Quick Question

[ryann]

I'm about to buy a new school of most likely corys and was wondering if I should buy all 6 at one time or buy 3, wait about a week for the filtration to adjust, and then buy 3 more? Any advice is appreciated.

[bignellm]

Really depends on tank size, filtration, and current stock.

Without knowing and assuming your tank is fully cycled and not overstocked, then I would go three at a time.

[imma24]

Do not buy ANY corys until your tank has cycled!! Waiting a week will not accomplish this for you - you have to actually add ammonia to do this - without fish in there.

You need to cycle your tank before putting in any fish that live at the bottom of your tank because the ammonia they will produce will kill them - it's more concentrated down there.

Read the link on cycling a tank without fish and after you are all finished, THEN you can buy corys - also, how large of a tank do you have?

[ryann]

Sorry I forgot to put all the details. My tank has been running for about 5 months and has 6 cherry barbs already. Fully cycled, adequate filtration. Been doing 20% water changes weekly.

[bignellm]

Yep, that's what I just tracked down. Spotted your progress for the last few months in several threads. Sounds like your tank is cycled and only 6 Barbs?

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ad.php?t=90028

As they said in this thread, it's not advisable for bottom dwellers in your tank. But on a bio-load only basis for my answer; I would go three, wait/monitor--a week at least, then add another three.

But this is only on bio-load basis, not a seal of approval on your Cory.

[Cermet]

Tank size? Without that, the amount of fish it is safe to add all at one time is hard to determine. For a 75 gal, not a big issue for adding six corys; for a 10 gal, would be a big problem ... . remember, all catfish/bottom dwellers are highly senitive to ammonia/nitrite spikes!!

If not sure, get three at a time and wait a week like you said.

[imma24]

+1 with Cermet - volume of water matters and size of filter matters to determine how many you could realistically add at one time but smaller #'s at once are always better for water quality sake.

[ryann]

20 gallon tank. I think I will wait some time between additions. So what do you guys think will be better than bottom dwellers?

[ScottishFish]

For a 20g I would miss on the corys, 6-8khuli loaches would be better IMO, only if your tanks well filtered, maintained, and planted preferably

[Cermet]

Can't go wrong with either corys or locaches; both need sand substartes.