Stocking Advice Pls!!

[CosmicStar]

Glowlight danios are pretty small, aren't they? IMO one school of tetras and one school of glowlights would be fine, as long as you had good filtering and kept up with weekly waterchanges. But maybe that's just me.

The higher the better with schooling species :) six just tends to be the magic number.

Interesting (: Thanks for your input
So for my tank 6 diamond tetras and 6 glowlight danios wouldnt b too much?

[CosmicStar]

yes the glowlight danios are pretty small!

[ScottishFish]

Phillip: I am not saying 6 is the best number ever, I keep a school of 18 red eyes, I really promote larger schools, cosmicstar is fairly new to fish keeping and that is why I suggested 1 school of 6-10 fish to begin with, is less of a bioload strain on the filtration and allows for her to get used to fish keeping. Loading up your stocking to the max right away is a bad idea, where as 6 at first then gradually increasing the levels to 10-12 is a better one IMO

[CrunchyLeaf]

When I was stocking my 10 gallon. I started with the 3 neons that were in it to begin with. Every couple of weeks I added 3 more until my school hit 12. They are so much more interesting in a school of 12 than they were at 6. That being said, they will be fine with only 6 and it gives you a chance to decide if you like the way they look in your tank and would be happy to just have one large school of all the same fish.

[TheVoldevader]

Interesting (: Thanks for your input
So for my tank 6 diamond tetras and 6 glowlight danios wouldnt b too much?

I guess I edited my post too late for anyone to notice - I tried the stocking out on Aqadvisor and it said your tank would be at a 103% stocking level with six danios and six tetras. What kind of filter are you using? Also, doing 30% water changes per week, I believe it would be okay.

[CosmicStar]

I see what you mean..I guess I was just hoping to get more variety with my tank than just one species..I might add 3 more diamonds and 3 more danios just to add color and playfullness since the diamonds are very mellow..

[CosmicStar]

I guess I edited my post too late for anyone to notice - I tried the stocking out on Aqadvisor and it said your tank would be at a 103% stocking level with six danios and six tetras. What kind of filter are you using? Also, doing 30% water changes per week, I believe it would be okay.

LoL I guess so! I'm using Aqueon medium sized filters that work really good..I was planning on 30percent water changes every 2 weeks has been working out nicely..So I would be overstocked then! Not sure what I should do..is it really unhealthy how I have my tank now?

[CrunchyLeaf]

When you say you started out with 9 goldfish and only had 1 by the end of a month, did they die? Or did you just get rid of them?

Do you know what they died from?

Do you have a test kit for water parameters? Sometimes testing how quickly the nitrates build up in your tank is a good way to tell if you're overstocked. I recently bought a second African Dwarf Frog for my 10 gallon tank. Most people would tell you it is overstocked (Aqadvisor says 103%), but it is very easy for me to maintain the appropriate levels with weekly water changes and great filtration so being slightly overstocked is okay as long as it's not affecting the fish and they still have the required amount of space.

[CosmicStar]

Yes, all of the goldfish died. I think I overstocked the tank and the ph was wayyy off so I figured that is what happened. I do have a water testing kit. I'm leaning towards possibly getting cichilds..do those have to be all one species too? Since I am looking for more of a variety aquarium..

[MLBfan]

Before you think about stocking, I would make sure your tank is cycled (it probably is since goldfish would be an ammonia source).

Anyway, your tank is too small for cichlids and schooling species. What I would do is remove the fish you have (give them to a friend or something) and start over with our help (and your own research) to find fish you love.