stocking rate

[JamesTasker]

How long should I wait in between adding groups of fish? (I've got a couple of gouramis, I'd like to get a pair of ancistrus a week later. Is this O.K)

 

[ketyana]

you dont say how big or how old your tank is (ie how long it has been cycled (and maybe how it was cycled)), how big the current fish are would also help!

Really I think the only issue (other than fish compatability, but I know nowt about either of these fish so I cant comment) would be the bacteria to break down the waste keeping up, so all I can suggest is get your water tested at the fish shop, if there is any trace of nitrIte or ammonia then you are not ready for more, and if you do get them again check the ammonia and nitrIte say 3 days and then 7 days then weekly/twice weekly for a couple of weeks after buying the fish to see if you do get any ammonia or nitrite, in which case do a water change more regularly until they catch up!

Btw where in Herts? Im originally from Welwyn Garden and then lived in Hemel Hempstead for 6 months (gotta love that roundabout!!) before moving to Devon

 

[yhbae]

If the tank hasn't been cycled (cycled means zero ammonia, zerno nitrite and some nitrate with fishes in it), you shouldn't add any more fish now. Once cycled, you should only add few at a time, about a week apart.

The idea here is to increase the bioload slowly. So if you cycled the tank using 2 zebra danios, then don't add 3 plecos (--> poop machines!) just because the tank has been cycled - you may end up starting another mini-cycle. I tend to try not to exceed 30% of the total bioload for each expansion.

Add hardier species first!

 

[JamesTasker]

My tank is about 6 weeks old, fishless cycled and holds 30 gallons so I think it should be alright to add some more fish. I live in Harpenden. The roundabout is so cool. Not exactly easy to drive around though - so complicated. Do you know if the Japenese Koi Company is any good in Hemel or is it new. I'd quite like to know because my lfs is reasonably small.