Adding fish soon?

Question

I have a 60-gallon freshwater tank that currently contains 9 fairly small fish (4 dwarf gouramis, 3 cory cats, 2 platies, 4 regular gouramis) that have been added in over a matter of a few weeks. We are planning to order some live fish (12, to be exact, about 25 inches of new fish--mostly dwarf gouramis-- all told) from what I believe to be a fairly reputable pet supply company (Drs Foster and Smith). We had, of course, wanted to order them a few at a time, but because the shipping is next day air, shipping is almost $35. This makes us prefer to order them all at once. How terrible would it be to add all 12 at once? I know it wouldn't be ideal to do so, but can it be done with reasonably minimal stress on the fish? If not, should I set my 10-gallon back up for a day or two and put 1/2 the fish in at one time, 1/2 a few days later? If I'm going to spend $$$ ordering fish, I'd prefer them to live. Thanks in advance for answering!

Okay people, I'm not an evil fish killer. I'm just new at this. Feel free NOT to imply that I'm hurting fish just to have something to look at. That's really kind of rude.

Answer 1

Yes you can add them, as long as acclimate them properly to your tank
here is an article on how to do it
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/acclimating_you_new_fish.html

It's not recommended adding so many fish at once, but it can be done
Just watch your parameters closely once you added them and keep up with proper maintanance, which means 25% weekly partial waterchanges with a gravel siphon, and topping it off with conditioned water



Hope that helps
Good luck


EB

Answer 2

I would wait a couple more weeks for your aquarium to get more established and then just add them all at once. Keeping half the fish in an unestablished 10 gallon tank would be far worse.

I find it can take longer than they say for a tank to become fully established. A few weeks for the microbes to grow than convert ammonia to nitrite... and maybe a few more weeks until the microbes grow that turn the nitrite to less toxic nitrate. Once these microbes get going, I find larger tanks adjust to more fish very quickly. I think I'd go for it since the fish aren't extremely expensive. I would wait awhile longer though.

Yeah... Finatic is right... That really is pushing it on the number of fish... If some were schooling fish, you could probably get away with it. Gouramis , Platies and such like to have their own little territories... You're putting too many in there. They'll be stressed and probably fight. That's a lot of fish even just considering water quality.

I don't think you're an evil fish killer :)

Answer 3

in case you imagine the clear out is cycled because it really is been operating each and each and every of the time and not in any respect dried out or over wiped clean then the tank is will be waiting for some fish see you later as you do not overfeed for a pair weeks. in case you taken aback the biology through adjusting each and each and every of the water or cleansing the clear out then possibly your tank will favor to be cycled again. this can take in to 4-6 weeks. examine up on cycling that you should maximum options-blowing a number of your misconceptions about what it skill.

Answer 4

I just wrote you a mile ling answer and for whatever reason, I lost the web page. In a nut shell, YES, In the 21st century with all of the high-tech filter systems we have available, it blows me away everytime I hear people saying how few fish you can have.

You will have plenty room, assuming you have an under-gravel filter, with 2 power heads, supplemented maybe by a power filter. You need 5+ inches of gravel, and need to do weekly 20% water changes. Pet shops have a helluva lot more fish in tanks than you are talking about. I had a pet shop for years,and the key is those water changes. Anytime water clouds up, merely do 20% at a time every 3 days until clear.

Email me if you have any other questions.

Answer 5

I think your over doing it on the gouramis , male gouramis will only put up with females .
your going to spend alot of money to get the fish only to have them fight to the death.
And another thing the dwarf gouramis you have need about 15gal of water each times the 4 you have that 60gal
the cory cats you have need 30gal of water times the 3 you have is 90gals of water
the 4 normal gouramis need 15 gals of water times the 4 you have that 60gals of water times the 12 more your geting need a 180 gals of water
so when it comes right down to it you need a 390 gallon tank
and I bet your using a hang on back filter on top of all this.
You need to stop and think about what your doing unless you dont mind killing a bunch of poor fish just so you have somthing to look at.

Answer 6

Your tank is not big enough for all of those fish. You should never use the 1 inch of fish per gallon of water rule. You have made a big mistake in not considering the adult size of your current tank inhabitants. You need to research the compatibility of the tank mates you currently have and also the adult size of each fish.