Community tank, just starting out

So I bought a 29 gallon tank and originally bought 4 tiger barbs and 4 rainbow shark and an algae eater. I tiger barb died. The rainbow shark chase each other but I haven't seen them fight yet. (I was told by the fish guy you could have more than 1 shark which I now know is not true.) so I bought more plants and hiding places for the fish so they could make their own territories. The Sharks still chase each other but not as much. But the tiger barbs were nipping each other so we bought 7 more to create a little school for them to stop that, and 2 angel fish, also under the advise of the fish guy. The angel who's still at it has had his top fin nips off quite a bit... Poor guy.. Well all but 4 of the tiger barbs have died, and 1 angel has died. So I guess I'm just wondering if someone can help me figure out what's going on, and why all my fish are dying? And also what type of fish I should really have in this tank to actually have a peaceful tank?

 

Welcome to fishlore!
Do you know the nitrogen cycle? What are your water parameters?
As for what fish, the rainbow sharks should not be together (as you now know) and one would need a 55g. You also need at least 6 tiger barbs in a school but they may still be nippy in that size, and 10-15 would be better.

I would rehome the tiger barbs and the rainbow sharks, and get peaceful fish.

 

Agreed, you should not have more than one shark per tank, especially one that small. They grow up to around 6". Tiger barbs are not the best choice for community tanks because they are known fin nippers. How about a school of harlequin rasboras or cardinal tetras?

 

Also, take anything the people at LFS say with a grain of salt. They're there to make money and will say anything to make a sale. If something sounds farfetched, it usually is.

 

How about a school of harlequin rasboras or cardinal tetras?

I've got a very peaceful tank, including a school of 8 cardinal tetras. They're very pretty, fun to watch, and don't bother anyone else. They go well with my platys, which is another good option because they come in a lot of cool color varieties.

 

Welcome to Fishlore, I urge you to research the " nitrogen cycle " it is the most important part of successful fish keeping. Check out the " aquadviser " site it's a fish stocking calculator, it's a good tool, then as always ask for feedback from Fishlore,