SkyCrystal

I finally got my 46 gallon set up! I'm so happy to finally get it set up. I have my entire community planned out, but I just couldn't wait for the cycle to put fish in it. The only fish hardy enough to survive until it's cycled are the Dwarf Gourami and a school of 6 Cherry barbs.

Today I went to the LFS in hopes of puchasing 6 CB. They only had 3, so I bought a beautiful flame Dwarf Gourami instead. The clerk said he was excpecting some more Cherry Barbs in on Wensday. I have a couple of questions: 1) Could I go on Wensday and pick up all six at once? 2) Would that be to much for the bioload? 3) How many of each gender should I get to prevent harassment?

Thanks in advance!

-SkyCrystal

Lucy

At the risk of sounding rude.......

Why would you want to put your fish through the stress of the cycling process? It weakens their immune system making them susceptible to disease.
It's so much more work for you to have to do water changes and it will probably take longer to cycle the tank because of all the water changes to avoid ammonia poisoning.

But to answer your questions in my opinion:
1) wait for the cycle to complete
2) same as 1
3) I'm not familiar enough with cherry barbs to answer

Good luck.

kacie

Don't get more until you're cycled. I thought I was cycled got more fish and am spending all my time with water changes and worry. Instead of enjoying my fish I am constantly inspecting them for signs of stress.

Jo3olous

Umm yea, I will just say that I had to sacrifice 6 juvenile tiger barbs to cycle my tank. = -20.00 for me (3 a fish + tax) and 6 painful casualties. If you still have the chance, do a fishless cycle first, if I wasn't so dumb in my time I would've~

SkyCrystal

Ok. I'll wait.

Lucy

I'm sorry, I know you want to get your fish, but they'll be happier and healthier if you wait for the cycle to complete.

Barbrella

Cherry barbs can survive the cycling process. Like most barbs, they seem immune to nitrites etc, but I wouldn't put them through it for no reason.

Dwarf Gouramis are much more sensitive to toxins and probably would not survive.

If you're getting 6 barbs, a good ratio would be 2 males and 4 females. The males harass the females to breed constantly, so have more f. than m. gives them a chance to have a rest.

SkyCrystal

Thanks everyone. I didn't know the cycle could be so dangerous to fish! Unfortunately, I already bought the Dwarf Gourami and is now in the tank. Ross looks fine for the moment, and hopefully he'll live.

Oh, and since I can't afford the test kit or even the strips, how long should I wait before I put the Cherry barbs in? I was thinking about a month just to be safe.

-SkyCrystal

Lucy

It's hard to say how long the cycle takes, each one differs and can take up to a month, sometimes more.

Can you take your water to a store and have them test it for you? They'll usually do it for free.
Have them write down the numbers for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and keep track of them.

Your water will be safe for more fish when your resdings are 0 for both ammonia and nitrItes with 5-10 nitrAtes.

mrsmuffin

I think that question #1 has been answered, so I will move on to #s 2 & 3.

#2 - my personal experience is that once your tank is cycled you will be fine adding all 6 barbs at once bio-load wise. I would just make sure to wait a week or more before adding anything else.

#3 - I have 4m/4f cherry barbs in my tank and have not had any problems with that ratio.

SkyCrystal

Thanks again everyone! I don't know what I'd do without Fishlore! I'll wait until the cycle is all cycled to get 4 female and 2 male Cherry barbs. I'll also see if I can take some water to the LFS and get it tested.

-SkyCrystal

cichlidlover

I don't blame you for not being able to afford test strips. lol The ones I use cost $15 for 25 of them, and when you have 5 tanks to test (like I do) that adds up

Lucy

If you order the API master kit from walmart.com, they'll deliver to your local walmart for free:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3635493

I can't remember exactly how many tests you get out of it, I'm thinking it's over 100.

hkirchen

I just got the master test kit from Petsmart for 29.99, and it says you get over 800 tests!

Barbrella

I know test kits are no fun to buy, but not getting it could be false economy if someone were to lose a tankful of fish due to ammonia or nitrite poisoning.

cg49me

I think they add ALL the separate tests to get that number... In otherwords, if your kit tests for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, and high pH, you only get about 160 COMPLETE tests.

Still, compared to buying the strips, it's alot cheaper, and alot more accurate.