New but not New

[Not NEW Not OLD]

Hi ALL,


i have a 38gal high Aqueon tank with 2 HOB 30 gal Awueon Power filters. 200w heater, Whisper 60 air pump driving a 4 inch air disc buried int he back of the center of the tank. 24" fluor vivid light in a 36" hood that also houses two linkable blue led moonlights. In tank I have a hydor green led with no air pump that comes on for effect at night when the hood light turns off,

This all started when m y daughter got a betta in a bowl for a xmas gift from a loving neighbor. then we graduated to a 10 gal tank but that wasnt enough now we have the 38g.

I made a serious error though. I let my 4 1/2 year old dictate what fish and how many. LOL
now i am over crowded i think and trying to break it to her. lol
anyway heres what we have.
4- marble kissing gouramies, 1 1/2 inches in length
2- tinfoil barbs 1 2" and 1 1 1/2"
2- gold gouramies 1 1/2" each
4- cherry barbs tiny 3/4 "
7- tiger barbs 1/2" each

Anyway im open to suggestions, is this ok I'm having trouble keeping ammonia levels down tank ha been up for 5 weeks now. only way to get the water below.5ppm of ammonia is to do 50% water change every week. No big deal the kids help and w emake it a family fun proj. The fish seem very active with noone gasping or acting funny.

fed every other day. on feeding days they get food at 330 and 830. Lights go on at 3 and off at 1030. i mix up the food between Tetra crisps, Tetra Flakes and Tetral Granules. Each feeding is a different food.

Tank has artifical plants with sm to med river gravel natural color with some natural color stones and two to three lava rock pieces depending on the tank config. I was to told to alter the tank config when adding new fish or just to break up the territorial fights that could occur.


Any thoughts and ideas woudl be apprciated.

Thanks in advance,
Not NEW Not OLD.:22:

[mac]

Hi ALL,

Hi,
Welcome to the forum.

i have a 38gal high Aqueon tank with 2 HOB 30 gal Awueon Power filters. 200w heater, Whisper 60 air pump driving a 4 inch air disc buried int he back of the center of the tank. 24" fluor vivid light in a 36" hood that also houses two linkable blue led moonlights. In tank I have a hydor green led with no air pump that comes on for effect at night when the hood light turns off,

Sound like a nice set up.

This all started when m y daughter got a betta in a bowl for a xmas gift from a loving neighbor. then we graduated to a 10 gal tank but that wasnt enough now we have the 38g.

Sounds like a case of MTS.:19: [Multiple Tank Syndrome.]

I made a serious error though. I let my 4 1/2 year old dictate what fish and how many. LOL
now i am over crowded i think and trying to break it to her. lol
anyway heres what we have.
4- marble kissing gouramies, 1 1/2 inches in length
2- tinfoil barbs 1 2" and 1 1 1/2"
2- gold gouramies 1 1/2" each
4- cherry barbs tiny 3/4 "
7- tiger barbs 1/2" each

Arr the mistake. Don't worry we all make them.
Kind of a lot of fish of overly bad combinations.

But can be fixed, and turned into a nice tank.

Anyway im open to suggestions, is this ok I'm having trouble keeping ammonia levels down tank ha been up for 5 weeks now

No it is not. Sounds like the tank has not been cycled.

only way to get the water below.5ppm of ammonia is to do 50% water change every week. No big deal the kids help and w emake it a family fun proj. The fish seem very active with noone gasping or acting funny.

I would keep going with the water changes. 25% twice a week would be better IMO.

fed every other day. on feeding days they get food at 330 and 830. Lights go on at 3 and off at 1030. i mix up the food between Tetra crisps, Tetra Flakes and Tetral Granules. Each feeding is a different food.

Sounds like a good routine. IMO a few more hours would be fine for the lighting. More so if you have live plants.

Tank has artifical plants with sm to med river gravel natural color with some natural color stones and two to three lava rock pieces depending on the tank config. I was to told to alter the tank config when adding new fish or just to break up the territorial fights that could occur.

Very true. But with the amount of Gouramis you have the territories disputes will be a big problem. And will lead to poor fish health and death, with the Gouramis.

IMO I would return these fish.

4- marble kissing gouramies,
2- tinfoil barbs
2- gold gouramies

Reason, just to many Gouramis. Plus the Kissing Gouramis IMO get a bit to big for a 38 gallon tank.

The Tin Foil Barbs get very big. They can grow over a foot long. And need to be in much larger group to be happier in a very big tank. Around 200 gallon size.

The other fish would be fine. You could easily increase the school sizes, and add some bottom dwellers.

IMO Tiger Barbs can be a pain. If you want fish that have long fines like Bettas or Guppies.

