First Fish!!! - Aquarium Advice

Jones2w · 09-21-2007, 02:00 AM

hey all...

just got my first six fish to start of my new tank...I had the tank with filter and heater running for about a week with live plants all my levels were good to go so I decided to add some fish...I went kinda cheap to start...

added

4 Tiger Barbs
2 Red Tail Platy

waiting about a week to add more

Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks

bra_van_drakh · 09-21-2007, 02:21 AM

i'd add some more tigers, up to 6 or 8.. .anyhow, how big's ur tank ???

zao · 09-21-2007, 04:24 AM

Yeah how big is your tank? I would like to know.

JustOneMore20 · 09-21-2007, 10:27 AM

Be careful with what you add in with the Tiger Barbs. They aren't compatible with everything.

I know people recommended Angelfish in your other thread, but do not keep them with Tiger Barbs.

Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels, as it doesn't seem like you cycled your tank long enough (especially if you weren't adding an ammonia source). In a week or so, it should be safe to add in a few more Tiger Barbs if your ammonia and nitrites are still 0.

Jones2w · 09-21-2007, 11:15 AM

My tank is 55Gal...yeah I have been noticing the Tiger Barbs nipping a little bit at the platys...Is this anything to worry about?

bra_van_drakh · 09-21-2007, 11:44 AM

later on if they're short of food then they'll really nip on your platies, not just nipping i guess, when ur platies are tired enough, then they'll scavenge them for sure. ..i did keep 10 of them in a 20 gal 4 years ago, and ended up only with 4, since they're also ruthless canibals... so just dont ever forget to feed them^^

zao · 09-21-2007, 05:42 PM

Yeah tiger barbs are fin pikers. So yeah dont keep them with fish that have longer fins like angel fish, betas, I know there are some others I jst cant think of them. I also heard that if you get more then 5. The agression on fin picking is lowered.

**Zagz** · 09-21-2007, 10:53 PM

Don't add any more fish until your tank cycles. It takes several weeks to cycle a tank. Keep a close eye on your parameters and do water changes to keep ammonia and nitrite down as close to 0ppm as possible.

Jones2w · 09-21-2007, 10:54 PM

how often should I do water changes in my first couple weeks???and how much??? I was told 25%?

**Zagz** · 09-21-2007, 11:33 PM

It will depend on your parameters. Once the tank is cycled, people range 25-50% per week. I do 50% a week on all my tanks. If your ammonia or nitrite rise above .5ppm you will need to do a water change right away. While cycling with fish you will no doubt have to do more water changes than normal. Make sure you use dechlorinator for each water change.

09-21-2007, 02:00 AM	#1
Jones2w Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Amherstburg, Ontario Posts: 73	First Fish!!! hey all... just got my first six fish to start of my new tank...I had the tank with filter and heater running for about a week with live plants all my levels were good to go so I decided to add some fish...I went kinda cheap to start... added 4 Tiger Barbs 2 Red Tail Platy waiting about a week to add more Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks

09-21-2007, 04:24 AM	#3
zao Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: kansas Posts: 181 Images: 4	Yeah how big is your tank? I would like to know. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 37 gallon - plants, rocks, gravel 2 Black Fin Sharks 120 gallon - plants, rocks, gravel 1 Fire Eel, 1 Black Ghost Knife. 4 Bala Sharks, 2 Panda Corydoras Catfish, 2 Angel Fish, 3 Clown Loaches, 1 Pleco

09-21-2007, 10:27 AM	#4
JustOneMore20 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: May 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,108 Images: 8	Be careful with what you add in with the Tiger Barbs. They aren't compatible with everything. I know people recommended Angelfish in your other thread, but do not keep them with Tiger Barbs. Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels, as it doesn't seem like you cycled your tank long enough (especially if you weren't adding an ammonia source). In a week or so, it should be safe to add in a few more Tiger Barbs if your ammonia and nitrites are still 0. __________________ ~Kristin~ 5 planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g; 10g Shell Dwelling Cichlid tank, 5.5g fry tank My links to pics: My 40g breeder log, My tanks blog

09-21-2007, 05:42 PM	#7
zao Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: kansas Posts: 181 Images: 4	Yeah tiger barbs are fin pikers. So yeah dont keep them with fish that have longer fins like angel fish, betas, I know there are some others I jst cant think of them. I also heard that if you get more then 5. The agression on fin picking is lowered. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 37 gallon - plants, rocks, gravel 2 Black Fin Sharks 120 gallon - plants, rocks, gravel 1 Fire Eel, 1 Black Ghost Knife. 4 Bala Sharks, 2 Panda Corydoras Catfish, 2 Angel Fish, 3 Clown Loaches, 1 Pleco

09-21-2007, 10:53 PM	#8
Zagz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 10,882 Images: 92	Don't add any more fish until your tank cycles. It takes several weeks to cycle a tank. Keep a close eye on your parameters and do water changes to keep ammonia and nitrite down as close to 0ppm as possible. __________________ ------------ Anne My Profile Page My tank & fish photos. Have you voted for AA today? Like the advice or comments someone gave you? Show your appreciation with the reputation button!

09-21-2007, 02:21 AM	#2
bra_van_drakh Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kensington [Sydney], Australia Posts: 141 Images: 2	i'd add some more tigers, up to 6 or 8.. .anyhow, how big's ur tank ???

09-21-2007, 11:15 AM	#5
Jones2w Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Amherstburg, Ontario Posts: 73	My tank is 55Gal...yeah I have been noticing the Tiger Barbs nipping a little bit at the platys...Is this anything to worry about?

09-21-2007, 11:44 AM	#6
bra_van_drakh Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kensington [Sydney], Australia Posts: 141 Images: 2	later on if they're short of food then they'll really nip on your platies, not just nipping i guess, when ur platies are tired enough, then they'll scavenge them for sure. ..i did keep 10 of them in a 20 gal 4 years ago, and ended up only with 4, since they're also ruthless canibals... so just dont ever forget to feed them^^

09-21-2007, 10:54 PM	#9
Jones2w Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Amherstburg, Ontario Posts: 73	how often should I do water changes in my first couple weeks???and how much??? I was told 25%?

09-21-2007, 11:33 PM	#10
Zagz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 10,882 Images: 92	It will depend on your parameters. Once the tank is cycled, people range 25-50% per week. I do 50% a week on all my tanks. If your ammonia or nitrite rise above .5ppm you will need to do a water change right away. While cycling with fish you will no doubt have to do more water changes than normal. Make sure you use dechlorinator for each water change. __________________ ------------ Anne My Profile Page My tank & fish photos. Have you voted for AA today? Like the advice or comments someone gave you? Show your appreciation with the reputation button!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode