Neon tetra schooling question...

[SuckerLove86]

For future reference, what's the best way to add neons? I know they need to be in a school of about 6 at least, but I've also read that you shouldn't add more than 4 fish at a time as it changes the bioload.

Are fish so small an exception to this rule? Or is a smaller group gonna have to tough it out in a little school before they can be at the minimum recommended amount?

 

[WILDER]

I wouldn't add the neons till your tank has matured for six months.

 

[sunflower]

I wouldn't add the neons till your tank has matured for six months.

Why's that?

I added mine after the tank had been up and running for about 6 weeks.

 

[WILDER]

As they are sensitive to water quality, not the hardiest of fish, you can just be cycled then buy to many fish and crash back to a mini cycle, it's best to wait with neons, sorry not great at explaining what I mean.

 

[rich]

I asked at my LFS, where I bought my tank the week before, and he said to add 5 which I did (5 days after setting up!!!). He claimed he had got strong stock. Anyway I added 2 more a couple of weeks later and they were all fine until 1 got sucked up the filter. Other 6 still going strong 3 months on.

For me they have been good (to date) but lots of people have trouble with them.

 

[Lateral Line]

You will frequently see advice that says Neons, Cardinals etc., should not be added for a while. It is basically good advice. These species are sensitive to Nitrogen pollution, and newly cycled tanks tend to be unstable for quite a while with small nitrite spikes etc.

Small fish have as much impct on the bio load of the tank as larger fish of similar type. Some fish are notoriously "dirty" and have greater impact relative to their size, but characins are not so.

Adding 6 fish to a recently cycled small tank is probably not a good idea, but you don't say how big the tank is, or what your current stocking level is so it is difficult to give definitive advice.

Remember, the LFS is interested in selling fish, not necessarily in their well-being.