Adding New Fish To A Tank Advice

[ghostlovelane]

Hello everyone,

I am a bit of a beginner/novice in the tropical fish/gold fish keeping department. I've had a little experience and a little success, but a few tragedies.

I have a 10-gallon tank in my office complete with filter (penguin w/ biowheel), heater and undergravel filter also (two filters). I had 2 cherry barbs, 3 neon tetras, 2 rainbow threadfin, 2 endlers. All seemed to be going well for a while except that I lost one of the neon tetras overnight and for seemingly no reason other than stress, maybe? After a few months, I began losing my fish one at a time. It began with the sudden loss of a cherry barb. I never saw any signs of sickness. Then later, it was the threadfins. They began to look emaciated and again, for seemingly no reason. I do regular water checks and water changes. I vaccum the rocks and add only pre-packaged water that you buy at Petco. I read everything I could find to try to peg the issue, and could never find any disease that quite pegged it, until I came across Neon Tetra disease. When I learned that this disease could affect other fish, it occurred to me that this could be the issue. I lost the 2 threadfins and one of the tetras who also slowly appeared emaciated. Eventually, I lost the endlers (they never appeared to be unhealthy). I am now down to one cherry barb and would like to eventually add some new fish to the tank, but want to make sure I remedy whatever is in there before I do anything else. Although my barb appears ok, I'm worried something could be wrong like the others. At the time, I'd isolate the sick looking fish, but think that maybe if it is neon tetra disease, my tank could already be affected. All my other tests have good results: ammonia 0, nitrite 0, pH 7.6, nitrate always under 10, temp 80 degrees. When I set the tank up, I used the fishless cycling method to get the process going. It cycled completely to my knowledge as I've never had high ammonia levels since. Any ideas on ensuring it is ready for new fish?

I'm also worried that once my tank is good to go and I do decide to get new fish, that it will cause an ammonia spike. How can I deal with a spike so I don't lose any fish? What can I do to prepare?

Any suggestions on what are good fish to go with a cherry barb in a 10-gallon. I know that they do better in larger schools, but I definitely like the idea of a little variety. But to avoid overcrowding, I know I should only have a few fish in there. I like smaller fish like the endlers and they seemed to do really well with the barbs.

I appreciate everyone's time. Thank you!

 

[vinylman]

Unfortunately, most of the fish you have/had prefer to be in groups of at least 5 or 6. Twos or threes will leave them rather insecure and probably stressed; stress is one of the biggest causes and contributors to fish deaths. In a tank so small, you simply can't have three or four different types of fish, as you won't be able to have enough of each. If you really like Cherry Barbs, have a group of six, or the same number of Pencilfish. It's either/or though, I'm afraid. The temperature seems a little high,too. If you have a heater, try lowering it to 76/77. Don't give up, though.