How many fish can be added at once?

Once I cycle my new 55 gallon aquarium, how many fish can I add at a time without causing an ammonia spike due to an increased bioload? The tank once fully stocked will be one RTS, 6 Green Barbs, six Gold Barbs, and 6 Turquois(sp) Rainbowfish. Any info on numbers and order would be awesome. Note-I already have the RTS in a 20 tall so he will be the first to move.

 

I think you would be fine if you add one school of fish at a time. Like The green barbs one week, then the gold barbs a week later, ect. Try to put the RTS in last so there aren't any territory issues.

 

Good call on the RTS territory issue.

 

yeah if yur tank if fully cycled I think you can put all of them in. but I wouldn't recommend it. And yeah the most aggressive or territorial fish in last. Give the little fish a good chance to find hiding spots and what not. Learned that the hard way :\

 

I thought if you did a fishless cycle you could put in enough ammonia to simulate a full tank? If you did that, then you could just add all of them at once.

 

I thought if you did a fishless cycle you could put in enough ammonia to simulate a full tank? If you did that, then you could just add all of them at once.

Theoretically, yes. But since you cannot measure the bioload of what a full tank will produce, it is safer to introduce your stock a little at a time.

 

Theoretically, yes. But since you cannot measure the bioload of what a full tank will produce, it is safer to introduce your stock a little at a time.

Probably get crucified for saying this, you can cheat with chemicals such as Prime. It converts the excess ammonia and nitrites to accessible forms for your bacteria while leaving the water safe for the fish, so in essence your fish will be safe even with a mini-cycle going on.