Getting stocking % right for 20 gallon

[Josie.paolillo]

I have a planted 20 gallon long tiger barb tank. Well it was supposed to be a species only tiger barb tank, but as they matured I realised two of them are ruby barbs it has been set up for over 4 months, cycled before adding fish.

I have 2 ruby barbs, 3 albino and one green. Aq advisor says I can have 12 barbs in this tank and still be under 80% stocked (I'm using adult sizes) but that seems as though it would be grossly over stocked to me. I would like to add a couple of striped tigers, as that's what I really wanted in the first place...aqadvisor has always given me good advise, but I'm not sure this time.
I keep the water perfect at all times, ammonia and nitrites always 0, nitrates are rarely above 5-10. 2-3 water changes of 30-50% every week.
Any advise will be appreciated

 

[Greta1981]

Hi Josie
You know I have no barbs of any kind, but I did some researching online and I really do agree that 12 in a 20 gallon is pushing the limit of safe stocking in spite of how great you are about keeping your water parameters perfect. I'd say 8 to 10 is more in the range of a reasonably stocked tank, again, just based on research I did today. Do barbs need to be in groups of a certain number, like tetras? Just wondering, in terms of the striped barbs, whether they might need a group of four.

 

[Josie.paolillo]

Thank Greta
They all hang around together and don't seem to mind they are different colours from each other, so I dont think it would matter if I only got 2 more striped ones, I think I will get three I've heard they do better in odd numbers, not sure how true it is but I've read it in a few different places so there must be something to it!