diamond tetra stocking help?

[emilyekk]

I have a 55 gallon, right now it contains:
14 neon tetra
6 albino cory
2 julii cory
5 balloon molly
2 tiger barbs

I plan to add two pearl gourami's, and 4 more julii cories still once I can find them again.

I also was planning to add a school of cherry barbs and a school of glo fish.
Well - now I am consider adding diamond tetras instead of one or those schools.

How many diamond tetras should I get if any?

My boyfriend also swears my tank is already stocked as much as it should be... is he right? I have been asking on here a lot so I thought I had room for at least two more schools but he swears that it would be better if I left it as is...


I'd love help asap because ALL tetras are .99 a piece right now at my LFS but the sale ends TONIGHT, haha. So I would love your advice.

 

[Pearl]

Your boyfriend is right in my opinion. A general rule is one inch of fish per one gallon of water. And most of your fish will be two or three inches once they're done growing.

 

[tanker]

1) If you add the Pearls and the Jullies you will be at max.
2) The two Tigers will start nipping the neons and Gouramis.--They do better in schools of 6 or more.
3) I would recomment --get rid of the Tigers and Mollies because==Tigers too nippy and Mollies like hard Alkaline water== and then get a school of 6-10 Diamonds.

 

[clawlan]

I love my pearl's in my 55. Great centerpiece fish. Also have a single very large angel. I also have 4 green barbs in that tank and they do great, though they tend to be less aggressive than the standard tiger barbs.

As far as capacity, you are getting up there, but you have a little room for a few more. Keep in mind that quality filtration goes a long way. I have a Rena FilStar xP3 Canister Filter and its unbelievable. In another galaxy compared to HOB filters.

 

[angyles]

I know the sale's over but I wanted to weigh in anyway. I think you still have room, but I would either get rid of the barbs or add 4-6 more of them. With 2, you're asking for trouble. If it were my tank I would ditch the barbs and the mollies, add the cories and gouramis, and add a school of 9 diamond tetras. If you add to the barbs, i would not add the diamond tetras. Also, the 1"/gal rule is inaccurate and has been widely abondoned by most experienced fishkeepers. Stocking comes down to a very personal choice that you have to make. Some people are very conservative, others aren't. With a stock of 12 cories, 14 neons, 2 gouramis and 9 diamond tetras, i think you'd be fine (with good filtration remember!) and have a GORGEOUS tank.