my 10 gallon tank

Question
well--i already know the mistake i made --so now i have to either do nothing and wait and see what pans out --or take some of the fish back...and trade them for a different kind....anyway..this is my first tank and i got it last week for my self and my 7 year old daughter and my b/g 4 year old twins!  my husband is watching the fish from a distance LOL but this is my project.  

we went to the store after we set up our 10 gallon tank with filter.  we bought 9 fish.  i know..that was a mistake we should never have gotten so many...the sales person seemed so helpful..somehow she let me walk out of there with 9!  she did advise to get three of each kind..so we got 3 barbs..one tiger, one roisy and one red glass.....3 mollies...one black, one dalmation and one silver lyrtail..and three tetras...one neon one x-ray belly and one red minor...who died the first night! i had set them up in the 10 gallon tank divided with the barbs on one side and the mollies and the tetras on the other side.

during all of this the tank went cloudy (it was running for 2 days with our bettas in it before we added the new fish and took out the bettas) and i ran to the store and got water conditioner and salt and added it and added a treasure chest with lots of bubbles.  i was sweating it big time! the fish were going to the top to breathe and i was scared we were going to lose another one and finally it all got better and now it's 5 days and the water is clear and everyone is happy on their prospective sides.

the question? can i take out the divider --ever?  should i take back the barbs and get other fish that work with the tetras and mollies?  when can i get a bottom feeder..a cory?  
like i said--for now everyone is happy....but a 10 gallon tank is so small..i guess i feel like they need more room to swim.  (well maybe the barbs do) will the tiger eat the tetras?

how about the bettas(currently residing in other globes) can i add any of them? i don't know my bettas sexes.  

thanks!!!!!!

Answer
Hi Margie,
Wow, you are taking some risks here and living on the wild side! ;-)

I know you know that you stocked your aquarium too soon with too many fish. Its really quite a miracle you didn't loose all of them. That usually happens with new aquariums that are stocked too soon. The ammonia builds up so fast and without the 'biofilter' or beneficial bacteria established which take care of this toxin most or even all the fish are lost.

HOWEVER, somehow your fish have roughed it through. I wouldn't think your aquarium is completely cycled just yet. That is. When the good bacteria does start to grow--it does take time. About 4-6 weeks on average. There are two types of bacteria that grow. One type takes care of ammonia and converts it to nitrite. Then the other type grows and takes care of your nitrite and turns it into nitrate which is safe and can be allowed to build up in your aquarium before it gets somewhat harmful. You can of course test for all three levels; ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Partial water changes are the best cure for water quality issues.

You should actually be able to take the divider out. Your tetras and barbs should all be compatible. These species are kept together all the time. The tiger barbs most likely won't eat the tetras unless the tetras are very tiny and the barbs are very large.

As for your bettas. Its easy to tell the genders. Males have the long flowing fins and bright colors and the females have very short fins and not as bright coloration, however, breeders are always coming out with females who are getting more and more colorful. But they always have drastically shorter fins. It probably wouldn't be the best idea to add any of your bettas to your current setup. This is because the tank is already well stocked but also the tiger barbs are known fin-nippers and they will most likely shred the fins of the betta you add.

I really hope this helps and feel free to ask anymore questions!
Happy fishkeeping!
Karen~