Stocking Q (again)

[StuCarr]

I've had a good search and can't quite find the answers i'm looking for.

I have a 30USG tank that has been set up for 1 week with a sand substrate, couple of big bits of wood and some light planting.
The filter has some media from a friends filter in it, I am testing water daily and all is going well so far. There are 4 pearl danios in the tank at the moment.

I intend to stock slowly allowing 4 weeks or so between additions. The fish I would like to add are listed below, in no particular order, I have researched the fish and believe them to be compatable, (please tell me if there not)

My question is: What order should I stock these fish?

6 Cardinal Tetras
6 Lemon Tetras
3 Dwarf Gouramis (1m2f)
6 Panda Corydoras
2 more pearl danio( taking the total to 6)

This would give me 30" if my sums are correct!

Apologies for another stocking Q, but at least its slightly different to the usual
Thanks in advance
Stu

 

[Breeze7050]

I don't think stocking order here will matter too much as you have mostly community fish aside from maybe, maybe the gouramies. I would probably add the 2 pearl danios first - to get that group up to 6 then add the others. I would wait until the very end for the panda cory's as they are pretty sensitive and need a mature tank. Hope this helps!

 

[mark.w.jones]

All sounds fine. It's a shame you didn't fishles cycle but lots of people make the mistake in the beginning. I don't think you can say you'll add fish every 4 weeks. This isn't really accurate enough. I would suggest 20% water changes every other day to keep ammonia and nitrite levels down. On the days in between test your levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate just to keep tabs on any spikes etc. Ideally you need to keep levels of ammmonia and nitrite as close to zero as possible. The water changes will help with this.

At some point you will get a zero reading for ammonia and nitrite this will vary in time depending on many factors could take a week, could take three. When this happens you know that you have enough bacteria in your filter to cope with the waste of the fish that are currently in your tank. You need to gravel vac at least once every 2 weeks during this time. Now you can add in your next batch of fish and repeat the process above.

Repeat until fully stocked. This will take a fair amount of time and yes you do need to keep the water changes going if you want to reduce the risk of fatalities.

Test Kit wise I would highly recommend the Aquarium Pharmaseuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit.

Good Luck



ps check out fishless cycle link in sig. for next time. Also to speed up the process above. Add some filter sponge and media from an established tank.

 

[Breeze7050]

Jonesy - he did add media filter from his friend's tank which will help greatly. Check his post he says it himself. Good info though.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup even with adding mature media the bacteria colony living in there now will only be enough to support the 4 danio's in there, the bacteria will have died off to the level teh tank is stocked at, so you'll still need to build up gradually.

add the other danio's first, they're hardiest and your existing one's will be happier in the bigger group, then keep testing your water you may get a small ammonia and nitrite spike so test the water and do water changes until they both are consistently at 0..... then leave it a week or so then add some more fish. then do the same again with testing etc then your next lot of fish.

leave the DG's and panda's until the tank's 6 months old.

the others it doesn't matter about the order

 

[Squid]

I've had a good search and can't quite find the answers i'm looking for.

I have a 30USG..

6 Cardinal Tetras
6 Lemon Tetras
3 Dwarf Gouramis (1m2f)
6 Panda Corydoras
2 more pearl danio( taking the total to 6)

This would give me 30" if my sums are correct!

Stu

I'm not sure your sums are correct as you have only allowed sort of 1 inch per fish, which is not taking into account the fish growing.

However, as people always say, that 1 inch per gallon thing is just a guideline. As you are adding your fish slowly and keeping an eye on the stats you will get a feel as to how full the tank looks and whether you can add more fish.

I agree with adding the gouramis and pandas last. I learnt that the hard way, and only 2 out of 5 pandas survived.. not good. Dwarf Gouramis are prone to bacterial infections, and so the more stable the tank is, the better the chance they have.

Stocking should look nice otherwise..

Squid

 

[StuCarr]

Thanks for the input,
I allowed 18" for the tetras and danios 1" each, 6" for the gouramis, and 6" for the corys. I may have been a little genorous with the 1" for corys, should have been an 1 and a half inches. So I will be 3 inches overstocked. But the rule is more of a guideline so as long as the filtration and my husbandry is on the ball, IMO it should be ok. If something is wrong, and the fish are not happy it will be rectified.

I already have some mature material in my filter, I was going to fishless cycle but managed to get some media. I am testing water everyday with a 'Aquarium pharamaceuticals, freshwater master kit'. Readings are ammonia0, nitrite0 and the nitrate has risen to 40(tap water is 10).

My main concern was the same as MissWiggle stated, about the bacteria dieing and only supporting the 4 fish that are in there. So although there is mature media in the filter the stocking will almost be the same as a 'with fish' cycling, slow.

From my research it seems that all the fish I want to stock( except danios) seem to like mature tanks. I think i'll add in this order:
danios, lemon tetra, cardinals, gouramis, corys.

Thanks again for all the advice, not sure where I'd be without this site, still stuck in my books, or taking advice from the LFS! In which case my tank would be full of plecs and silver sharks!

Byee
Stu

 

[Miss Wiggle]

ha ha no worries

 

[Squid]

Thanks for the input,
I allowed 18" for the tetras and danios 1" each, 6" for the gouramis, and 6" for the corys. I may have been a little genorous with the 1" for corys, should have been an 1 and a half inches. So I will be 3 inches overstocked. But the rule is more of a guideline so as long as the filtration and my husbandry is on the ball, IMO it should be ok. If something is wrong, and the fish are not happy it will be rectified.

I already have some mature material in my filter, I was going to fishless cycle but managed to get some media. I am testing water everyday with a 'Aquarium pharamaceuticals, freshwater master kit'. Readings are ammonia0, nitrite0 and the nitrate has risen to 40(tap water is 10).

My main concern was the same as MissWiggle stated, about the bacteria dieing and only supporting the 4 fish that are in there. So although there is mature media in the filter the stocking will almost be the same as a 'with fish' cycling, slow.

From my research it seems that all the fish I want to stock( except danios) seem to like mature tanks. I think i'll add in this order:
danios, lemon tetra, cardinals, gouramis, corys.

Thanks again for all the advice, not sure where I'd be without this site, still stuck in my books, or taking advice from the LFS! In which case my tank would be full of plecs and silver sharks!

Byee
Stu

I thought cardinals and the pandas get a little bigger eventually, but i agree, you should be ok as long as you keep an eye on it all .. also, you are right in the fact that the filter will only have the bio-level of its current inhabitants. so gently does it..

I also agree with the order in which you are going to add the fish.. seems like its all been pretty well thought through. and your right, i'd be stuck without this place too..

Squid...

 

[mark.w.jones]

Jonesy - he did add media filter from his friend's tank which will help greatly. Check his post he says it himself. Good info though.

I stand corrected. Should read more carefully and not add things in as an after thought.