overstocked - by a bit or by a lot? - Aquarium Advice

hbeth82 · 10-29-2009, 01:33 PM

I have just about all the fish that I want for my 55 & while laying in bed, trying to get to sleep, I started doing the math on inches / gallon:

4 dwarf gourami (full grown)
3 oto cats (full grown)
5 cories (2 false julli, 3 pepper, not quite full-size & would like to get a few pandas)
6 black skirt tetras (< 1")
6 Bolivian Rams (about 1" - 1.5"

Once everybody's full-sized, I'll have well over 55" of fish. The tetras & rams I just picked up so they're still in the 20gal isolation, so it will be easier to estimate once I add them. Should I consider getting rid of some or will this be ok?

Da Squid · 10-29-2009, 02:02 PM

The important thing to consider first would be how well is the tank mantained? For example, what sort of filtration are you running, any plants, what kind of water change schedual do you have etc.

From what I've seen, if you stay on top of things and keep a clean tank then overstocking really isnt much of an issue. Unless you go ape and try to hold ten koi's in there or something

JustOneMore20 · 10-29-2009, 02:03 PM

The inch per gallon rule isn't really one to go buy. If you have good filtration then you have the perfect amount of fish IMO....I might add more tetras later on, if it were me.

hbeth82 · 10-29-2009, 04:49 PM

Nah, I seem to be one of the few who don't like koi much. I have two AC filters (30 & 50) and the whole thing is fairly densely planted. Water changes are every 6 days or so and usually remove 25-35% or more if needed.

I've heard that the 1"/gallon rule is somewhat bunk, mostly because it leads people to think that two 8" fish will have plenty of room in a 20 gal. Since all the fish I have stay fairly skinny (no Oscar-type thick fish) I thought it be ok. Plus many of the fish are less than half their adult size right now.

Still thinking about adding a few cories but will wait and watch the tetras a while!

Thanks

exodon king · 10-30-2009, 01:51 AM

the inch/gal "rule" generally does not apply to larger fish, where the footprint of the tank becomes the "deciding factor"

however, as previously mentioned, the "rule" is completely bogus, for more reason than one. it is just a base guideline for novice keepers with no prior understanding/experience with water chemistry/ water parameters/ nitrogen cycle, etc.
its a good baseline to follow for a basically worry free set up, but it is far from a limitation.

the amount of work you put into it will be the key.

given the information you provided (assuming tou have a good media regimen in your AC filters) you are perfectly fine with the current set up, and you can definitely add those cories.

Blueiz · 10-30-2009, 06:16 AM

another thing to consider when stocking a tank is the level of the water inhabitated by the fish, top, mid, and bottom. You can get away with higher stock levels if you stock each section apporpriately and of course have the filtration and maintenance schedule to support it.

to the advice already given

BigJim · 10-30-2009, 10:04 AM

You've got good advice here. Most of your fish contribute a relatively small bioload to the system. Get a good liquid test kit and watch your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.

I'm way over the inch per gallon rule in my 29g, but the parameters never change from 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite, 5-10ppm nitrate. I change about 25% of the water once every 2-5 weeks just to make sure nothing is building up in the tank that I don't test for. I should probably do it more, but I hate to mess with something that works.

DragonFish71 · 10-30-2009, 11:24 AM

We have a 55g that I know is over stocked. 2 Jack Dempseys at about 4 inches each, 2 Firemouths male is about 3inches female about 2 1/2, 1 Jewel about 3 1/2 inches, 9 giant danios about 1 1/2 inches, 2 pictus cats about 4 inches and our syn. cat 4 inches. I have an UGF with power heads, 2 Aquatech 60g HOBs, and for Christmas I've asked for a Fluval 405. But the point is, I do weekly cleanings/water changes and check the water params.

As advised above, keep up on the maintainance and you'll be good. Yours are low load fish, things should be fine

(our's are huge poopers)

Blueiz · 10-30-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonFish71

We have a 55g that I know is over stocked. 2 Jack Dempseys at about 4 inches each, 2 Firemouths male is about 3inches female about 2 1/2, 1 Jewel about 3 1/2 inches, 9 giant danios about 1 1/2 inches, 2 pictus cats about 4 inches and our syn. cat 4 inches. I have an UGF with power heads, 2 Aquatech 60g HOBs, and for Christmas I've asked for a Fluval 405. But the point is, I do weekly cleanings/water changes and check the water params.

As advised above, keep up on the maintainance and you'll be good. Yours are low load fish, things should be fine

(our's are huge poopers)

Now I don't feel so bad for my one "over stocked" tank

jim692 · 10-31-2009, 11:44 PM

There are some real drawbacks to the inch per gallon rule. There are so many variables it does not take into account. (Plants, mass of the fish, maintenance, filter capacity, etc.)
For a fully cycled and mature tank, your ammonia and nitrites should always be at 0.
IMO the real proof of the stocking level (bio-load) of a cycled tank is in the change in the nitrate level. This reading reflects the end result of the waste processing capacity of the tank.

If your nitrates are going from 10ppm to 20pmm in a week and you do a 50% water change to bring it back to 10ppm you are probably close to max capacity IMO.

If your nitrates rise faster than a 50% water change a week can handle, say 10ppm to 30ppm and a 50% water change only beings them down to 15ppm, you would be over stocked IMO because your levels are rising faster than your water change can handle.

In a similar fashion if your levels are only rising less than 5ppm per week you should have room for a few more fish if you desire, because your weekly water changes can easily keep up with that size load.

If you do monthly water changes the same rules would apply. Your water changes should keep up with the waste production levels of the tank to keep all the levels consistent and balanced.

I would like to point out that all my numbers in this regard are low because that is where I keep them in my tank. I have heard many opinions about the maximum safe level of nitrates for fish. Some say 80ppm or less is OK, others have said that they should be less than 40ppm. Since my numbers are all much less than this I can't say what is a good max number.