but you also mention getting fish as well.
Go slow to allow for your biological friends to catch up.

 

[FUNGI]

Yes, but you also mention getting fish as well.
Go slow to allow for your biological friends to catch up.

especially in a small system.....

 

[Lavey29]

Do a water change before adding anything. 15g is actually 10g with rocks so 2 small fish will be the stock limit maybe 3 if you have over filtration.

 

[Spare time]

High nitrites might cause a faulty high nitrate reading.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

Alright, I will get the cleaner shrimp tomorrow, and 1 to 2 fish, but do you think that next weekend, I should go to get maybe 1 more fish, and my CUC?

 

[Lavey29]

Alright, I will get the cleaner shrimp tomorrow, and 1 to 2 fish, but do you think that next weekend, I should go to get maybe 1 more fish, and my CUC?

You add cleaners as the tank needs them or they die. New tanks don't need anything the first month because there is no algae for them. Add one fish after water change. Wait 3 weeks and add second fish if everything is OK then enjoy your tank and at 3 months start adding first corals. Easy starter corals.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

You add cleaners as the tank needs them or they die. New tanks don't need anything the first month because there is no algae for them. Add one fish after water change. Wait 3 weeks and add second fish if everything is OK then enjoy your tank and at 3 months start adding first corals. Easy starter corals.

I can still get the shrimp right?

 

[Lavey29]

I can still get the shrimp right?

Yes should be fine. The key to nano tanks are weekly water changes because if something is off in a small tank it affects everything quickly. Weekly 15% water change will keep you in balance.