Stocking Question

[zoopkamol]

Started up an 38gallon tank. Tank is "cycled" 0ppm ammonina, 0 Nitrites, PH 7.

substrate is 5-7mm gravel with a 200watt heater. temp is 78.

have built up a driftwood wall structure along backside of tank. have few lava rocks in driftwood mix.
water is slightly tannis stained from driftwood
tank is 30x15x22h aprox. bow front.

fish: ok kinda decided on fish i was thinking of but unsure of numbers would be acceptiable

tiger barbs -thinkin 8-10
peppered corys - thinking 5
and if room 5 neons

i thinking neons might be to much for tank.

any advice on numbers would be appreciated

also being that my substrate is a bit larger then the norm...should i change it out to smaller grians. no fish in aquarium yet and i can wait longer to stock if need be.

 

[prankster705]

You're more than safe on the stocking levels.

There might be some aggression towards the neons from the tiger barbs. It might be better to go for more tiger barbs and scrap the neons.

The substrate is fine, as long as it has no sharp edges. Sharp edges hurt barbels. Also, lava rock potentially hurts barbels.

 

[thereverendturtle]

You might want to up the number of cories as well. I take it you want the tiger barbs to be the main focus? If this is the case you may want to consider loaches instead of cories, go for a southeast Asian biotope. Maybe put in a male and a couple of female golden wonder killies, for activity at the top.

 

[creeker]

Another problem with coarse gravel is that food will get trapped down where the fish can't get to it. It will then foul the water. Cories in particular, prefer a finer substrate.