In my planted tank, which fish to add first?

[Ketso]

This is my intended stocking list.

9 Cherry Barbs
3 Dwarf Rainbows
9 Tetras (Still undecide on which one. Maybe the Head and Taillight?)
2 German Blue or Bolivian Rams
5 Cory (undecided as of yet)What one and how many should I start with? I hope to be able to add a few fish next week possibly. Depends on my test results, of course.

I just dosed my tank with 5ppm ammonia to see how it will handle it. I had some dead plant material in the tank causing the ammonia to go up to 0.25ppm on a couple of occasions. The nitrites got as high as 2ppm. However, over the last week, there hasnt been any sign of amonia or nitrites. Thus, the test.

As this is a "silent cycle", I know I cant put very many in to begin with.

Any pointers, thoughts, suggestions are welcomed.

[Aquaken]

How big is your tank? Cherry barbs are probably the most hardy fish of your tank but since you "fishless" cycled you can add all of them at once.

Rams are sensitive though so you may want to wait a while instead of trying them right away in a new tank.

[ChicoRaton]

If you keep dosing your ammonia up to 5ppm until it gets to the point where 5ppm ammonia goes to 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite within 24 hours, you could add em all at once. Just do a like 90% water change first to eliminate all the nitrate that will have built up.

[DebbyS]

I cycled my first tank (an Eclipse 6) with Head & Tail Light Tetras. Despite reading a lot, I didn't do some things right (which I learned later), yet 2 of the the original 4 H&Ts still thrive some 7.5 months later. So I think they're a hardy fish, full of personality (mine recognize me and aren't afraid of me) and you might put them in first if you get some :)

[gvildawg]

I was told that Danios make great starter fish because they are very hardy. I've read the same about white clouds and most of the other members of the minnow family that includes them and the Danios.

[Mgamer20o0]

i always start from the top of the tank and work my way down.

i would go with the barbs... tetra rainbows rams then cory

[Ketso]

Thanks folks, for the replies. However, no fishies anytime soon due to a prob with my substrate. Oh well, I'm only 1.5 months into it. At the rate it's going, maybe, just maybe, if I dont get completely fed up with it all, I'll be able to start adding fish around Thankgiving.

thanks again