stocking the tank

[8isenuf]

Now that we have our fully cycled tank, we went out last night to buy fish, we purchased 6 very young red phantom tetras and 3 young kuhli loaches. The guy at the lfs said even with the tank cycled, we should wait 2 weeks for more fish. Is this right? Son is really interested in getting cardinal and neon tetras, hatchet fish, and perhaps dwarf gouramis. How many of each of these fish can he have in his 28 bowfront with the 9 fish he already has?

Thanks, Wendy

[Rbishop]

What constitutes your tank is cycled...? Did you do a fishless cycle with ammonia? Media transfer...?

If I remember your other posts correctly, you started with some ammonia then added filter squeezings..?

I also would recommend waiting two weeks after the additional addition, unless your tank was eating 5 ppm of ammonia in 24 hrs or less.

[8isenuf]

I did the fishless cycle with ammonia and media transfer, the tank was eating 5ppm in 24 hours or less for a few days. Is it still "safer" to wait for adding more? and...how many more of the types he likes would you add?

Thanks so much, Wendy

[jm1212]

it may not be desirable to add more fish right after you have gotten 9, but you won't have to wait 2 weeks as long as your ammoina and nitrite stay at zero.

are you thinking of getting schools of neons, cardinals, and hatchets? your tank isnt big enough to support that many fish. since your tank is only 28 gallons, you are better off sticking with the red phantoms, getting a dwarf gourami for the centerpiece, and then perhaps a small group of hatchts for the top of the tank and then leaving it as-is

[8isenuf]

The dwarf gourami is okay on its own? and...how many hatchets constitutes a small group?

Thanks, Wendy

[Hooked Newbie]

Congrats on the fish and the cycle!

If you did a fishless up to 5ppm, you may actually experience some bacteria die off by waiting, but I think it's probably the safer route. I also agree with JM's recommendation about sticking with the phantoms as the only "school". A DG or a few others could be the centerpiece, and you might as well add 1 or 2 more kuhlis (they appreciate a group and are pretty low bioload).

[8isenuf]

I hadn't realized we were close to done with the school of red phantom tetras....If he likes neons/cardinals better than hatchetfish, could they replace them, or, do they swim at the same level as the phantom tetras?

[jm1212]

the dwarf gourami will be fine on its own.

it would be a little tight if you replaced the school of hatchets with a school of neons.

BTW, you can still exchange the red phantoms for a school of cardinals.

[OldMan1947]

Neons are usually in the middle of the tank. They are not at the top like a hatchet and not really at the bottom like a cory.

[8isenuf]

so...how long would you wait for him to add the hatchets and the dwarf gourami? and...exactly how many hatchets could his tank hold with the others? With the tetras being sooo young and small, they aren't that great to look at right now... the kuhli loaches are surprisingly active and alot of fun to watch!

Thanks, Wendy

[jpappy789]

Hatchets, from what I have read (no experience), are fairly sensitive. It may be best to hold off a for a little while until your tank is more established

[Hooked Newbie]

If you choose to remove the tetras, you should be good to go ahead and add the DG (or suitable substitute) or 3-6 hatchets (try to find Marbled, they stay smaler than others ~ 2").

Gotta love them loaches! :)

[8isenuf]

sorry, I am confused now.....I thought he could have the 6 tetras with the Dwarf Gourami and a few hatchets, along with the 3 kuhli loaches? is that still too many fish? I think he should stick with the fish that swim by the top (hatchets) to help the look of the tank?
of course the lfs said he could have WAY more than we can actually do....
but, I do want to do this right.

Thanks, Wendy

[Hooked Newbie]

I may have gotten confused too. lol Sorry about that. I was still thinking your were adding another school of a different tetra (other than the hatchets).

1 Dwarf Gourami
6 Hatchets
6 Tetras
3-5 Kuhlis

Should be fine as long as you are adequately filtered, add safely, and are good on mainenance.

[8isenuf]

so, we should wait how long? and test for ammonia and nitrites before adding more?

Thanks, Wendy

[Hooked Newbie]

I'd check your parameters every day or two for a week. As long as you don't see an ammonia or nitrite spike, you shuld be good to add. I'd probably repeat that twice adding the DG and 1 or 2 kuhlis and then wait a week while testing to add the hatchets. You could obviously do the hatchets first and then the others.

[8isenuf]

okay, just stested ammonia and it is at .25, should I get plants to help with this?...should I do a water change? or...is this normal to have an ammonia reading after adding fish?

Thanks, Wendy

[Hooked Newbie]

okay, just stested ammonia and it is at .25, should I get plants to help with this?...should I do a water change? or...is this normal to have an ammonia reading after adding fish?

Thanks, Wendy

A 50% change would be a good thing. .25 is as high as you want it to ever go. Plants won't provide much short-term help, but if you like them and plan on it being planted, go for it. They won't hurt anything. The ammonia is probably present because the fish were added and your bacterial colonies aven't yet grown to support the current level.

[8isenuf]

darn, I thought it was fine....I had the ammonia over 4ppm be gone within 24 hours for a few days, then did the 50% water change....there are no nitrites and nitrates are at 20...guess I'll change the water again...could it be the filter?

thanks, Wendy

[Hooked Newbie]

How long after you went from 4ppm to 0 in 24 hours was it until you added fish? Without an ammonia source the colony wuld start to die back to the level present. I wouldn't suspect the filter unless there is something dead in it that is rotting. I wouldn't stress too much, if you added 9 fish and only saw a blip it's likey to catch back up quickly. Now, anytime someone mentions a mini-cycle you'll know exactly what they are experiencing. ;)

[OldMan1947]

You added the fish this morning and the small ammonia spike is just registering. A partial water change is in order but you may find that the ammonia recovers very quickly since you had such a large bacterial colony to start with. You need the PWC for the nitrates anyway.

[8isenuf]

what should the nitrates be?

Thanks, Wendy

[jpappy789]

When cycling a tank nitrates will probably end up around 20 ppm or so...at least thats where mine have always ended up

Thats usually a good level to shoot for as a lot of people like theirs to be around that level or less after cycling any ways

[8isenuf]

the fish were added last night, ammonia registered at .25 today, I did a quarter water change and now ammonia is 0 and nitrates are between 10 and 20. Nitrites have stayed at 0.

Thanks so much for all the info and reassurances.

Wendy