Stocking Order

[ShyKitty91]

Hello all,

My tank has finally started to cycle, and now I'm starting to really think about stocking and what order I should put the fish in. I know just adding them whenever like I have in the past isn't always the best idea. So any help or advice would be appreciated.

30G long with adequate heating, filter, air.

Options:

1 male honey gourami
7 male fancy guppys
4 black skirt tetra
3 white skirt tetra
5 cherry barbs

*Note ~ my understanding is the black skirts and white skirts would school together because they are the same fish, just different colored.

OR

2 male honey gourami
7 male fancy guppys
6 black skirt tetra
5 cherry barbs

*Note ~ my lps keeps the males in one tank and the females in another, they don't seem to fight. As long as I get them from the same store, same time, I think they will be okay in my 30G.

Even 20, no fish group the same amount, keeps my OCD calm.

 

[Clarousel]

Hello

Nice that you're getting black skirt tetras and cherry barbs. Always wanted them!

I think 2 male gouramis should be fine if you have adequate plants in the tank

 

[ShyKitty91]

Hello

Nice that you're getting black skirt tetras and cherry barbs. Always wanted them!

I think 2 male gouramis should be fine if you have adequate plants in the tank

All I got for plants is what's in my tank, shown in my sig.
I really think if I add more it would clutter it up too much.

The lps has 10 or more in a tank half the size of mine with no plants at all.
I know they need to be able to scoop em quickly and they aren't there for very long but it still makes me a little sad.

 

[Clarousel]

Hello

Nice that you're getting black skirt tetras and cherry barbs. Always wanted them!

I think 2 male gouramis should be fine if you have adequate plants in the tank

All I got for plants is what's in my tank, shown in my sig.
I really think if I add more it would clutter it up too much.

The lps has 10 or more in a tank half the size of mine with no plants at all.
I know they need to be able to scoop em quickly and they aren't there for very long but it still makes me a little sad.

I do agree your tank may look a little cluttered with more plants. Maybe you could try re-arranging them? But I doubt 2 would be a problem since your tank's quite large. 3 would deffy be a prob.

My lfs told my dad "these fish don't fight" so he bought 4 and 1 got bullied so much, he had to be re-homed to our pond.

 

[ShyKitty91]

Hello

Nice that you're getting black skirt tetras and cherry barbs. Always wanted them!

I think 2 male gouramis should be fine if you have adequate plants in the tank

All I got for plants is what's in my tank, shown in my sig.
I really think if I add more it would clutter it up too much.

The lps has 10 or more in a tank half the size of mine with no plants at all.
I know they need to be able to scoop em quickly and they aren't there for very long but it still makes me a little sad.

I do agree your tank may look a little cluttered with more plants. Maybe you could try re-arranging them? But I doubt 2 would be a problem since your tank's quite large. 3 would deffy be a prob.

My lfs told my dad "these fish don't fight" so he bought 4 and 1 got bullied so much, he had to be re-homed to our pond.

Alright, well I'll try two. I'll buy them at the same time, from the same store, since they put them in a tank together there..

Should I add them last though so they could just have what territory is left? Or first so they can, if they must, fight over territory without bugging other fish? But then other fish might have issues finding a spot right?

 

[Clarousel]

Ah I'm not so sure about which fish to add in first.

For me, my gouramis went in first. Followed by the other fish. They are gentle and rather timid by nature so they won't fight with the other fish, only their own kind. When my other fish go into their space, they don't seem to mind.

Sorry I can't be of much help You could wait for other users to reply or search the forums All the best! Hope your tank goes well

 

[ShyKitty91]

Ah I'm not so sure about which fish to add in first.

For me, my gouramis went in first. Followed by the other fish. They are gentle and rather timid by nature so they won't fight with the other fish, only their own kind. When my other fish go into their space, they don't seem to mind.

Sorry I can't be of much help You could wait for other users to reply or search the forums All the best! Hope your tank goes well

I'm thinking I'll add the gourami first..
Then the cherry barbs.
Black skirts.
Guppys.
A week or so apart so the filter can grow it's bacteria colony gradually.
Or vice versa? I don't know.

If/when the tank grows enough algae I'll get an oto.
They are kinda neat and will help me with cleaning the rocks.
But my tank doesn't seem to have any algae at all.
Even now that it is almost done cycling.

 

[Clarousel]

Ah I'm not so sure about which fish to add in first.

For me, my gouramis went in first. Followed by the other fish. They are gentle and rather timid by nature so they won't fight with the other fish, only their own kind. When my other fish go into their space, they don't seem to mind.

Sorry I can't be of much help You could wait for other users to reply or search the forums All the best! Hope your tank goes well

I'm thinking I'll add the gourami first..
Then the cherry barbs.
Black skirts.
Guppys.
A week or so apart so the filter can grow it's bacteria colony gradually.
Or vice versa? I don't know.

If/when the tank grows enough algae I'll get an oto.
They are kinda neat and will help me with cleaning the rocks.
But my tank doesn't seem to have any algae at all.
Even now that it is almost done cycling.

Not sure about the order but make sure to allow some time so you won't overload your bacteria

Otos need to be in 6 at least so I suggest you check if your tank would be over stocked. They are really cute to have though
Yeah algae only started growing a few weeks after my fish were added in. They grow faster if your tank is exposed to sunlight.

 

[ShyKitty91]

Ah I'm not so sure about which fish to add in first.

For me, my gouramis went in first. Followed by the other fish. They are gentle and rather timid by nature so they won't fight with the other fish, only their own kind. When my other fish go into their space, they don't seem to mind.

