jontyjfoo Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 I have just set up a 215L Aqua One(AR980) tank last weekend and have just put in one Tiger Barb as a test fish which is doing well. My intention is to have a tank where the main fish are Barbs (Tiger, Green Tiger,Rosy & Golden) along with one Flying Fox and perhaps some Swordtails(maybe 5). My question is how many fish can I have in this size tank? I will be conservative and next week purchase around 8 Tiger Barbs. I will see how they go then get 6 Rosy Barbs a week later if all seems ok. My tank is holding a temp of around 26C. Any help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_from_nz Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 make sure you add fish slowely. Remember when a tank cycles it can only produce enough bacteria relative to the food that is available (niterites and amonia) when you add alot of fish all at once you get another cycle again as there is a peak in these poisons take care and if in doubt move slower Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 I think it is something like an inch of fish per gallon of water. Plus taking into account filtration and aeration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 its easier if you go by litres fins! so and inch of fish per 3 litres of water! Cheers Shae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Hi Jonty, Welcome to the NZ Fishroom forums. There's heaps of info here on this subject, and this article might help... http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewto ... light=fish Or this will tell you exactly what you asked... http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/grumpy ... tions.html As above... Big rule in starting out.. "Take it slowly.." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fins Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 barbs are about 2 inches so 1 barb per 6 litres. 200 divided by 6 is about 30. so about barbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jontyjfoo Posted September 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 stocking my tank. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jontyjfoo Posted September 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 Sorry I meant to say - Thanks everyone for your answers - I will stock my tank slowly. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 30, 2004 Report Share Posted September 30, 2004 I wouldn't add swords to that mix either. Remember barbs are a shoaling fish and always look best in a group of 6 or more. Although tigers will shoal with rosys etc they still colour up better if each type is one of at least 6 (6 tigers, 6 green, 6 rosy etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jontyjfoo Posted October 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 It has been 3 weeks since I have set up the 215L tank - I have 7 Tiger Barbs, 6 Rosy Barbs and a pair of odessa barbs. All are doing great - I am intending to add a piece of driftwood tomorrow which I bought from the lfs already prepared to go into the tank but have soaked it all week anyway. Some plants have brown algee starting to grow on their leaves even though they are getting 12 -13 hours of light a day. Is this normal? The male Odessa is chasing the female - should I get another female to half up its energy? I plan to add a further 12 Barbs (Golden & Tiger) in another three weeks including a Flying fox for the algee - does this sound ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 i have had the same probllem with my plants once! when setting upa new tank, i didnt have a clue what it was, it looked like some sort of fungal brown decay on the plant, so i jst picked of the leaves that were infected by it and through them away, have not had a problem since, i am assuming that som1 will be able to tell you what the real problem is. Cheers Shae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGilchrist Posted October 15, 2004 Report Share Posted October 15, 2004 what type of light is it ? are you doing many water changes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jontyjfoo Posted October 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2004 Have done no water changes yet. Plan to do 25% change in 2 weeks time. Light is from 3 fluro bulbs built into the cover. I was told to do first partial water change after 5-6 weeks ( bacteria then established). What do you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 15, 2004 Report Share Posted October 15, 2004 15 fish in 3 weeks - I'd do a water change now. 25% water changes will not affect your bacterial growth. Do it weekly. Have you tested the water at all? pH, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia? That brown can be common in a new tank. There is nothing for the plants to feed on at first. As the tank matures the plants will improve. Remove the brown leaves. Got any pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jontyjfoo Posted October 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2004 Tested the water last week ph 7 nitrates etc negligable - will do partial change tommorrow when I add the driftwood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky Posted October 15, 2004 Report Share Posted October 15, 2004 Brown algae is common in new tanks. I believe it will go away on it's own, but another solution is to put in some otos. Three of them should be able to clear a tank that size of brown algae in about 48 hours. They're also reasonable against other kind of algae and are a small and inoffensive fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jontyjfoo Posted December 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 Update -now after 10 weeks I have fully stocked my 215L tank with : 10 Tiger Barbs 6 Green Tiger Barbs 6 Rosy Barbs 3 Odessa Barbs 1 Flying fox I am replacing 25% of water every 2-3 weeks and the brown algee has almost cleared. Tank looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted December 1, 2004 Report Share Posted December 1, 2004 What are Otos? Shae 250 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky Posted December 2, 2004 Report Share Posted December 2, 2004 Oto = Otocinclus sp. They are a sucking catfish like a pleco, but look more like a small chinese algae eater. Unlike a chinese algae eater, they stay small. About 5cm if I remember. If you get some, get a small group. They also have a reputation for not adapting well to new tanks, but if they survive the first few weeks they are rock-solid. They aren't that common in the pet stores down here (Dunedin) and even if they are there you tend not to notice a small brown fish. They don't harm anything and most fish seem to ignore them. http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/1996_12.php http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/otocincl/107_f.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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