Suggestions For 30L Biorb Life

[Tazzie B]

Hi - just entered the tropical fish world. Currently have 3 cherry barbs to start off and note that I should probably get a couple more. I like the look of the Mickey mouse platys, but how many should i get and could they fit in my tank. Any other suggestions - it would be nice to have Several varieties.

Also how long do I have to wait before adding the next few fish?

Thanks!

 

[Tizer]

You need to cycle your tank so the gravel in the bottom can establish a bacterial colony capable if cleaning it of nasties that your fish produce.

Before you buy any more fish, read up in the beginners section regarding cycling.

Buy a liquid test kit so you can test the water yourself for ammonia and nitrite levels. If either of them get too high, your fish will die.

To lower them, you must put in fresh tap water, with dechlorinator (buy in your local fish shop). This removes the chlorine from the water, which will kill the bacteria you are trying to grow.

You have a lot of reading to do from the sound of it. Good luck and please post if you have questions. Lots of helpful people here.

Fish in cycle is often frowned upon, but it is doable if you are dedicated to daily testing and water changes.

The Link in my signature might help a little to understand things, but the beginners section has a wealth of knowledge.

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi Tazzie, welcome to the forum.

As Tizer says, before you start thinking about new fish, you need to make sure your tank is 'cycled'. There's a link to our beginner's resource centre in my sig, have a read of the article on 'fish in cycling especially!

A guideline (not a rule) for stocking is one inch of adult fish (so, the eventual adult size of the fish, not the size they are now; they need room to grow) per gallon or 1cm per two litres, if you think in metric.

Your tank is 30l/6 gallons, so you can't have more than 15cms/6" of fully grown fish; as cherry barbs grow to 5cms/2", you're actually fully stocked already. You could have some freshwater shrimp once your tank is cycled, as they produce so little waste.