So if you don't really want a species tank, I would not keep the Tiger Barbs.
But get some more peaceful ones. Like Pentazona Barbs.

Thanks in advance,
Not NEW Not OLD.:22:

No problem. Hope this helps.

mac

[Not NEW Not OLD]

All the fish get along great and look great when swimming around. So the mixed species looks cool.

Id get rid of all the gouramies but i need to convince the 4 1/2 year old that they will be better off in another home. LOL

I really like the tins though remind me of sharks lol. Wait its for her not me. LOL.

I know your gonna yell at me but if I thin out the 4 marbles and two golds could i get 4 or 5 clown loaches. I love their looks and the wife will kill me if i tell her i want to put up another tank.

Thanks for the speedy reply.
And I am not offended by the terms "you idiot no you cant put clowns in there" LOL

Thanks

[dancethenparty]

no the clown loaches at least need an 48 inches tank and yours is 36.......
i know the feeling, i actually want pretty much all the fishes in the pet store, but i do not have the room. if only had like like 30 tanks that were all like 500 gallons...that would be amazing!

[mac]

All the fish get along great and look great when swimming around. So the mixed species looks cool.

It is great they are getting on now. BUt wait there will be trouble before to long.



Quite a task I must say. BUt one thing, just explain the fish will get hurt if not separated and returned. Which in no lie, just time and it will happen.

[QUOTE]I really like the tins though remind me of sharks lol. Wait its for her not me. LOL.

They are nice fish. I would love to keep them. Just getting into adult life, and now that I have to look after my self, and soon a woman I cant get more than how ever many fish tanks are in my sig.

I know your gonna yell at me but if I thin out the 4 marbles and two golds could i get 4 or 5 clown loaches. I love their looks and the wife will kill me if i tell her i want to put up another tank.

That is a shame. NO we wont yell. This is a friendly place.
Sorry about you not being able to get another tank.

It was the same with me. Mum did not want any more tanks. But with time that changed. And now I can't do any more tanks. Look after them I mean.

As for the Clowns. They can get up to 1/1/2 ft long. Even though this takes time, they would need to be moved from tank to tank over a year or so till they get into a tank of 200 + gallons.

IMO and IME I would leave them out. There are smaller Loaches. That would suit thought.:19:

Thanks for the speedy reply.
And I am not offended by the terms "you idiot no you cant put clowns in there" LOL

Thanks

You are welcome.

No idiot ect ect is not really used on this forum. We are all mates.:11: :19:

mac

[timfee]

You idiot no you cant put clowns in there!

:14:

[bushwhacker]

except for timfee LOL,, on a serious note clown loaches will get way to big for that tank... it'll take some time and if you plan on upgrading the tank anytime soon then go ahead but you will need a bigger tank

[Not NEW Not OLD]

Thanks timfee that was what i was lookng for. Thank you all for the great support. I will be setting up the old 10 gallon to hold the gouramis for now til i can get them back to the store or to a new home. I need to add somethiing to the mix though some bottom dwellers as the tigers and cherries and tins run mid to top tank
Thanks again
Not NEW Not OLD

[rangur1]

just read your question, you will, regrettably, have overstocking issues. the tin foil barbs grow to be 10-12 inches each same for kissing gouramis. the other gouramis [gold],i believe should get to 4-5 inches but may be harrassed by tiger barbs.
as for replacements , coolie loaches work well with tiger barbs and they only grow to 4 inches. good luck

[Gayle]

You will end up having aggression issues with the Gouramis. I would suggest that you just rehome them a.s.a.p. Only keep one maybe two. Two females. I have black Kuhli loaches, they are pretty cute, they stay fairly small, and they should be kept in groups of atleast 3.

[Not NEW Not OLD]

do the kuhli loaches shoal and play like the clowns do. thats what attracted me to them that and the big oke stripes.

thanks
NNNO

[Not NEW Not OLD]

Gayle,
i took out the 4 kissers from the tank and set them up in the 10g tank until i can find a new home for them. Maybe the local fish store will take them back for credit or something, can i put 3-5 kuhlisin the 38 gal tank now or will it still be too crowded.
thanks for your help
NNNO

[mac]

4- marble kissing gouramies, 1 1/2 inches in length
2- tinfoil barbs 1 2" and 1 1 1/2"
2- gold gouramies 1 1/2" each
4- cherry barbs tiny 3/4 "
7- tiger barbs 1/2" each



So minus the Kissing Gouramis. You will still b over stocked. The other fish that have to be returned is the the TinFoil Barbs. Then your tank would be okay.

IMO I would leave the tank alone once you have taken out the fish listed above.

mac