A place 4 my questions & ponderings as I build a 34 Gallons (127L) tank

[AilyNC]

With a silent cycle, you should not see ammonia or nitrite. All you need to do is wait until the plants are obviously growing, then get the first batch of fish. Keep an eye on ammonia and nitrite until you are sure they are staying at zero before getting the next batch.

Have you finished planting now or are there more plants to come? If you plan on more, I'd wait till all the plants are in so you don't disturb the fish.

I've all my plants in. I've definitely had growth over the last 15 days. The original plants have all had growth except I find it hard to tell with the java Fern.

Is it ok if I wait until during next week or should fish be added to prevent a stall?

 

[Essjay]

In a well planted tank, fewer bacteria grow than in an unplanted tank. Plants take up ammonia faster than bacteria and with enough plants they will remove all the ammonia made by the fish. There will be only background levels of bacteria.
The bacteria you have grown will not die for a few weeks. They'll eventually go dormant, then start to die in a few months. Waiting till next week won't cause any problems for the bacteria.

 

[AilyNC]

Super thank you!

 

[Wells]

Tanks looking great!

The tree and rock are looking so good, seiryu stone?

 

[AilyNC]

Tanks looking great!

The tree and rock are looking so good, seiryu stone?

Thank you. I've no idea actually I had two smaller Aquarium quartz rocks but needed something to give the tree height so ordered this on Amazon. Oh Amtra apparently...


https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N3CT0FC/?tag=

 

[AilyNC]

I'm I (nervously) added 10 Cherry Barb. 2 male & 7 female. She was really struggling to catch them & looks like she injured one. Hopefully it's ok.

Have to say watching them swim around the tree is just beautiful will get better pics this evening when the room is dark.

 

[ClownLurch]

Waaaaaahhhhheeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyy.

 

[AilyNC]

Waaaaaahhhhheeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyy.

I actually felt a bit emotional

 

[ClownLurch]

I actually felt a bit emotional

Well not everyone has ten kids in one day.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Fantastic!

Nice, they look like they are admiring your tree that you worked so hard on

I simply love adding new livestock to tanks

 

[AilyNC]

Ah they are just lovely. I'm more certain in my choice to go with multiple small sized fish groups. They make the tank look huge!

 

[mbsqw1d]

Great news! Barbs are well 'ard so I wouldn't worry about adding them to a new(ish) tank.

 

[AilyNC]

Great news! Barbs are well 'ard so I wouldn't worry about adding them to a new(ish) tank.

I followed @NCaquatics advice about sex balance and have 2 male & 8 female. One male is letting the other know he's boss but just a little chasing. Pretty chillded out group though. Lovely fish

 

[CassCats]

With cherry barbs its the better ratio to keep less males than females. Other barbs is recommended to have equal.

But cherries are really mellow barbs, I love them.

 

[AilyNC]

With cherry barbs its the better ratio to keep less males than females. Other barbs is recommended to have equal.

But cherries are really mellow barbs, I love them.

Was a bit snap happy earlier

They really hang out around my tree a lot. The like the shade but also chase around it and nip the moss up top. They're exploring the tank much more now
(Edit typo)