How Overstocked Are You?

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I would say all of my tanks are under-stocked at the moment based on the ammount/types/sizes etc of the fish i have and various other factors taken into consideration.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

going by 1" per gallon, every one of my tanks is understocked

they haven't always been i've had busy community tanks etc and do agree that the 'rule' (guideline) has many flaws and should not be taken literally in every case.

just so happens the set up of all the tanks we have running is currently understocked. however i am aiming to rectify that and take my 10gal up to 2" per gallon because i'm going for a low tech planted tank

 

[dc3]

Does 1" per gallon actually provide even a basic guideline? I mean all the fish we have at home (discus / angles / puffers / bettas / african cichlids) - they all seem to be the exception which makes me question the validity of the rule? Maybe there's a better guideline out there? I am just saying - because there are so many "how many fish" questions in the rookie section - maybe someone / everyone can come up with a better definition / guide

 

[geo7x]

Does 1" per gallon actually provide even a basic guideline? I mean all the fish we have at home (discus / angles / puffers / bettas / african cichlids) - they all seem to be the exception which makes me question the validity of the rule? Maybe there's a better guideline out there? I am just saying - because there are so many "how many fish" questions in the rookie section - maybe someone / everyone can come up with a better definition / guide

there are better ones but they'll never be perfect as everyone has different tanks, filter, fish, amount of plants etc. The better ones are more like essays, so for us it is easier for both the asker and the answerer to just say 1" per gallon. Plus we cant expect people to give a lecture on how to stock your tank, people should learn to take responsibility and make their own decisions.

 

[Amunet]

Definitely not overstocked by any rule....

 

[Azaezl]

By the inch per gal I'm understocked on 2 of my tanks, 1 is fully stocked another is very overstocked, the overstocked tank is the goldfish tank(overstocked according to the 20G for the first, 10G for each additional fish guideline), it's 30G and has 3 fancy goldfish and 4 WCMM but they aren't really that big and they have plenty of room, plus it's a temporary home until I move, then it's into a larger tank, I am running 2 filters on it though and hoping to get another one soon, plus it has some live plants, will be putting alot more plants in once I have the £££.

I used to be v.paranoid about sticking to the 'rule' but I'm alot more relaxed now, the way I see it as long as you keep up with the water changes, the fish have plenty of space(at adult size) to move and the water parameters are ok then pretty much ignore the guide and use your common sense.

 

[K.J.]

Overstocked by 1" inch rule, understocked by 2". But no bad readings, so the only definition of overstocked for me is if you get ammonia/nitrite/excess nitrate.

 

[Gatorbait]

I was going by the 1 inch per gallon rule

If going by that rule, I've been overstocked for the last 20 years.

 

[Teelie]

I'm technically overstocked on my 55 but not a lot unless you do inch per gallon, then it looks bad. It's got two Clown Loaches, 3 Yo-yo Loaches, 12 Zebra Danio, 5 Bristlenose Plecs, 1 Male Betta and a Red-Tailed Black Shark. Two of the Bristlenoses are moving to another aquarium, a 40g breeder in a week or two and another one probably to another tank in a few months after I get it established. Still debating what to do with the Clown pair. Attempts to up their numbers usually fail and I'm attached to them and would rather keep them than sell them back. The shark I grew from a little thing to a nearly grown adult. The Zebras are all "experimental" fish used to test aquariums that were finished cycling. Didn't lose a one until a mishap with a filter a few months ago and that was just one of them.

My other tanks are not overstocked or as "full" as that one is.

 

[SouthernCross]

Someone on the board told me another method of evaluating your tank capacity is if your nitrates stay below 40 within a week of your last water change. Lower than that, and your tank can handle more fish. I think they said 40...

 

[Kevinator]

I am overstocked if you going by the amount of fish but all of my levels are good.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Someone on the board told me another method of evaluating your tank capacity is if your nitrates stay below 40 within a week of your last water change. Lower than that, and your tank can handle more fish. I think they said 40...

the theory is that they will raise by 40ppm in a week if the filter is stocked to it's capacity. remember your tap water may not have 0 nitrates so sayign it will go up to 40ppm doesn't work, it's going up by 40ppm

 

[andywg]

Someone on the board told me another method of evaluating your tank capacity is if your nitrates stay below 40 within a week of your last water change. Lower than that, and your tank can handle more fish. I think they said 40...

That's all very well, but for the people whose tap water is 40 ppm nitrate this poses a problem. Even with an empty tank they will supposedly not have enough room for any more fish.

 

[Kevstir]

i wouldn't think you couldnt use that rule if you have a lot of plants..

my tap water has 0 nitrates , my tanks fully stocked but never see the nitrates go past 10 due to the plants, if i was to go by that rule my tank would look very crammed..

i think there's to many factors for some of these rules..

 

[Miss Wiggle]

too many factors for all these rules

the key as i have said a million times is to remember that they are just guidelines, common sense and paying attention to your fish should tell you if your tank is full or not.