question on tiger barbs

[fishielover]

i am cycling (for the first time) a ten gal. tank. i have started with three tiger barbs, two of which are extreamly aggressive toward each other and more so toward the less aggressive one. i have researched cycling which says to start with a small number of fish and work your way up slowly allowing time for the tank to adjust.
I have received tips on placing more tigers in the tank which would decrease their aggressiveness. Is it too soon to place more fish? these have only been in for about 1 week.
Is there anything i should do for my fish who is getting beat up on or is this just a case of survival of the fittest? How many should i add to my NEW tank without having too much of a toxic reaction.

any comments welcome.

thanks in advance!

 

[digital_run]

Hey fishielover..welcome to the forum

OK...first off theres alot of useful info on this site...check out some of the older posts and im sure you'll find all the answers you need..
Tiger barbs are best kept in groups of 5-6 ( more the better ). When they are in groups like this they spread out there aggression whereas if you have only 2-3 there will be a dominant fish/fishes that will stress and nip the weaker of the bunch making them miserable. Now a 10 gal. isnt a very big tank so you have to be careful not to over stock the tank...the rule is usually 2" of fish per gallon..So if i were you id think about maybe getting 1-2 more and thats it. A 10 gallon isnt really a good tank for tigers as they need alot of swimming room and will get to about 3-3.5". Do you have a test kit?...doing a cycle with fish is very stressful on the fish especially tiger barbs as they dont handle nitrite levels very well..I would recommend testing your water and doing frequent water changes...maybe 10% everyday until things settle down..what kind of filter do you have on the tank?....any other questions feel free to ask..HIH


ÐR

 

[fishielover]

Thanks so much. I have an AquaTech filter with full contact carbon filtration. I have tested for pH and nitrites and nitrates and all is well. I thought when i bought the kit it tested for ammonia levels too. It doesnt. so i will be getting one tomarrow. What are appropriate levels? i also realized that the one getting picked on is probably female and the others male. would this have anything to do with it? Anyway, are there any good tips for cycling? just frequent small water changes and what else. how often should i clean the gravel. they seem to eat almost all that is put in the tank.
If i put two more tigers in the tank will that inhibit me from placing others species in later? I plan on getting a bigger tank later on down the road. Just starting small.

thanks again.

 

[digital_run]

I wouldn't recommend getting anything else for the tank...Your really restricted with a 10gal. I'd just add another pair of barbs which will hopefully help your little female out. When a fish is constantly stressed it makes them prone to disease and with your tank not being cycled its not a good situation for her. When your tank is finally cycled all your levels ( ammonia / nitrite / nitrate ) should be at 0 . If your not sure of the exact process then there are some good pinned articles in the beginner section. I clean my gravel once a week......HIH

 

[Bignose]

Let me make one small correction. Your nitrate levels will almost never be zero -- simply because it is the end product of the cycle ammonia --> nitrite --> nitrate. If your tank is heavily planted, the plants will take up a lot of nitrate, but it will never be zero. But, both ammonia and nitrite should be zero to consider the tank cycled and healthy.

 

[Phantom Thief]

Second correction. If you have a heavily planted tank, the nitrate WILL be 0.

P.T.

 

[digital_run]

I wouldn't consider my tanks heavily planted...but my nitrate is always 0.3 - 0. Can't really tell because of the test that i use.

 

[clutterydrawer]

I have no nitrates at all. That's down from 10-20 since I put plants in. Although my tank is very lightly stocked.