Need Some Help

[Craigus]

So I have a25 gallon tall tank stocked with 4 tiger barbs 4 firemouths and 4 giant danios. I know you guys are gonna say I'm overstocked but they are all juveniles with none being over 1'5 inches. This tank is temporary. Its my first tank and I wanted to see if I could do it before I purchased a 55 gallon or larger. So far water ph is 7.5 with nitrates and ammonia so low they are registering 0 ppm on my test kit. Water temp is a steady 78 deg. Please help me with suggestions or tips our feel free to tell me I'm being an idiot lol. But I'm excited to get into this hobby.

 

[twodoctors]

So I have a25 gallon tall tank stocked with 4 tiger barbs 4 firemouths and 4 giant danios. I know you guys are gonna say I'm overstocked but they are all juveniles with none being over 1'5 inches. This tank is temporary. Its my first tank and I wanted to see if I could do it before I purchased a 55 gallon or larger. So far water ph is 7.5 with nitrates and ammonia so low they are registering 0 ppm on my test kit. Water temp is a steady 78 deg. Please help me with suggestions or tips our feel free to tell me I'm being an idiot lol. But I'm excited to get into this hobby.

Don't know you personally so not going to start calling you idiot! You know what you are doing is wrong so let's leave it at that.

Tiger barbs need to be a larger group. People often say 6 or more. When I started with 6 in my 55G, they were fine. But when I added the rest they were even more active and appears happier.

Firemouth gets to about 6 inches. They are territorial fish and your 55g may not be big enough for more than a pair. Speaking from my limited experience (3 months) my pair of Sajica (similar temperament) claims the whole bottom part as their own. It was probably due to the order I put the fish in and the fact that they are paired up, but you may have a problem later in your journey.

Danios are schooling fish. 4 is not enough

A larger tank is actually easier to maintain than a small tank because any increase in ammonia and nitrite is diluted into a larger volume of water. Get a big tank if you are really serious about fish keeping. Small tank with lots of fish is a recipe for disaster. It usually ends with dead fishes and a frustrated keeper.

If I were you I would bring back 2 firemouth so you have a male and female only. Get more barbs and danios. Both are schooling fish and that means 6 or more each.

Adrian