first tank

Question
QUESTION: This is my first aquarium. I have a 55gal. tank and i have added (10)
tiger barbs and one (1) pleco to start. How often should I test and
change the water and how often should I feed the fish. I did notice that
the barbs tried to eat the tablet for the peco is this ok? Any advice
would be greatly appreciated? One more thing, how often should I have the
light on, I have no live plants?

Thanks in advance
ANSWER: Hi Randall,
Congratulations on your new tank!

You really need to test at least twice a week for ammonia and nitrites since you have already stocked your tank and there will be alot of ammonia very soon. It is going to be hard on your fish since you have so many and your tank hasn't had the 3-6 weeks to completely cycle and the beneficial bacteria haven't been established. They have to be established in order to control the ammonia and nitrites that build up in the tank water from the fish waste. You will have sick fish and some fish loss if you really don't do regular and very frequent water changes. I don't know the size of your fish but I would do at least 2 partial water changes, removing at least 1/3-1/2 of the water. Be sure to add dechlorinator and make sure the water temperature is the same as the tank water. Also, lightly feed the fish, even it they act like they are starving, only once a day. This light feeding is to also help with the ammonia that the fish will produce due to eating. One other thing that I thought I would mention is don't worry about filter replacment right now. Check your filter and if it appears to you to be dirty just rinse in aquarium water not tap water. Tap water will destroy any beneficial bacteria that is trying to get established in your fileter media. You could even buy some Cycle or Bio Spira and add to your tank to help get some bacteria going a little faster. After your tank has readings of around 0 for ammonia and nitrites your tank will have completed cycling. Be sure to not add fish too fast or too many. You have to allow the bacteria to adjust to each addition. You are really already pretty well stocked for now so be patient and don't add anything else yet.

The barbs will eat the pleco's food. All barbs are pigs! About the only way to try to prevent this is by feeding the pleco after the lights are turned off. Pleco's also love to eat a slice of zuchinni attached to a rock with a rubberband. It won't hurt the barbs to eat the pleco's food or even any zuchinni you might put in the tank. Just make sure your pleco is getting something to eat too.

As for the lighting, really you can leave them on as long as you feel you want to view your fish. If too much light seems to start causing an algae growth then you could start to leave them off more. Also, the fish would probably like to have either a few hiding places if you don't already have some or even some plastic plants to make them feel secure. Sometimes fish feel scared in a bare tank. Just thought I would mention that.

Best of luck with your new tank!
Karen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Karen,

Thanks so much for that helpful information. I have already lost one of my Barbs. In testing my water everything seems to be at the right level. PH=7.5, NH3<.25, NO2<.3, and KH=6. Should I been concerned about the other fish. I stocked on Sunday and plan on doing a water change tonight(Thursday). Any recommendations?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Randall,
Since you have already lost one of the barbs I would really keep a close eye on the ammonia and nitrites. They can change rather quickly at this point in cycling. I would start doing water changes just to keep things under control. It's really a preventive measure. If you wait until the water gets bad, sometimes it is too late and you will loose more fish.
Hope this helps,
Karen