KL> A week seems a very short time. Before now I've been 
 KL> able to leave a pond for just a week before all the 
 KL> water quality tests came out OK but in my experience 
 KL> tanks can take as long as 6 weeks before they are safe 
 KL> to put fish in.
I guess it depends on the fish and the size of the tank.  The week seems to 
work for a generic 10-20 gallon tropical tank (this guy had a 1 gallon toy 
tank).  For larger, specialized tanks, I'd go longer and in phases.  In my 75 
gallon african tank, we ran for about a week empty, except for the plants.  
When the water tested out OK, we introduced a school of giant danios as 
guniea pigs.  After a weeka nd a half without losing a danio, and the water 
still testing OK, we introduced the cichlids.
With my son 2 1/2 gallon, we ran for a week and tossed in some barbs.  
They've had no problems at all.
I guess the biggest part of the decision is how upset you'll be if you lose a 
fish. 
Robby
--- Maximus 3.01
---------------