How To Balance My Two 20 Gallons

[eschaton]

This is essentially a repost from the newbie forum, but I got no replies there. I'd like some advice and I'm sorry if I'm breaking posting ettiquite or something.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I way overstocked my 20 gallon, so I split the fish between two tanks. The new tank is also a 20 gallon.

Original tank (coarse gravel, heavily planted)

5 guppies (the females are pregnant)
5 tiger barbs (immature at the moment, but they should be growing)
1 dwarf african frog
1 bamboo shrimp (I'll be moving him to the other tank once it's established and he has something to filter)
1 mystery snail
numerous little snails

New tank (fine, black gravel, more lightly planted)

5 zebra danios
6 Neon Tetras
6 Glowlight Tetras
2 Albino Corys

The original tank is pretty much done, except it needs an algae eater (I'm thinking an otto) and maybe another DAF once it's cycled. This, and the eventual guppy fry/growth of the tiger barbs ought to fill up the tank.

I'm less sure with the new tank, because the more I've read, the more I realize I should get another zebra danio, and 3 or 4 more corys. Plus the shrimp is going in there, and it also needs an algae eater once it's established. So the tank load will be much higher than the other tank.

I'm thinking two possible solutions. I now know the tiger barbs will eat the neons if they go back in. But if I'm correct, the glowlights ought to end up slightly larger. Could they fend for themselves against the tiger barbs?

The second alternative is to move all the tetras back into tank one and the tiger barbs into tank two.

Lastly, I could move the corys into tank one again.

Both the latter two options aren't as pleasing in terms of asthetics, because the contrast works well in the current tank. Also, I don't think the tiger barbs would like living in a comparably bare tank. But if it's the best option for the health of the fishes I'm more than willing to do it.

 

[chibi]

Hmm... I know this is going against the schooling thing, but I'd only keep 3 neon tetras and 3 glowlights. I'd remove a zebra too, since danios can do well in groups of 4. Getting some more corys is a good idea. Your tank may be a little crowded, but your fish will be happy. You'll just have to do good water changes frequently to combat nitrate buildup.

The tigers barbs seem like a big problem with your fish. If you're worried about them eating/injuring your other fish, I'd get rid of them. They are very nippy and are hard to find suitable tankmates for.