Stocking density, feeding and nitrites (long!)

RISK2123 said:
some stress zyme may benefit your tank due to the loss of so much of the biological filtration.
Click to expand...

Stress zyme contains on live bacteria and will do nothing for your bio filter. The only product proven to contain live active nitrifying bacteria is Bio Spira.

http://www.fishstoretn.com/bio_spira.html
 
As for your stocking rbel, this is what I would advise....

KEEP

2 Golden Barb
2 emerald corys
2 Bristle nose pleco
1 Silver Hatchet
1 Bleeding Heart Tetra
2 Congo Tetra
6 Lemon Tetra


RETURN/REHOUSE
2 Glass Catfish
1 Kribensis
3 Clown Loach
1 Neon Tetra
2 Hockey stick (Penguin)? Tetra
2 Cinnamon? Tetra
3 small unidentified fish

I would then go about increasing the size of the remaining schools (except for the lemon tetras and bn plecos)
 
Budrecki - grateful if you would advise us of the total eventual number of the 'keep' fish that, in your opinion, our tank will support.

Is the minimum school size of 7 a figure under which schooling fish should not be kept or is it just a goal to aim for?
 
budrecki said:
Stress zyme contains on live bacteria and will do nothing for your bio filter. The only product proven to contain live active nitrifying bacteria is Bio Spira.

http://www.fishstoretn.com/bio_spira.html
Click to expand...

at this point i dont think bio spira is needed but would definately help. stress zyme works well for me when i change filter media or pads but i guess everyoen has their own experiences.
 
RISK2123 - I am trying Stress Zyme as it is readily available in the UK. If it does not produce any noticeable improvement I will look at importing some Bio Spira from Budrecki's suggested supplier (although I am not sure how the cold pack transport arrangements would cope with the lengthy shipping).

You previously asked which are our favourite fish:

1 Kribensis
2 Neon Tetra
3 Glass Catfish
4 Lemon Tetra
5 Cinnamon? Tetra
6 Silver Hatchet
7 Congo Tetra
8 Golden Barb
 
rbel said:
Budrecki - grateful if you would advise us of the total eventual number of the 'keep' fish that, in your opinion, our tank will support.

Is the minimum school size of 7 a figure under which schooling fish should not be kept or is it just a goal to aim for?
Click to expand...

There is simple equation to determine the number of fish you can support.

My feeling is this, you tank can probably support -

2 Golden Barb + 3-5 more
2 emerald corys + 2 or 3 more
2 Bristle nose pleco
1 Silver Hatchet + 4-6 more
1 Bleeding Heart Tetra + 4-6 more
2 Congo Tetra + 3-5 more
6 Lemon Tetra

However....this is a lot of middle/upper level schools ( barbs, hatchets, and tetras ). Assuming all new arrivals are being held in quarantine before being added (if not speak up now), I would start adding fish 1 school at a time AFTER the other fish have been returned/rehoused. Start with the fish you like the most and go from there. You may find at 3 schools is all your tank can hold. Or all 5 may be fine. I've never had a tank with so many schools trying to coexist.
 
Homer3d455840 - Unfortunately Fritz Pet products seems to be another line that does not appear to be available in the UK. In what way does Stress Zyme produce false results - are you indicating that it produces false water chemistry test readings?
 
The false results are in terms of helping cycle the tank, not false test readings.

By removing the fish I recommended, it will ease the load on your biofilter and you should not need to worry about adding a bacteria starter.

Until then I'd recommend big water changes of 75%, as often as needed to keep the ammonia and nitrite below .25.
 
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