New set up

[Scrumpy]

I'm still planning after 3 months, but I've just bought a Tropiquarium 88 (130l) so that's one decision made.  :-/
I'm thinking now of say...
6 zebra danios
12 cardinal tetras
3 peppered cories
and something else irridescent.
In a slightly soft freshwater tropical set up with the above fish could I get away with any Bosemani rainbow fish, or dwarf neon rainbows or do they need harder water? Do the school or could I have singles or pairs?
My husband wants to add 4 green tiger barbs too, but I'm worried about how aggressive they are.  
What do you all think?
I only want to put in a few tough plants. I was thinking of some hair grass, java ferns and anubia tied to some bog wood. Does that sound ok?
I'm worried about algae. Shrimps give me the creeps TBH but is it necessary to get say some Amano shrimps to eat algae or there any small pretty fish that would?
Thanks for any help you can give me  

 

[JWright]

If you have a big enough group of t-barbs, they tend to just hang out by themselves, and not pick on other fish.

Dwarf Neon's would be fine in slightly soft water, they prefer to be in groups, but they'll do ok on their own.

Gonna fishless cycle?

Josh

 

[Scrumpy]

Thanks Josh!
Yes...I'm going to fishless cycle. I thought I'd get it all set up with plants, bog wood etc and then start cycling. My local fish shop says just put some tetras in and get on with it! I just need to track down some ammonia!
Bosemani's not ok then?
I've just been reading up on otos an wonder if I should have them too for the algae, or instead of the corys?

 

[colesea]

Green Tiger Barbs do not seem to be as aggressive with tankmates as orange/black tiger barbs. I did have five once, but they killed each other off, and the single one I have now does not bother its tankmates at all. In fact it is the one that gets chased around and picked on alot.  

A school of about eight to ten green tiger barbs shouldn't be a problem in your tank.
~~Colesea

 

[Scrumpy]

Thanks....does it have to be so many in a school though?
How about
6 zebra danios
12 cardinal tetras
3 peppered corys (to scavenge)
3 otos (to eat algae)
6 green t-barbs
4 dwarf blue neons
3 Bosemani rainbow fish

Is that too many fish? I'd add more tetras if I could...

 

[ChazECJr]

Instead of adding ammonia to the tank for fishless cycle can't you just add some fish food to serve as an ammo source?

I've also read about dead cocktail shrimp - is this only used in cycling saltwater tanks?

 

[JWright]

Yes, either of those would work, but ammonia would be faster and cleaner (it doesn't have to decompose).

Yeah, that is a bit much on the fish, I would lose the Cories and the Bosemani's.

Josh

 

[colesea]

Six green tiger barbs should be an okay number. Just see how it goes and seperate out any aggressors.
~~Colesea

 

[eseow]

Here's a simple solution to turbo speed your tank cycle. Find a LFS that keep individual tanks for each fish, not the ones that are all tapped together off one water filtration source. First off, if your LFS has one sick fish, then all can get sick. If do buy from these stores, quarantine for at least five days. Treat with Ick medication & an anti-biotic. Anyway to the point. My LFS has several separated tanks for all the fish. He  runs sponge filters in all the tanks. He supplied me one of his matured sponge filters, which was cleaned in only in room temperature declorinated water. He told me to place it in my filter, as Eheim 2028, at the top filter basket. He then gave 2 Giant Danios and told me to monitor water quality for the next 5 days. Fish are fine 0 ammonia, 0 nitrate. I started to stock tank on 5th day. Four more fish, 2 cherry barbs, & 2 rosy barbs. Checked water still 0, now have on 7th day at least 17 fish now, still at 0 on amonia & nitrates. I now its fine, because this tank is 9 days old from ans all out bacterial infection which killed 95% of my previous fish. After disinfection, I placed plants back in 5 days after, baby danios from my previous fish hatched. They're still alive feeding in a breeder net. I know if water quality was bad, they would be dead. Also, since I buy fish from him, then I know these fish are which cultured this bio-sponge. By the way, its a 25 gallon tank. *crazysmiley* *thumbsupsmiley* Ask your LFS if they have a bio-sponge for you you but thats already cultured. That will jump start your tank!

 

[JWright]

If your tank has 0 ammonia and 0 nitrate on day 7, I doubt it's cycled. What are your nitrite levels? I wouldn't be suprised if they were pretty high. Your nitrite consuming bacteria would have died back before your ammonia consuming could supply them with enough nutrients.

It also depends on the bioload of the tank the sponge came out of. If it was equal or greater than your current bioload, then it is possible for you to "instantly" cycle a tank. This method is discussed in the fishless article on this site.

Josh

 

[eseow]

As for my last post, ammonia 0 NITRITE 0, made typo. Posted Nitrate instead of nitrite. As for water quality, its is still 0 ammonia, & 0 nitrites as of 7:30 PM EST 3/6/02. Baby fish still alive and feeding in breeder net. And as for bio-sponge load, my fish supplier stocks 30+ fish per 20 gallon tank. Also bacteria loss is within 2-4 hours of no ammonia or nitrite present, with about 36 hours till fully dead. Sponge was kept in old fish tank water from stocking tank to keep it alive with an air stone bubbling through it at 78 deg F. *thumbsupsmiley*

 

[JWright]

Ok, it was the lack of nitrate that was leading me to believe it wasn't cycled. If there were no nitrates, then I would be concerned, but it sounds like you're all set.

Josh