30g Tank, Will It Work?

[reportingsjr]

Hi,

Right now I have a bosemani rainbow and a red tailed shark in a 10g (didn't research before I bought =\), and I was thinking of upgrading to a 30g tank soon.

I was wondering if I added about 7-8 tiger barbs to the tank (30g, mind you) would all of the fish live rather peacefully?

I also plan on planting the tank to 25% for starters, maybe more once I get more experienced. ALl I have in the 10g right now is a basalt rock and two plastic plants. *slap wrist*

Thanks!

 

[RushingChamp28]

Hi,

Right now I have a bosemani rainbow and a red tailed shark in a 10g (didn't research before I bought =\), and I was thinking of upgrading to a 30g tank soon.

I was wondering if I added about 7-8 tiger barbs to the tank (30g, mind you) would all of the fish live rather peacefully?

I also plan on planting the tank to 25% for starters, maybe more once I get more experienced. ALl I have in the 10g right now is a basalt rock and two plastic plants. *slap wrist*

Thanks!

This should work, keeping the tiger barbs in a larger group will prevent them from being overly "nippy" and harassing the other fish. Just keep in mind a few things:

Tiger barbs can be sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, make sure your 30 gal water quality is good before you add the barbs.

Planted tanks are excellent, but watch for the barbs eating the plants (they should be fine but be aware they can be hungry sometimes), some species just cannot be in a planted tank.

The shark can get fairly large, but im assuming you know that now.

The rainbows are generally happier when they are in a group of 3-5+ individuals.

Just keep in mind the 30 gals requirements. Hope this helps
-Evan

 

[rocknurworld2006]

Hi,

Right now I have a bosemani rainbow and a red tailed shark in a 10g (didn't research before I bought =\), and I was thinking of upgrading to a 30g tank soon.

I was wondering if I added about 7-8 tiger barbs to the tank (30g, mind you) would all of the fish live rather peacefully?

I also plan on planting the tank to 25% for starters, maybe more once I get more experienced. ALl I have in the 10g right now is a basalt rock and two plastic plants. *slap wrist*

Thanks!

This should work, keeping the tiger barbs in a larger group will prevent them from being overly "nippy" and harassing the other fish. Just keep in mind a few things:

Tiger barbs can be sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, make sure your 30 gal water quality is good before you add the barbs.

Planted tanks are excellent, but watch for the barbs eating the plants (they should be fine but be aware they can be hungry sometimes), some species just cannot be in a planted tank.

The shark can get fairly large, but im assuming you know that now.

The rainbows are generally happier when they are in a group of 3-5+ individuals.

Just keep in mind the 30 gals requirements. Hope this helps
-Evan

i wud give the rainbow to someone else. i would say 30g is too small for a shoal of bosemanis

 

[reportingsjr]

i wud give the rainbow to someone else. i would say 30g is too small for a shoal of bosemanis

Hmm, good idea, but I don't know anyone to give it to! The lps I bought it from won't take it back, but as of today I'm not going there again. I found a 20k sq ft place that largely does fish/aquarium stuff. Freaking heaven to me! Maybe they will take it.

What kind of aquascape and plants do rts and tiger barbs like the most, so I can make them the most comfortable?

 

[trojannemo]

I can't speak for the barbs or the RTS but regarding the boesemani:

if rehoming is not an option, you should consider the following...

- rainbows need a tank at least 36" in length...that should be a 30g long or a 36g or something like that...make sure whatever you get is longer, rather than taller!
- on a tank that size, and with that many fish, water quality can quickly degrade...rainbows are susceptible to high nitrates...you should then be ready to do large water changes at least once or twice a week.
- the boesemani wont likely eat your plants, but they do need vegetables in their diet, so keep that in mind as well.

i have 12 fish at the moment, 8 of which are rainbows, 2 boesemani males. my tank is 36" in length, its moderately planted with a modified EI dosing schedule, and about 30% water changes every sunday...it's not really that much work, and it's worth it! boesemanis are beautiful fish and if you can keep him, i'd highly recommend it

 

[reportingsjr]

Well the place I went to said they would take him, so I've opted for that as I feel being there would be much better!

So it turns out it's a rainbow shark, my bad! I'm going to have a rainbow shark and 7-10 tiger barbs, could I put any shrimp or other fish in? Maybe 3-4 of another type of schooling fish?

Looking at the shrimp mainly, though.

Thanks!

 

[Elrohirthehasty]

Well the place I went to said they would take him, so I've opted for that as I feel being there would be much better!

So it turns out it's a rainbow shark, my bad! I'm going to have a rainbow shark and 7-10 tiger barbs, could I put any shrimp or other fish in? Maybe 3-4 of another type of schooling fish?

Looking at the shrimp mainly, though.

Thanks!

You could do some serpae tetras, which have a similar disposition to the tigers, although you need at least 6. That would be all you could get most likely. They are red too so maybe you dont want them. You could just get 12 tiger barbs, but have 6 wild color and 6 moss green or emerald, that would be pretty cool.

I'm not entirely sure about the shrimp mostly because ive never had any, but from what ive heard, it can work, just dont get too attached to them if the shark or the tigers decide to pick on it...or eat it.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Just a quicky on the planting, check the planted forum because I am no absolute know it all but do a lot of reading, but I am pretty sure it will be easier to manage the planted tank if you plant MORE than 25%. This minimises algae growth and gives you a stunning aquascape. Also i some plants don't quite take their will be so much more back-up foliage there.

 

[reportingsjr]

Heh, got the 10 tiger barbs today and I'm liking them quite a bit!

serpae tetras sound interesting and I'd like another schooling group! I will be looking in to some sort of shrimpies too, after I get some plants.

In about a week or two when the place I go to gets some of the nutrients in I'll buy those and get some plants too. Probably java moss, java fern and amazon sword. I'll be sure to get plenty of plants then, since it seems more is better!

What are some bigger fish that would work with a rainbow shark and 10 tiger barbs? And also not eat plants or shrimp.

One last question, what does El stand for? (or is it EI?)

 

[Elrohirthehasty]

Heh, got the 10 tiger barbs today and I'm liking them quite a bit!

serpae tetras sound interesting and I'd like another schooling group! I will be looking in to some sort of shrimpies too, after I get some plants.

In about a week or two when the place I go to gets some of the nutrients in I'll buy those and get some plants too. Probably java moss, java fern and amazon sword. I'll be sure to get plenty of plants then, since it seems more is better!

What are some bigger fish that would work with a rainbow shark and 10 tiger barbs? And also not eat plants or shrimp.

One last question, what does El stand for? (or is it EI?)

...im looking into columbian tetras, which, like the tigers, will get to about 3 in. I dont think there will be any problems with the shark.

OR if you want to stick with barbs...

tinfoil barbs, but they get pretty big
rosy barbs

 

[ghent_3rd]

EI is "estimative index". The brief description below is the easiest way to describe it, the link will give you a full rundown on how it works.

It is basically a way of fertilising the tank through the use of the main nutrients that plants need. You would usually put a lot of ferts in over a weekly basis and then at the end of the week do one huge water change to remove any excess nutrients and then start the process again. Although not strictly true the PFK writer George Farmer (planted tank legend) does advise on lightly stocking the aquarium with fish if you are going down the EI route to make the plant maintenance your top priority.

Going with the plants that you have suggested you would be able to grow these without the need for EI.

EI EXPLAINED

 

[reportingsjr]

So I wont need the EI, but I should still dose a little bit? I know I will have to, as this is a new tank.

I have two boxes of laterite to put under the plants I get, what nutrients exactly does that give?