Lost Newbie

[PirateMom]

I've recently set up a 29g tank and added 13 fish.
1 Polka dot catfish
2 Gourami (forgive me if misspelled)
2 Swordtails
2 Sunburst Platties
3 Bleeding Heart Tetras
3 Glo Tiger Barbs
They all seem to get along fine and eating like they should. So my question is, is my tank filled or do I have enough room for 1 or 2 more? I know as they get bigger I will have to get a bigger tank...
If I do have room, I'd like to get snails or shrimp of some kind.

[richberstler]

Snails and shrimp help clean your tank, at least the algae and any excess food. Personally I do not count them as part of the bio load of the tank, but technically they will. They usually maintain their own pop depending on what breeds and how much they have to clean up. I can always tell if I'm overfeeding based on the number of snails I have....

[daimen123]

have you cycled your new tank? what filtration do you have? I personally would look into your schooling fish numbers first maybe add some more tetra. I'm not sure on having 2 gourami together also. I think that maybe the swords and platties would love to snack on shrimp. unless you have a heavily planted tank I wouldn't recommend it. but snails should be fine.

[Cermet]

You need to buy a water test kit ASAP!!! The kit should measure ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte (note spellings of last two) and pH would be useful. Your tank isn't cycled - that takes three to six weeks and right now, the fish are most likely suffering by the build up of ammonia (their waste) in the water. You need to do a 50 - 75% water change right away and continue with 50% water changes at least once a day until you get your kit. When you get the kit, measure the ammonia and nitrite levels right away (before a water change.) If the ammonia is above 0.5 ppm and/or if the nitrite is above 0.1 ppm do as large a water change as needed to get the levels below these numbers (aim for 0.25 or lower ammonia, and zero nitrite.) Nitrates can go up to 20 ppm without an issue. Don't confuse nitrAte with nitrIte - nitrites are extremely toxic to fish.

[imma24]

I believe you are sufficiently stocked for that size tank.

As you have already been advised, I would make a test kit my next purchase instead of snails or shrimp. You will need to monitor ammonia levels in your tank until it cycles (there is a sticky in red letters in the beginners section to read) otherwise you will start seeing fish act stressed/die, especially the catfish because toxins are more concentrated at the bottom.

If the fish get stressed, they could act aggressively towards each other at some point.

Until you are able to test the water, I would do 50% water changes maybe every 2-3 days to keep the ammonia down.

[PirateMom]

You need to buy a water test kit ASAP!!! The kit should measure ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte (note spellings of last two) and pH would be useful. Your tank isn't cycled - that takes three to six weeks and right now, the fish are most likely suffering by the build up of ammonia (their waste) in the water. You need to do a 50 - 75% water change right away and continue with 50% water changes at least once a day until you get your kit. When you get the kit, measure the ammonia and nitrite levels right away (before a water change.) If the ammonia is above 0.5 ppm and/or if the nitrite is above 0.1 ppm do as large a water change as needed to get the levels below these numbers (aim for 0.25 or lower ammonia, and zero nitrite.) Nitrates can go up to 20 ppm without an issue. Don't confuse nitrAte with nitrIte - nitrites are extremely toxic to fish.

I don't know how you knew (other than lost newbie) that I needed a kit but good job, lol. Am buying one Friday (I think it's ammonia and from what others say, iron because of city water) I am changing 50% of water every other day until I get a test kit. No worries, I am doing everything possible to keep my fish going since I didn't know anything about a cycle until it was too late!!:)

[susmita]

Hi all..........I have a query........I put boring water ( strait from tube well ) do I need to cycle d tank also ??

[Goes to 11!]

Hi all..........I have a query........I put boring water ( strait from tube well ) do I need to cycle d tank also ??

susmita, Please start your own thread for your questions: Short answer Yes: Read the top two stickys here please:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...play.php?f=111

[mermaidwannabe]

When you do your water changes, remember to add dechlorinator to any and all new water you add to your tank, BEFORE it goes in there. Seachem's Prime is the best there is, in my opinion. Do read the dosing instructions, and don't worry about the smell. That's normal and temporary.

-- mermaidwannabe

[susmita]

ohhh..........thanks ..........I will.