can i add another fish?

miagrrl

i had a fish die today in one of my tanks, and i was wondering if i could add a new fish in the dead ones place.

its a 30 gallon tank, currently with 7 tiger barbs, 2 roseline danios, three zebra danios, and one dwarf Honey Gourami. the one that died was a Dwarf Gourami.

too many fish? or can i add another? which kind should i add? more danios was my initial thought.

i keep very good water changes and feed the proper amount, i have very good filtration and the fish seem to have enough room to swinm around. what do you think?

bettababy

I think you first need to find out why the fish died, and then I think you should get a larger tank just for the fish you already have before you get anymore.

What are your water params for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH?
How often are you doing water changes, and how much each time?
What kind of filter are you running? What media is in it?
What is the temp?
Can you post a picture of the tank so we can see the decorations and such? A photo is a good way for others to get a feel for what is happening in your tank without us being able to be there. There are things that are obvious to those with experience that is easily missed by someone who doesn't know to tell us.

miagrrl

i test water weekly- and i have always done this, the water conditions appear fine, and no other fish have gotten ill or died. it was very strange when he died. he didn't look sick. he was big, so its possible he just died of old age. i've had him a while.
ammonia-0ppm
nitrite-0ppm
nitrate- yesterday was 0ppm, but usually fluctuates between 0 and 5ppm.
i do a 30% water change weekly, and every other week, i do an additional 50% to keep nitrate low.
i was having trouble uploading pictures, but there is plenty of swimming space in the tank- since i know all my fish require a large area for swimming. i've had almost all of these fish a year and a half, and they've been very healthy. none of my tiger barbs have gotten much bigger than when i bought them, they are about 1.5 inches each, and have stayed that small so far (1 1/2 years).
i have an external power filter, that was made for a 50 gallon aquarium- i don't really use the carbon inserts, just the material to catch debris. its got a biowheel.
i feed the fish vegetables, flakes, brine shrimp- etc (not all at once, hahaha- on a rotating schedule.)
they all seem happy and healthy. i was going to upgrade to a larger tank eventually, as they grew- but then they never really got bigger.
but if you think i am at max capacity, i will definately not add to the tank until i get a larger aquarium.

Flashygrrl

Wait, so do you do an 80% change? Can it be that you're causing the tank to cycle and exposing them to ammonia over and over again?

herefishy

Nitrate should be in the 20's.

miagrrl

maybe my test kits are not reading right? i use the liquid test kits by API. and since i use them weekly, they aren't old or past expiration dates....i spread out the water changes, on the weeks that i do an extra one. so i never do 80% at one time. i do 30 %, and then if the nitrates look like they are creeping up, then 3-4 days later, another water change.

there has never been any ammonia, at least not since the initial cycle when i started the tank a year and a half ago. so i don't think its causing a mini cycle. i also test the tanks the day before i change water, so i know i am not getting bogus readings from just changing the water.

every few weeks, i rinse off the debris from the filter intesert (in a bucket of tank water), and put it right back in.

i really try to do everything correctly- and the rest of my fish look great, and are very healthy- so i must be doing things right- perhaps that gourami was just old.

Corey

30 gallons is more than enough for the fish you are talking about, i had a 30 gallon with over 20 small tetras in it with no issue for over 3 years, just add another filter if you have any water quality issues.

Good luck!!