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Tiger Barbs in new tank Hey All! New here, so I thought I would run this by you guys/gals. I just set up my new 15gal tank (13x13x25H) and I was thinking about getting more barbs, tigers and greens. Do you think 14 would be too much for this size tank? I will have 2 cory catfish for bottom cleaners and some algae eaters as well. I have a Aqua clear 20 hanging filter and a 3" air stone under the heater, and I plan on adding my second Aqua clear 20 with a different filter combo. I do not have an under-gravel filter yet, I need to find a place that has one in stock (20L/29gal, 1/2 of it). The tank has been running with no fish for 2 days now and I did treat it. I have it at 76-78f right now as well. Ideas? :-) |
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If you add that many fish, to a tank that is not cycled and only up and running 2 days, you will have major problems. That is way to many fish for that size of tank, and even if the number was good, adding that many at once, will create a huge ammonia spike and result in lots of fish deaths. Without algae, you are going to need to consider feeding your algae eaters a supplement, like sinking wafers. The catfish (cory's) ideally should be in a larger group than 2. More like 4-5. IMO, this is way to many fish for that size of tank. Check out the fish profiles to make good decisions about which fish would be good for your tank. Best of luck :) |
I second what Gwen says, that'd be way too many for a 15 gallon. That small of a tank I would say 6-8 barbs and that would be it. The barbs will also harass the Cories a lot so I don't recommend keeping them together in anything smaller than maybe a 100g with plenty of room for them to hide/get away. Two days isn't enough time for a tank to cycle either. It will take a couple weeks at least. You can cycle by using fish but it isn't advisable as this is tough on the fish and you risk losing them. |
See, I'm glad that I asked here. You always learn something new. So I will go out and get a water tester kit and start to cycle my tank. I want my fish to live long. BTW, would it hurt to place a couple living plants in the tank before the fish? (they are the moss ball type). |
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Great plan and glad you're doing it without fish. If you add a pinch of fish food, or put a raw, uncooked shrimp in a small net you can buy for cheap at a fishstore, you will have good results cycling without fish. You do need a source to create waste/ammonia. With your test kit you will first get ammonia, than nitrites, and when the nitrites are gone, you're done. At that point you should start seeing small amount of nitrates. It worked very well for me with a piece of raw shrimp. Live plants are a very good idea, as they do help cycle faster, but you'll need more than a couple moss balls to make that happen, but either way live plants are pretty and do help. Best of luck. Do you know what other fish you'll put in beside the cories, with Tiger Barbs? Gwen |
I would not have Tiger Barb in anything under 30 gallons. They need to be in a larger group than some shoaling fish due to their inherent aggressive tendencies. A group of 8-10 in a 30g is considered minimum. Generally for a 15g, barbs are out; all of these fish like to swim, meaning they need space, and they are shoaling so they need a group, and all species are mildly aggressive by nature so this can only be minimized with sufficient numbers in adequate space. There are many fish suitable though, among characins and cyprinids, depending upon your water parameters which have not been mentioned. You might want to check through our fish profiles, second tab from the left in the blue bar across the top; tank sizes, numbers and comments on compatibility and water params are included for each species. You can click on the shaded fish/plant name in posts to see that profile. Byron. |
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On the filter, no; a 15g is a small tank (relatively speaking) and the fish that will work in it are going to be fairly small with minimal impact on the bioload. They will also likely be fish that occur in fairly quiet waters, like small forest streams, lagoons and ponds. Water movement is stressful to such fish as they cannot escape it day and night, so filtration needs to take this into account. In a 15g I would use a sponge filter like a Hydro or an Elite, connected to an air pump. As for biological filtration, there is more in the substrate than in any filter. And this brings me to plants. You will have better success with fish in a 15g with live plants. Much better success. Something to think about.;-) Byron. |
Ok, I just tested the water and the tank is at .25ppm right now. I added a pinch of food today and just added a large Marimo moss ball. Will repeat tomorrow with the food again. I also have some algae tablets too, should I drop one in the tank? Oh, and thanks Byron for the welcome to the forum. Pics: http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6218/6...4e35fea6b3.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6...2c34cfd3bc.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6...8e229899_z.jpg |
Welcome I like your tank. What are your ph and hardness that may help with fish suggestions for your tank. You could make a nano fish tank with fish that stay small one of my favorites that I have are ember tetra they are a very pretty red color, and pygmy corys, or dwarf corys. Also if you like the tall fake plants you have along the back of your tank I believe the name of the real ones are Cabomba, and the one on the left front looks like it would be a Vallisneria Americana var Biwanesis that way if you want to replace the fake ones with real ones that look the same you know what to look for. ; ) The plants would really help your cycle along and if you get enough plants they will automatically cycle the tank for you. |
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