Odd issue with giant danio dithers

[Goonie]

So I am stocking an all Male hap and peacock cichlid tank.

I am stocking dither and bottom feeders first.

It has had 14 giant danios (2 mo) 6 clowns and a rainbow shark (1mo)

I'm running 2fx6 canisters a ac110 hob and a 150 gallon raited sponge filter. A few large anubius and java ferns ( we'll see how bad the cichlids hate them)

Now on to my issue
This morning ammonia was0. Nitrites were 0 nitrates were between 10 and 20 definitely on the lower side. Ph is roughly 7.7(hard from the tap)

I went to pick up a pearl gourami for my community tank, and they had some beautiful rainbows(multiple types) and was originally looking at them in place of the danios so I picked up 5 and a medium redtail ( knowing these guys can be a bit mean I've kept an eye on him and my rainbow no issues so far)

After the new additions the clowns showed no change if anything they are more active.

The giant danios however are kind of sticking to a tight ball and not attacking food like normal. They also normally hang around the top now there all chilling under a fake plant to sleep.

They don't run from the sharks it can swim right through the group and no one freaks.

There are three however that seem to be danios crackheads who just randomly torpedo through the tank or try to swim up a filter output. Never seen them act this way should I be worried ?

 

[A201]

What size tank? The giant Danios might need a day or two to settle in. Fish swimming against the filter outflow might indicate an ammonia spike, or some type of a gill infection.
Although your listed dither fish won't really interfere with your planned African community, they really aren't needed. Actually the dithers are just taking up valuable space you could use to stock additional Haps & Peacocks.
Might be a good idea to allow the current community to further cycle your tank. In a couple of months begin stocking juvenile Haps & Peacocks together in small groups until you achieve maximum occupancy.
Depending on the type of Africans you stock, the mid to upper level, non African, swimmers will probably be picked on and likely won't survive.

 

[Rocksor]

Tight ball behavior occurs when they perceive a danger, most likely from the newcomers, the gourami.

 

[Goonie]

Gourami is a different tank the rainbows and redtail shark are in their tank but I get what your saying, they were doing their "normal bat sh## crazy top swimming this morning, well most of them.

 

[Goonie]

The danios were originally picked to build the cycle they have been there for like 2 months plan on adding thr haps and peacock in about a month. Center piece fish I hope to be the star sapphire but ehh time and chemistry will tell lol.

The tank is a 185 and I checked tank again last night 0ppm ammonia and nitrites edging to 20 rpm nitrates

 

[Goonie]

Im looking to upgrade my 40b planted community in the next couple of months how large of a tank would I need for 14 giant danios 6 rainbows (max sized on them is 5in or so) and an army of smaller community fish such as assorted small tetras and my pearl gourami? The 40b will become a breeding tank for guppies and shrimp aka a treat tank lol

 

[lp85253]

Im looking to upgrade my 40b planted community in the next couple of months how large of a tank would I need for 14 giant danios 6 rainbows (max sized on them is 5in or so) and an army of smaller community fish such as assorted small tetras and my pearl gourami? The 40b will become a breeding tank for guppies and shrimp aka a treat tank lol

sounds to me like you need another 6 ft tank..

 

[Goonie]

Lol I need more than one

 

[Goonie]

I believe I found my issue......the rainbow shark the smallest fish I have in the tank has claimed half the tank.....time to rearrange structure

 

[MrsE88]

Yep, need more tanks. Haha.
I’ve been breeding giant danios for about a year now and they definitely do best as adults in a 6ft tank. The rainbows being close to the same size would benefit from being in a 6’ too.