Looking For Help With My New Tank

[rubiix]

Hi. I'm looking to set up a second tank, having just set up my first one a few months ago. I already have a tank with 2 male 5 female guppies, 4 black neons, 6 neons and a cory so I was looking to do something a bit different this time.

My new tank is 100L/26.5 gallon. I need to move my two male guppies so I can't put anything too big in it. I was thinking of adding a few sorts of tetra, (Maybe emperor, blue emperor tetras,cardinal tetra or rummy nose?) some corys, and maybe some mollies and platys, but any suggestions here would be welcome. I was wondering what sort of fish people use to help establish their tank, ie. a 'starter' fish. I've used black neon tetra as my first group of fish but was wondering what other options I have.

Also, I would love to add one or two dwarf gourami but am worried about whether they would be suited to this sort of tank and that they might need a lot of water. Thanks in advance.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Your tank is a little small to go to crazy with. If it were me I'd do something like this....
2 male guppies
3 platies 1m/2f
8 neons/cardinal tetras
6 dwarf cories or panda cories
And maybe a male dwarf gourami

As for cycling the new tank, set it up, add some muck from your existing filter to the new one and add a piece of table shrimp. Tank should be cycled in 2-4 weeks. Don't add any fish until its done cycling.
If you don't have one a good test kit, API's master freshwater kit is a good one. Test ammonia and nitrite very day or two. Once you have zero ammonia, usually 7-10 days, wait for the nitrites to spike, then hit zero. Test for nitrates when the nitrites are going up, as you may need to do a small water change after cycling to bring these down.

 

[Noah34568]

Your tanks fine for starters.

So list of what I would do:
2 guppies (that you already got)
2 Dalmation mollies
2 Red Wag Platies
5 Neon Tetras
3 Cory Cats
1 ADF

If you want to do the black neon tetras instead of the neon tetras that would be fine.

 

[rubiix]

Your tank is a little small to go to crazy with. If it were me I'd do something like this....
2 male guppies
3 platies 1m/2f
8 neons/cardinal tetras
6 dwarf cories or panda cories
And maybe a male dwarf gourami

As for cycling the new tank, set it up, add some muck from your existing filter to the new one and add a piece of table shrimp. Tank should be cycled in 2-4 weeks. Don't add any fish until its done cycling.
If you don't have one a good test kit, API's master freshwater kit is a good one. Test ammonia and nitrite very day or two. Once you have zero ammonia, usually 7-10 days, wait for the nitrites to spike, then hit zero. Test for nitrates when the nitrites are going up, as you may need to do a small water change after cycling to bring these down.

Wow. I've never heard about that method of cycling before. Maybe I need to familiarize myself with the beginner's section a little more. When I set up my first tank, I was told at my LFS to add stress coat and quick start, plant all my plants and to let it run empty. I've lost two fish but the tank seems fine now. I ran it empty for two weeks, then added the black neon, left it for two weeks again and added the neons, and a fortnight later, the guppies. I lost a black neon (since replaced) a week before I put in the guppies. About a week later after adding the guppies I lost one of my female guppies. I put this down to only having four guppies to two very persistent males, so I replaced the guppy and added an extra guppy. At the same time I replaced my black neon and added a cory at the same time. I haven't had any more deaths since. My LFS told me to expect a few losses when I was establishing the tank.
My LFS tested my first tank's water before I added the guppies and I was told the results were all normal, but I will try the test kit, thanks for the suggestion.