Can I have more fish or am I overstocking?

[Loupe]

I have had the tank in my sig for six months now and have not bought any fish for about 2 months due to war against algae. I'm not sure if i am already overstocking. All my parameters seem fine. Thanks
James

 

[noelberg]

That looked ok until I got to the 4 clown loaches, and that put things over the top. Gotta plan on those guys getting at least 4 inches long each, more likely longer - that's almost half your stocking density.

Seems also like you have a mix of community and semi-aggressive fish. One possible solution would be to get another tank and put the loaches and gouramis in there and start a semi-aggressive community ... then again loaches and gouramis can be community players with your other fish.

Anyway, yeah I'd say you're overstocked.

 

[modernhamlet]

IMO, you are overstocked, primarily because of the loaches. I would suggest you return the clown loaches, which will need a much bigger tank in the long run, and get a single Siamese Algae Eater. That would also solve your algae problems should they recur.

If, after that, your parameters stay strong and you don't feel you'll be hurting the community, then maybe you can consider another (reasonably small) addition. What did you have in mind?

Just my $0.02!

Good luck with your tank! Sounds like a great little community.

 

[Loupe]

Thanks, what else could I have in my Semi-aggressive tank. My dwarf gouramis are fine with the smaller fish though.

 

[Loupe]

I have been severely warned off siamese algae eaters in the past. There is a sticky at the top with 12 rules and one is tostay away from SAE.

 

[modernhamlet]

I have been severely warned off siamese algae eaters in the past. There is a sticky at the top with 12 rules and one is tostay away from SAE.

2. Don't buy a Chinese Algae Eater aka "sucking loach", "golden loach", "Chinese sucking loach", "Golden Algae Eater" etc. as it'll grow big, aggressive and will soon give up algae for a diet of other fish's slime coat and eye-balls.

The CAE (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri) is not the same fish as the SAE (Crossocheilus siamensis)

See this great article: http/www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/ for a comparison of SAE with the CAE and two other "look alikes".

 

[Samage]

I kno for a fact my tank is overstocked, some would say grossly overstocked, but then some inhabitants are only temporary...

The subunkin will soon be off to the pond (once he's big enough to play with the established pond fish)

The sharks, once they become too big will go to my LFS, where I'll probably be able to grab some free - smaller - fish in exchange.