Introducing barbs to my tank

[tttnjfttt]

How should I begin introducing tiger barbs into my tank? Right now I have three tiger barbs in my quarentine tank that are going to be introduced into my main tank, which has five danios. How should I go about this? I don't want to overwhelm my filter either, since i just added two of the danios yesterday. Advice?

 

[WILDER]

What are your water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, same temp and ph as main tank, if not you will have to climitise them again.

 

[digital_run]

You shouldn't have that much of aporblem introduceing them...They aren't exactly a messy fish so the bio-load won't be that bad. Keep in mind that Tiger barbs are sensitive to Nitrate/Nitrite....Because of this Tigers really do require frequent partial water changes in order for them to thrive....So for the first couple weeks id keep a close eye on my water parameters and water changes as required.

Also...I imagine/hope you going to be adding more tigers to your group....When you do introduce new ones its best to add 2-3 at a time this way a single new fish isn't singled out and harassed and theres a better chance of them blending into the group. Good Luck.

DR

 

[tttnjfttt]

How does this sound...I'll leave the barbs in the quarentine tank for one week, while watching the water stats in my main tank (making sure i dont go into a mini cycle). In the quarentine tank, i'll also check the water regularly. In a week, if there is no spike in the main tank, i'll add all three barbs at once.

To get the barbs used to the nitrates in the main tank, around day 5 i'll start adding about 2 cups of tank water per day to the quarentine tank.

As of yesterday, the pH was 7.2 in both tanks, ammonia - 0, nitrites - 0, and I need to get a test kit for nitrates.

 

[WILDER]

If water stats are fine now i would add them, don't think it will cause a min cycle.

 

[tttnjfttt]

If water stats are fine now i would add them, don't think it will cause a min cycle.

I have always been told to add fish slowly. Yesterday I added two danios, and I was under the impression that 3 tiger barbs would be overkill.

 

[digital_run]

I have always been told to add fish slowly. Yesterday I added two danios, and I was under the impression that 3 tiger barbs would be overkill.

I wouldn't worry about it that much...If your tank was stable when you introduced the danio's then another 3 tigers won't be too overwhelming...As long as you keep a close eye for awhile and be ready to do some water changes if you notice spikes or see your Tigers hanging with their heads down. I always think of my Tigers as an early warning system for poor water conditions....

DR

edit: What size tank do you have? Just curious

 

[tttnjfttt]

I've got a 20 gal (US).

Thanks for the advice! Fish being moved over to the main tank now!

 

[digital_run]

20gal is kinda tight so i wouldn't have more than maybe 6-7 of them in there...Just make sure you have an open swimming space for them and some plants they can hide in if needed. Tigers ae the reason i got a bigger tank...They really do appreciate alot of swimming space (hint new tank hint ). I hope you enjoy them...When kept properly they are fantastic fish.

DR

 

[tttnjfttt]

I would love a larger tank, but I really can't afford it, especially since I just bought this one two weeks ago, whihc is like four times the of my old one. I set the tank up wiht decorations mainly in the back corners, to give swimming room and hiding room. I've put a picture below, just easier for me to do. I was aiming for 6 barbs, enough for a school, but not too many since it tank is smaller