Should I Tempt Fate?

[mislisa]

I just realized that i had asked about low-light plants previously, and so am looking over old threads. someone had mentioned using some liquid ferts, but i must have missed that... oops!

 

[Primous]

If you are willing to remove some of the species you have then I'd still suggest an apisto species. Not only are they stunning but they are a species that have personality by the ton. I got my male a couple of females and now he parades along the glass flaring at me clamping his fins and then opening them like an umbrella. I have no idea what he's trying to explain to me but you can get lost watching it.

If you removed the 7x Espei Rasbora (apisto could do them damage when it comes to breeding.) 16xcardinal and the guppys then you could add a trio of apistos and be right on the border of being overstocked. Though I'm not sure which fish you wouldn't mind losing if any?

 

[Mikaila31]

I personally think the stocking is fine and so is increasing it IF you can adjust maintenance to manage that bioload properly. You should check nitrate levels at the end of the week though to see how much room you still have. My 55gallon is stocked much heavier then that and doesn't have problems. I'm not a fan of apistos though they are kinda high strung. As others mentioned you could use alot more plants, though thats not very easy with the standard lighting on a 55g. Also what kinda canister are you using?

 

[mislisa]

I'm using a rena xp2. i previously had a fluval 305, but it started leaking from the base, and i could only get the rena. i wanted the next size up, and will try to upgrade within the year, but it seems to be working ok. i actually like it better than the fluva, it's much easier to maintain.

also, any ideas on how to improve lighting? it seems to be hard to do.

 

[Mikaila31]

Yeah it looked like one of the Renas. I use an XP3 which handles my really heavy bioload just fine. I personally think you have room for more, but I would look towards more peaceful fish. But I've never really cared for cichlids lol they eventually cause problems for me. Since they don't just let the other fish eat up their eggs without issue lol.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Xp2 should be good. I have the xp3 on my 75g, and the xp2 on my 46g. wayyyyyyyy overfiltered there. I love these filters!

 

[Primous]

I personally think the stocking is fine

there are about 5 ways I know of to calculate stocking levels of an aquarium. Six if you count the online calculators and by every measure the op is over stocked.

When you take into account that the filtration is being handled by a Rena xp2 then in my opinion we're on dangerous ground as from my understanding when dealing with filters we should cut their advertised turnover rate by a 1/4 - 1/2 then were really approaching territory that we shouldn't be.

 

[Mikaila31]

I personally think the stocking is fine

there are about 5 ways I know of to calculate stocking levels of an aquarium. Six if you count the online calculators and by every measure the op is over stocked.

When you take into account that the filtration is being handled by a Rena xp2 then in my opinion we're on dangerous ground as from my understanding when dealing with filters we should cut their advertised turnover rate by a 1/4 - 1/2 then were really approaching territory that we shouldn't be.

I think its fine. I know all tanks are different though. I generally don't calculate stocking, I just go with what the tank is telling me. My Rena XP3 barely runs at 1/2 possible flow and is serviced only every 6 weeks. I have about a 40% heavier load then the OP. If you use online calculators all my tanks should explode according to those. I had at least 3 species spawning in that tank this morning though. Stocking is not as black and white as numbers and calculations IMO.

 

[Primous]

I think its fine. I know all tanks are different though. I generally don't calculate stocking, I just go with what the tank is telling me. My Rena XP3 barely runs at 1/2 possible flow and is serviced only every 6 weeks. I have about a 40% heavier load then the OP. If you use online calculators all my tanks should explode according to those. I had at least 3 species spawning in that tank this morning though. Stocking is not as black and white as numbers and calculations IMO.

lol I don't use online calculators either. But you're right, each tank is different.

 

[mislisa]

well, i went out and bought some more plants. I won't be getting the apistos, they were a bit pricey anyway, and i was just being impulsive.
I bought a bunch of java fern to use mainly as a floating plant, as well as 2 others that i'm not 100% waht they are... the lfs doesn't label very well, but claimed that all were ok for my set up. i'll post pics if anyone is interested in helping id them. My gourami already seems a bit happier, nibbling on the roots of the java fern that's floating around.
I tried the suction-cup thing, but it doesn't want to work. i'll figure something out, but it sounded like a good idea.

here are the plants I bought:
this one also has a strong smell to it, like a herb or something... not too sure what it is, but it's pretty!!




This one i believe to be a sword of some kind... not 100% on that.


I'm not sure how these 2 plants are going to do in my tank, but hopefully they'll be ok. otherwise, i'll replace them with more val grass.

 

[mislisa]

anyone have any other advice? I'd like to get some different opinions on whether i'd be able to get more fish or not. the apistos are out (too expensive) but if there's another out there that would fit in well without putting the tank over the edge.

also, anyone know what those plants are?

 

[Tonyb111111]

anyone have any other advice? I'd like to get some different opinions on whether i'd be able to get more fish or not. the apistos are out (too expensive) but if there's another out there that would fit in well without putting the tank over the edge.

also, anyone know what those plants are?

IMHO, I think the key too increasing your stocking is upping you planted mass as previously mentioned, and having an overrated filter or two. Like you, my fish are very happy and i am also 'over stocked'. My rams, gouramis and corys are always laying eggs and my ammonia and nitrites are always zero, with a constant 5 ppm nitrate. I understand that this equilibrium is purely down to a combination of the plants consuming nitrogen compounds and the filtration. I would suggest upping your lighting levels and getting a lot more plants in there.

 

[gforce17]

Empathy for Primous - either we come on here for honest advice or we don't! If that was rude, Simon Cowell is abusive!