I set up my new 10 gallon 10 days ago. I have 4 male guppies in it and a few plants. I replaced the carbon in the filter cartridge with ceramic media. I have a Top Fin 10 filter. I test my water daily with API liquid test kits, and always have 0 ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite. Should I increase my bioload with more fish or just keep waiting?

I would maybe wait a bit... how many plants do you have in there and what are they? Maybe the plants are using up the ammonia?

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20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

I have 2 anubis and a Java fern plus a few small sprigs of anacharis floating around.

The Java and Anubias are slower growing, but the Elodea (Anacharis) grows fast...... maybe it's eating the ammonia before it can show?

Try giving it a few more days.

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20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

+1

also try to not feed for the next week or so. this is a very critical time with the plants (hopefully) taking care of the ammonia as the aerobic bacteria build up. During this time not adding food helps limit the ammonia production. If you get above what the plants can handle it can be disasterous.


my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

With only three guppies in a tank with that amount of plants, I believe you are encountering what we call a "silent cycle", i.e. the plants handle the ammonia and nitrite spikes until nitrifying bacteria take hold in the filter and start turning stuff into nitrate.

I believe you can safely increase your bioload if that's what you intend to do eventually, but as Holly mentioned, it might be prudent to wait a few more days, solely for caution's sake.

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Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!