Sorry I can't be of much help You could wait for other users to reply or search the forums All the best! Hope your tank goes well

I'm thinking I'll add the gourami first..
Then the cherry barbs.
Black skirts.
Guppys.
A week or so apart so the filter can grow it's bacteria colony gradually.
Or vice versa? I don't know.

If/when the tank grows enough algae I'll get an oto.
They are kinda neat and will help me with cleaning the rocks.
But my tank doesn't seem to have any algae at all.
Even now that it is almost done cycling.

Not sure about the order but make sure to allow some time so you won't overload your bacteria

Otos need to be in 6 at least so I suggest you check if your tank would be over stocked. They are really cute to have though
Yeah algae only started growing a few weeks after my fish were added in. They grow faster if your tank is exposed to sunlight.

Yea, I was planning to keep testing NH3 daily after adding fish, when it stays at 0 for a few days I'll add more.
Reminds me, is testing once a week after the tank is fully established enough or..? Twice a week?

I've always been told an oto would be okay with other friendly fish. Or in groups of 3. 6 is alot.
More than one would starve in my tank, even if I wait 6 months to let algae grow..

I'm allergic to the sun (so is my mom) so even light through the window irritates my skin..
So it's very dark in my room.. Which is where the tank is.
The only light the tank gets is the tank light during the day.

 

[Clarousel]

Testing once a week when you do water changes should be fine when your tank is done cycling. But i doubt testing twice would do any harm.

Aw I'm sure you can find other things to feed them!

Ah but definitely algae will grow if you have plants. You can never seem to run away from it haha

 

[ShyKitty91]

Testing once a week when you do water changes should be fine when your tank is done cycling. But i doubt testing twice would do any harm.

Aw I'm sure you can find other things to feed them!

Ah but definitely algae will grow if you have plants. You can never seem to run away from it haha

Blanched veggies I know I can feed them.

I don't have live plants.

 

[Clarousel]

Testing once a week when you do water changes should be fine when your tank is done cycling. But i doubt testing twice would do any harm.

Aw I'm sure you can find other things to feed them!

Ah but definitely algae will grow if you have plants. You can never seem to run away from it haha

Blanched veggies I know I can feed them.

I don't have live plants.

Yeah! Veggies

That's good though, algae's not really something we want in tanks. Heh.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Ah I'm not so sure about which fish to add in first.

For me, my gouramis went in first. Followed by the other fish. They are gentle and rather timid by nature so they won't fight with the other fish, only their own kind. When my other fish go into their space, they don't seem to mind.

Sorry I can't be of much help You could wait for other users to reply or search the forums All the best! Hope your tank goes well

I'm thinking I'll add the gourami first..
Then the cherry barbs.
Black skirts.
Guppys.
A week or so apart so the filter can grow it's bacteria colony gradually.
Or vice versa? I don't know.

If/when the tank grows enough algae I'll get an oto.
They are kinda neat and will help me with cleaning the rocks.
But my tank doesn't seem to have any algae at all.
Even now that it is almost done cycling.

Not sure about the order but make sure to allow some time so you won't overload your bacteria

Otos need to be in 6 at least so I suggest you check if your tank would be over stocked. They are really cute to have though
Yeah algae only started growing a few weeks after my fish were added in. They grow faster if your tank is exposed to sunlight.

Yea, I was planning to keep testing NH3 daily after adding fish, when it stays at 0 for a few days I'll add more.
Reminds me, is testing once a week after the tank is fully established enough or..? Twice a week?

I've always been told an oto would be okay with other friendly fish. Or in groups of 3. 6 is alot.
More than one would starve in my tank, even if I wait 6 months to let algae grow..

I'm allergic to the sun (so is my mom) so even light through the window irritates my skin..
So it's very dark in my room.. Which is where the tank is.
The only light the tank gets is the tank light during the day.

With a new tank, it would be safer to add new fish about every two weeks rather than every few days of zero toxin readings, which will give your bacterial colony a chance to catch up with new additions. As a rough guide, try not to more than double the volume
of fish at each addition, as in take the fish length and its girth into account.

 

[ShyKitty91]

With a new tank, it would be safer to add new fish about every two weeks rather than every few days of zero toxin readings, which will give your bacterial colony a chance to catch up with new additions. As a rough guide, try not to more than double the volume
of fish at each addition, as in take the fish length and its girth into account.

Yes, I know.

Isn't the NO3 readings staying at 0 a sign that the colony is already big enough?
My tank is removing 2.5ppm of NH3 in 30mins.. I only really get to the city on weekends, so it really wouldn't be every few days anyways.

The fish I'm getting seem to prefer to be added at the same time though.
The male gouramis, at the lps are in the same tank, so I'd have to get them from the same tank, at the same time, so they won't fight as much as they will already be accustomed to being together.
The male guppys have to be added all at once so they won't leave any out when they form a gang. More than once I've read that a new guppy addition gets bullied and eventually dies because of it.
I am not sure about the tetra and barbs, however, they ARE schooling fish, so adding 2 at a time would make them very sad.

Wouldn`t it?

You think it's okay to add the 2 gourami tomorrow? I should wait a bit for the NO2 to go down right? Or will they be okay?

 

[Clarousel]

I think you should add the tetras in a group. Lest they be lonely and depressed! Furthermore they're small and may be frightened by the other fish in the tank.

Adding only 2 barbs will cause them to be nippy (for mine they nipped amongst themselves) and aggressive. So it's better to add them in a group as well.