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Recently I got a 55 gallon tank set up. It was a kit that came with a 60 gallon filter but I added an extra 30 gallon filter, so I am running about 450 gallons an hour. I put the 200 watt heater on eBay and bought a 300 watt submersible. I havent done any lighting changes, but all in good time (someday live plants). My girlfiend got a little excited and she put a fish from my ten gallon in there too early, but it did well for a day and so I thought it would be alright for the rest (dumb, dumb, dumb!). No matter how many times I read something and take the advice from others I always seem to do something incredibly stupid. Well, my two favorite fish died and I figured I might as well start from scratch (almost).

I gave my common pleco to my Dad, for his new 80 gallon. So the only fish that is from my 10 gallon is my Red Tail Black Shark (Jack). My first fish that I got with this new setup was a Spotted Leaf (very cool looking). Then I waited till today and I got a Bristle-Nose Pleco, 5 Tiger Barbs, and 3 Yo-Yo Loaches.

I was wondering if Green Barbs would school with the regular Tiger Barbs, because I think they look a bit cooler. They were $1 more a piece so I got the reg. ones, but i got to thinking, if I had a couple Green that schooled with the Tigers that would look cool.

Does any one think I am over stocked? I did the full grown inch per gallon, but I know that is just a guideline.

I guess that is all i have for now, but if I think of anything more I guess that I will just ask. Thanks for any replies in advance.

MONKEYS ARE COOL, BUT SEA-MONKEYS ARE BETTER.

Dog, a few questions for you first:
How long has the tank been set up now?
Did you cycle it?
What are test results for ammonia, nitrIte and
nitrAtes?
This will help us help you with stocking.


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Once you get it cycled and set up properly, the green tiger barbs will school with your regulars, and congratulations on choosing the coolest fish on earth

I wouldn't put Tiger Barbs with the Ctenopoma. Ctenopomas tend to be very shy, and they don't like to have very active fish in the tank. With a large school of Tiger Barbs, it is likely that the Ctenopoma will hide all day.

They also need many hiding places to feel secure, and live plants are extremely beneficial to their well being.

Ctenopomas generally mix well with Gouramis, Corys, Plecos, medium-sized (peaceful) Cichlids, and most catfish that aren't too boisterous. Even some of the larger barbs that aren't too active, like Ruby Barbs or Rosy Barbs, would be more suitable tankmates.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

I don't know my levels, but I will get them today after work. The tank has been set up for over a week now. The Leaf Fish actually seems to be out more since I put in the other fish. Before all it did was hide from everything, but yesterday when I put the other fish in, I've seen him more. I do have pretty good hiding spots, two large castles, a couple small caves, and a few plastic plants that cover a lot of ground.

MONKEYS ARE COOL, BUT SEA-MONKEYS ARE BETTER.

the greens will school w/ the regs, but will especially stick together... you'll see some reoccurring segregation, but they'll come together at times too. it's interesting to watch.

If its only been up a week it still needs to cycle.

The Barbs will school together, but you need more time to cycle the tank. A week is not enough, but your test results will say more.


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Takes more like three to four weeks before you should consider putting fish in.Cycling with even a good filter takes a minimum of 21 days, slightly less if you seed the filter with old media. Just a hint but reading a fish care book seems like such a small step next to buying an 80 gallon and spending money on fish. If I were you id get to that FIRST.

I took a water sample to Petsmart, and she said that my levels were perfect.

MONKEYS ARE COOL, BUT SEA-MONKEYS ARE BETTER.

IME, oftentimes PetsMart employees don't know exactly what their talking about. Did you get the exact numbers? Did you see her testing the water to make sure it was done correctly?

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

Yes I saw her test the water. It was a little strip and the colors matched the ones for "good".

MONKEYS ARE COOL, BUT SEA-MONKEYS ARE BETTER.

Hahah, petsmart, what an authority they are, NOT. Its HIGHLY unlikely that your water levels are perfect, its just that the inevitable ammonia spike hasnt happened yet, and ps, those little test strips are crap and often very innacurate. Youll need a PROPER test kit looking specifically for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph. Buy one like a freshwater master test kit and read how to do it yourself and youll soon realise that the petsmart test is pretty useless.Until your tank is properly cycled in about 3-4 weeks the levels in the tank will fluctuate wildly anyway. Having seen a good number of tanks in the chelt branch of petsmart having incidences of fish with either fungus or whitespot week in and week out for years id never buy a fish from them anyway.One gourami had so much fluff on his head it looked like a mane. Go to a proper specialist fish shop and youll get better service and standards, and a much higher quality of advice, usually from a keeper of experience rather than a teenager on minimum wage and an A4 photocopy of a caresheet written by god knows who.

As for test kits , find one that gives you readings in ppm- parts per million. I dont think "good" is anywhere near specific enough.



Last edited by longhairedgit at 19-Sep-2005 22:33