Stocking Started - Please Help With Suggestions.

[Sanjay]

Hi all.

My fishless cycle was completed about 12 days ago and i kept it going just to make sure the results were consistent which they have been.

So i took a trip to a new lfs to start my stocking.

After much deliberation, i decided on 3 tiger barbs and 3 cherry barbs along with 3 red cherry shrimp. All the fish were small and i saw the adult versions there too so i know how big they will grow.

They have been in the tank now for 7 hours and i tested the water using my api master test kit. The readings are as follows - ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20. I am happy - so far so good.

I was thinking about getting a few cardinal tetra for colour in 2/3 weeks (the tank is set up as a birthday present for my 4 year old and after being involved in the fishless cycle at every step with me, she would like some colourful fish).

Would the cardinal tetra be ok with the barbs?

I was also thinking about maybe a honey gourami as a centrepiece fish - would this be ok?

As usual, you guys are the experts and i look forward to your suggestions and advice.

(Tank is a Jewel 54litre).

 

[JenJ]

Sorry but the tiger barbs are not suitable for your tank - they are best in a bigger group (eg I have 12) and need more space than a 54 litre can offer.
 
Cardinal tetra and a honey gourami could both work well - I'm not sure on the cherry barbs size/compatability wise. The cardinal and cherry (if suitable) would both be better in groups of 6.
 
Well done for fishless cycling

 

[TallTree01]

Congrats on the fishless cycle,
The tiger barbs ideally need a 30 gallon, the cherries a 20 and the cardinals a 15.
I think the cardinals would be pushing it in your tank but it could be done. But one shoal of cardinals and a betta/ honey gourami woudl completely stock your tank.

 

[Sanjay]

Hi Jen.

Thank you for your advice - i saw how big the tiger barbs get but am already planning a bigger tank for the future!

My cherry barbs are about an inch long.

Considering what i already have, how many cardinal tetra would you recommend? And instead of a honey gourami, could you recommend another more colourful fish?

 

[TallTree01]

You need to sort out your current schools first. The tiger barbs are nippy at the best of times. In a group of three, its not a matter of 'if' they start nipping your other fish, it's ' when '.
I would reccomend getting a larger tank for the barbs before anything else.

 

[Sanjay]

Hi TT - thank you for the feedback.

As i said in the reply to Jen, i am already thinking of a bigger tank - just need to rearrange my living room (and also let the wife know!) so the barbs could go in the bigger tank in the future.

As for the cardinals, how many would you recommend?
Oh ok, thats something i didnt anticipate straight away as i only just got the fish today

Could i add another tiger barb or two instead to stop the nipping.

Im not sure if that theory works.

 

[TallTree01]

If you put all the barbs in a new tank, you could fit maybe 8-9 cardinals and a betta/ honey gourami.
You ideally want to get a 55 gallon and get 10 cherry and 10 tiger barbs in there to stop nipping.

 

[Sanjay]

Ok thank you - better start planning for that then.

 

[Sanjay]

Hi.

I remember the guy in the lfs said no tiger barbs - i have three 5 banded barbs - my bad!

Tested the water levels today - ammonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate 40. Does this now mean my tank is fully cycled?

Are the 3 5 banded barbs and the 3 cherry barbs ok for the time being as i havent got the space yet for a bigger tank?

 

[TallTree01]

How many striped do the ' 5 banded barbs ' have?
If they're truly 5 banded they should be ok. But they will be very stressed with such small shoals. You need to get the new tank soon. Very soon.

 

[the_lock_man]

Hi.

I remember the guy in the lfs said no tiger barbs - i have three 5 banded barbs - my bad!

Tested the water levels today - ammonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate 40. Does this now mean my tank is fully cycled?

Are the 3 5 banded barbs and the 3 cherry barbs ok for the time being as i havent got the space yet for a bigger tank?

 
5 banded barbs are much nicer fish all round than tigers, so that's good from a compatibility point of view. Your tank is fully cycled, yes.
 
The problem that you have currently is that barbs are shoaling fish (all types of barbs), as are tetras. THey need to be in a group of 6 to even start to feel comfortable. Please concentrate on sorting this tank out, before thinking about a larger tank. I first started thinking about a larger tank 18 months before I actually bought it.

 

[Sanjay]

Talltree, the banded barbs have 5 distinct bands. I remember the guy in the lfs said dont get tiger barbs.

The lock man, the cherry barbs are out swimming all over the tank all the time while the banded barbs stay together normally in a corner coming out to swim round occasionally. So i understand the shoaling as thats what we would like to see. I was thinking of adding 3 more of each in a week or so - would this be ok?