Tank update

Question
Hi Richard,

I wrote to you a couple months ago about getting a tank, levelling, etc.  I know you asked me to get back to you on this, but each time I checked you were maxed out.  Anyways, I told you about the 50 gallon aqueon tank I got and said I could slide a piece of paper under the middle of it, but all 4 corners were solid on the ground.  I called Aqeuon and they said as long as all 4 corners of the tank frame are solid and level, it is fine.  It is made to support the weight of the tank.  Just to be safe I set it on a foam shelf liner, and anyways it seemed to settle and its all touching now.  Its been set up for 2 months now.  Just thought I'd let you know what they said.

I actually just planted it last Friday, put in my 3 harlequins I had, and I just bought 5 more today. I cycled it for over a month, got the nitrite spike, and then it went down.  Then I learned that it was not necessary to do that if I had a planted tank because plants help cycle it. Oh well, guess it didn't hurt.  So how long in between adding more fish should I wait?  A week or so?  Besides these 8 harlequins, I am thinking maybe one more kind of schooling fish (maybe 8 of those, unless I can have two more schools), maybe a couple gouramis or similar large fish, and something that will look cool along the bottom.  Also some shrimps.  What do you think?

Answer
Hi Dan

Planted tanks do speed up the cycle process since live plants consume ammonia & nitrites. During the cycle process, you would get ammonia first, then nitrites and then nitrates. When your ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0, and you can detect nitrates, it is safe to add more fish.

However, you shouldn't add a lot at once. In a 50 gallon, add a small group of fish per week. Schooling fish that would do well with the Harlequins are 6-8 Neon Tetras, 6-8 Red Phantom Tetras, a Dwarf Gourami and 2-3 Cory Cats or 1 or 2 Striped Raphael Cats.

I don't recommend keeping shrimp or other crustaceans with tropical fish. The main reason is most fish medications are fatal to crustaceans and you would have to remove them in the event you need to treat your tank.

Here is a link with some popular small peaceful fish, most of which are schoolers.

http://www.elmersaquarium.com/c106community1.htm

Congrats on getting your tank up and running, I hope it brings you years of enjoyment after the work you have put into it. I hope the information I've been able to provide has been helpful to you and please feel free to ask me if you have any further questions. Good luck!

Richard