Adding A Small School (5) All At Once?

[drn_lvs_lnt]

I'm still a ways off from adding fish to my new tank, however, I was curious as to how adding schools was done.

I plan to have something like 1 Betta, 3 Platys and 5-7 Neon Tetras in the end.

When it comes to the Tetras, as I understand it, they're best kept together. Is there much leeway on this? Can they be added one at a time over a couple of weeks? Or, since they're so tiny (initially), can they be added en masse if my bacteria is strong enough (in addition to large water changes every few days to help lessen ammonia) to cope?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Aqua Tom]

If you are doing a fishless cycle & complete it sucsessfuly then you can add your whole stock list at once.

Tom

 

[minnnt]

You should be fine to add the Neons together, but they can be a bit touchy in a newly setup aquarium, so either wait until it is a little more matured after your cycle or be prepared to lose some...

Also, how big is your filter?

 

[Noahs ark6]

If you are doing a fishless cycle & complete it sucsessfuly then you can add your whole stock list at once.

Tom

+1

 

[drn_lvs_lnt]

If you are doing a fishless cycle & complete it sucsessfuly then you can add your whole stock list at once.

Tom

Oh. I wasn't aware of that. I thought it best, still, to gradually introduce fish regardless.

Thanks for letting me know.

You should be fine to add the Neons together, but they can be a bit touchy in a newly setup aquarium, so either wait until it is a little more matured after your cycle or be prepared to lose some...

Also, how big is your filter?

The tank's a Fluval Edge 12 gallon which comes with, I believe, a re-branded Aquaclear 20.

 

[minnnt]

Should be fine then. Personally i would add the Neons last once matured a little and used to the bioload caused by the other habitants you want to stock.

 

[drn_lvs_lnt]

Yeah, I had the same idea. Betta, female Platys, male Platy, then Neons.

 

[minnnt]

I would add them over 3 weeks i think in the stages you suggest

 

[mark4880]

I have exactly the same stock and I put the neons in first, a week later I added the platys and on Wednesday I'm adding my betta. I haven't had any issues, but my tank was fully cycled and I did use a bacteria additive to boost the filter when adding the stock.

 

[CezzaXV]

For argument's sake though, would you be able to add a small school all at once? I erred on the side of caution and only added about two thirds of my full stocking once my cycle was done. I eventually plan to add 6 rummy nose tetra and a betta. At the moment I've got 6 cardinal tetra and 5 cories (it was 6 but one of them sadly died).

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yes.

You can easily add 50% of your current stocking level without any fear of a mini-cycle. So, in your case, adding the 6 rummynose tetras. I would wait before adding the betta until the rummynose get a chance to settle in and you have a week with zeros (which you should have). I'm not sure about adding the betta to the group, but I don't think it would be a problem. Some bettas just have more attitude than others. If you get a hyperaggressive betta, be prepared to return it or place it in a separate tank. You can seed the separate tank's filter with some of your existing media.