Can I add anymore fish?

[RobertA]

I just finished doing a 20% water change to my 20gal tank which has now been cycling for almost a week. The tank already contains 2 cory cats, which seem to be fine and a Java Fern plant. Do you think I could add 2 0r 3 Guppies and maybe a Anubia plant?

Thanks in advance!

[Beeker]

What kind of Corys? What are your tests showing? Ammonia, NO2, NO3?

[RobertA]

What kind of Corys? What are your tests showing? Ammonia, NO2, NO3?

They're Spotted Corys. I don't have an ammonia, nitrite or nitrate tester *yet*. The only thing I can tell you is that my Ph is at 7.

[randalizm]

IMO, YES YOU COULD ADD A FEW MORE.

[minnesotagal866]

The more plants the better. If you have the money, add all the plants. Plants will keep ammonia levels down and use up nitrates/nitrites. When I set up my 5.5 gallon betta tank, I add a bunch of anachris, some java moss, a couple of walmart plants I grew from bulbs, and two red melon swords. I have never had an ammonia spike. Also with cory cats, it's great to have some driftwood in the tank as well.

Good luck!
Jackie

[randalizm]

OOPS I MISSED THE PART THAT SAYS YOU HAVE ONLY BEEN CYCLING FOR A WEEK. BEFORE YOU DO ANYHING BUY A TEST KIT AND CHECK FOR AMMONIA AND NITRITES, IF BOTH ARE AT 0.0 AND A LOW READING OF NITRATES THEN YOU CAN ADD A FEW MORE.

[RobertA]

The more plants the better. If you have the money, add all the plants. Plants will keep ammonia levels down and use up nitrates/nitrites. When I set up my 5.5 gallon betta tank, I add a bunch of anachris, some java moss, a couple of walmart plants I grew from bulbs, and two red melon swords. I have never had an ammonia spike. Also with cory cats, it's great to have some driftwood in the tank as well.

Good luck!
Jackie

Thanks I'm happy to hear that I'll be able to add some new friends for my Corys :D

[RobertA]

OOPS I MISSED THE PART THAT SAYS YOU HAVE ONLY BEEN CYCLING FOR A WEEK. BEFORE YOU DO ANYHING BUY A TEST KIT AND CHECK FOR AMMONIA AND NITRITES, IF BOTH ARE AT 0.0 AND A LOW READING OF NITRATES THEN YOU CAN ADD A FEW MORE.

Okay, I'll do that.

[Beeker]

I wouldn't do anything until you get a tester for your ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Those are necessary. Once you can see where your levels are, you will know what fish and how many to get. It is far to dangerous to go blindly. You will need to know these levels.

[sumthin fishy]

Thanks I'm happy to hear that I'll be able to add some new friends for my Corys :D
Cories like to be in a school, so a few more cories would be a good idea!

[Holly9937]

I wouldn't do anything until you get a tester for your ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Those are necessary. Once you can see where your levels are, you will know what fish and how many to get. It is far to dangerous to go blindly. You will need to know these levels.


I strongly agree with beeker!! Is everyone missing the fact that this tank is not cycled!??! Adding more fish will only increase the bio load, make the ammonia increase more quickly, and be harder to keep at a reasonable level in turn keeping your fish healthy!! Get the test kits before you add any fish :D

[Roan Art]

OOPS I MISSED THE PART THAT SAYS YOU HAVE ONLY BEEN CYCLING FOR A WEEK. BEFORE YOU DO ANYHING BUY A TEST KIT AND CHECK FOR AMMONIA AND NITRITES, IF BOTH ARE AT 0.0 AND A LOW READING OF NITRATES THEN YOU CAN ADD A FEW MORE.
Please don't type in all caps. It's considered to be shouting and highly frowned upon.

Thanks
Roan

[randalizm]

Please don't type in all caps. It's considered to be shouting and highly frowned upon.

Thanks
Roan
UNLESS ITS A RULE ON THE FORUM NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS IM GOING TO CONTINUE TO CAUSE I CHOOSE TO AND CAUSE I LIKE IT. IF YOU DONT LIKE IT TO BAD. IF YOUD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER PM ME.

THANKS!

[stingray4540]

I would agree that you should hold off on more fish until your completely cycled. If your like me and can't aford test kits, take some of your water in a plastic ziplock to your lfs and they should test it for free. Add as many plants as you'd like though, plants are good especially the hardy ones like anubius and java moss. Check your water like once or twice a week at the lfs and when it registers 0ppm amonia and 0ppm nitrites and keep your nitrates below 20ppm with regular water changes.

[RobertA]

I just added four guppies, 2 male and 2 female. Wasn't able to buy the nitrate, ammonia and nitrate testers (too expensive), tomorow I'll bring a water sample to my lfs to get tested. So is everything alright?

I may also buy another plant tomorow. ;)

[willy:-)]

Should be alright if you don't have spikes in your water paremeters. Just as a note you should add at least one more female guppy IN THE FUTURE, not now, while your still early in cycleing because your males will fight over your females and your females will get tired and stressed from constantly being chased. Are you ready for babies? You're gonna get some ;)

[RobertA]

Should be alright if you don't have spikes in your water paremeters. Just as a note you should add at least one more female guppy IN THE FUTURE, not now, while your still early in cycleing because your males will fight over your females and your females will get tired and stressed from constantly being chased. Are you ready for babies? You're gonna get some ;)

Nope, I'm not ready for babies yet...I only have one very small plant, where nobody will be able to hide :(

Anyways, do you know how many flakes I should give to my fish? I have:

2 Cory Cats
4 Guppies (duh)

[aquariumhobyist]

probably a decent sized pinch of flake food using your thumb and the finger beside it to pinch it.

[stingray4540]

just give them a little and watch. If they gobble it up right away next time give them a little more. Only give them as much as they can eat in less than 3 min. You probably won't see the cory cats come up to eat. They will just clean up the scraps on the bottom.

[RobertA]

Here's a picture of what my tank looks like:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/Bobalmithy/Myaquariumforforum.jpg

It may not be much but I'm real proud of it :D !

Does anyone have anymore suggestions on what type of fish, plants and decorations I can get?

Currently I have:

Fish
2 Spotted Corys
4 Guppies

Plants
1 Anubia
1 Java Fern
and another plant which I can't remember its name...(the one on the right)

I also think I'll be buying a BIG piece of driftwood soon.

[stingray4540]

Cool! The driftwood would be nice. What about dwarf gouramis? I like them. You can see pics in my signature. Good luck.