My Current Stocking (new Tank)

[Mort75]

I finished my fishless cycle and made the hour and a half trip to my closest fish store. i ended up bringing home these current fish my tank is a 50 Gallon 48Lx12Wx20H

7-Zebra Danios
6-Red Minor serpae Tetra
4-Mickey Mouse Platys
3-Cherry Barbs
3-spotted Corys
2-Guppys

I will get 3 more spotted corys and a bristlenose plec next week when the store gets its shipment and will call my stocking done. so what are your thoughts on this stalking? good? not good? any advise on any of these fish? so far my faorite is the Serpae tetras. they are awesome to watch them play around.

 

[Tuxyu3]

Will the serpae's not nip, especially with the guppies?
Cherry barbs prefer a shoal.

The only other thing i can think of is that its a lot of fish to add at once, especially considering its not a very mature filter or tank.

 

[Mort75]

I have been watching the serpae for about a week now and i havent noticed them nipping on any of the other fish yet maybe they will when they get older. I done a fishless cycle and was processing 4ppm of ammonia every 12 hours. i would think that 4ppm ammonia is more then a fully stalked tank would produce so im not to worried about my bioload i think i should be fine but i could be wrong. maybe ill get a few more cherry barbs. i handt read that they were a schooling fish, Thanks for the input tuxyu3

 

[Tuxyu3]

No problem. In my experience even though barbs prefer a shoal they will not be too adversely affected like neons will so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Aquascaper]

Just to clarify...as it was a fishless cycle the filter has been cultivated to deal with more waste than a full tank would produce (if done to 4 - 5ppm) therefore adding a full stock of fish is only replacing the dosed ammonia and not overstretching the filtration capacity at all.

This is one of the main benefits of a fishless cycle in that it matures the filter prior to adding fish and allowing a full compliment to be added in one go. There is still a small possibility of a spike but no more than when adding any other fish to any other tank.

 

[Tuxyu3]

I understand the concept but the way i see it there is more than one thing that could go wrong with a new tank and when you fully stock it you are not just risking one or two fish but a tank full, its more of a personal view/choice thn anything.

 

[Aquascaper]

Im genuinely interested in what sort of things you mean. All I can think of would be equipment failure (which could happen at any time) and filtration issues such as a mini-cycle or spike.

One introduction of fish (from one supplier) means less chance of cross contamination/introduction of illnesses (from fish or water) and no risk of aggression from already established fish. This would outweigh the small possibility of a mini-cycle/spike for me but as you say it is personal preference.

 

[dannybgoode]

I think the issue with not adding all the fish is it makes the whole fishless cycle a bit pointless.

You grow all those bacteria to support a fully stocked tank and then only stick a couple of fish in, a lot of the bacteria will die off. You then have to very slowly add fish, monitor water stats etc until you're at full stocking again.

Far more can go wrong doing this.

Cheers

Danny B

 

[Mort75]

well tux was right my serpae started to nip the fins of my other fish so i sold them to my neighbor i also had a platy die for some odd reason. after its death i tested my water and had 0 ammonia and zero nitrite with 5ppm of nitrate. so as of now i have.

7 zebra danios
3 MM Platys
3 scissortail rasbora
3 peppered cory
3 cherry barbs

Im hoping to get a few more cory when the lfs get them in stock again.

I also have had a beta in a 1 gallon bowl for about 6 months. do you think it would get along with the fish i have inb the tank. i would like to add him if it would be ok. what are your thoughts?