Stocking Question

[ny2oz]

I've been on here with Ick problems and asking about my betta tank if you've recognized me, and after your help I got rid of the Ick sucessfully...

Anyway, I've used an online calculator (that doesn't do 1 inch of fish per gallon), that seemed pretty good, and told me I was like 103% stocked. I'd like to know what you guys think.

I have a 36 gallon (136 liter) tank. I have

3 Bosemani Rainbows (I found out after the fact that they get too big for tank, I know...luckily they are small now)
1 Neon tetra (the others in its school died from Ick before I got it under control)
3 Glo-lite tetras (lost one of these guys too)
4 cory cats
1 upside down catfish (small, only about 2 inches and full grown)
3 guppies
2 platys
1 molly

I feel bad about the neon....but If im fully stocked I dont want to overcrowd the tank anymore..and I know they are schooling fish, but should I just hold off on putting anymore in the tank, and let the neon phase out at some point, or give him some friends? I'd like to have real peoples' opinions instead of a converter....and BTW, I loved my neons.

 

[ny2oz]

I've been on here with Ick problems and asking about my betta tank if you've recognized me, and after your help I got rid of the Ick sucessfully...

Anyway, I've used an online calculator (that doesn't do 1 inch of fish per gallon), that seemed pretty good, and told me I was like 103% stocked. I'd like to know what you guys think.

I have a 36 gallon (136 liter) tank. I have

3 Bosemani Rainbows (I found out after the fact that they get too big for tank, I know...luckily they are small now)
1 Neon tetra (the others in its school died from Ick before I got it under control)
3 Glo-lite tetras (lost one of these guys too)
4 cory cats
1 upside down catfish (small, only about 2 inches and full grown)
3 guppies
2 platys
1 molly

I feel bad about the neon....but If im fully stocked I dont want to overcrowd the tank anymore..and I know they are schooling fish, but should I just hold off on putting anymore in the tank, and let the neon phase out at some point, or give him some friends? I'd like to have real peoples' opinions instead of a converter....and BTW, I loved my neons.

anyone?

 

[mattlee]

maybe if you took the rainbows out you could maybe add another 3 neons. as you know the rainbows will get too big so unless your gtting a bigger tank then its best for them to be rehomed asap. even without these rainbows you are close to the limit. what filtration do you have? if its good turnover then slightly overstocking isnt a prob as long as the fish have some space and arent crammed in.
my main tank is overstocked but i run 2x externals so it copes just fine

 

[ny2oz]

maybe if you took the rainbows out you could maybe add another 3 neons. as you know the rainbows will get too big so unless your gtting a bigger tank then its best for them to be rehomed asap. even without these rainbows you are close to the limit. what filtration do you have? if its good turnover then slightly overstocking isnt a prob as long as the fish have some space and arent crammed in.
my main tank is overstocked but i run 2x externals so it copes just fine

I have a HOT magnum 250....made to handle up to a 55 gallon...so that sjhouldnt be an issue

 

[drobbyb]

Well, that depends on your media. Are you using the fluted cylinder that comes with the kit? That cylinder is for mechanical filtration. I know that there is a bonded sleeve that goes around the cylinder, but it isn't much for biological media.

I have the Magnun 350 external canister filter and it uses the same parts. I was running into problems with biological filtration. After a while I realized that I could turn it into one big biological filter by adding a handfull of bio-chem stars and a load of media sponge to take up the extra space. Since then my tank has been sparkling clean with no trace of ammonia or nitrites. That was 6 years ago and I still have the same filter runnign with the same media and configuration.

 

[ny2oz]

Well, that depends on your media. Are you using the fluted cylinder that comes with the kit? That cylinder is for mechanical filtration. I know that there is a bonded sleeve that goes around the cylinder, but it isn't much for biological media.

I have the Magnun 350 external canister filter and it uses the same parts. I was running into problems with biological filtration. After a while I realized that I could turn it into one big biological filter by adding a handfull of bio-chem stars and a load of media sponge to take up the extra space. Since then my tank has been sparkling clean with no trace of ammonia or nitrites. That was 6 years ago and I still have the same filter runnign with the same media and configuration.

Well, yeah...mine is the black half-circle type thing, with the carbon in it, and the blue sponge deal that goes around it. I just fought off Ick and had the carbon out, and before the Ick I had the tank up maybe 3-4 days...I inherited it from a friend. What else can I do for biological media?

 

[drobbyb]

Ok great! That black canister can be filled with whatever type of media you want. I would get a bunch of ceramic "noodles" and put them in that container in place of the carbon. This would convert your filter from a mainly mechanical filter that uses carbon to a biological filter that will support more tank members and keep a much healthier tank balance.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi ny2oz

The best way to tell if you are fully stocked is to watch your nitrate levels. If they are low enough that you feel comfortable with your weekly water change, add more fish but just a little at a time. As the bioload increases, the nitrate level will too. When it starts to rise much over the level it is in your tap water, stop adding them as you have all the stock your tank can easily support.

 

[ny2oz]

Well, as of right now i'm not looking to add any more fish, besides maybe 3 or 4 neons...but thanks! I just did as 50% water change after I succesfully battled Ick, but lost some fish.

Will the ceramic noodles be OK to keep the water clear and bacteria and all that down? Or do I need to use a preventative. I thought the "carbon" was good?

 

[drobbyb]

Carbon really isn't meant to be run full time. After 3 days it is no longer working and can actually leech the chemicals it has absorbed back into the tank. Really the only uses of carbon should be to remove medications.

I haven't ran carbon in many years and my water is crystal clear. The ceramic noodles give the bacteria a place to grow and multiply giving you more biological filtration potential.

 

[ny2oz]

Carbon really isn't meant to be run full time. After 3 days it is no longer working and can actually leech the chemicals it has absorbed back into the tank. Really the only uses of carbon should be to remove medications.

I haven't ran carbon in many years and my water is crystal clear. The ceramic noodles give the bacteria a place to grow and multiply giving you more biological filtration potential.

Well, I guess carbon is doing it's job right now remiving the 50% of the water I left in there during change. I think I will get the ceramic noodles you recommend...If I can find them. Do you recommend leaving the blue "spongy" like sleeve over the inside canaster?

How often do you clean out the canister containing the noodles?

 

[drobbyb]

Save the blue bonded sleeve. It will trap the solids that could gunk up your noodles. Once a month take the noodles and swish them in tank water to remove any gunk that may have found it's way inside that canister.

 

[ny2oz]

Save the blue bonded sleeve. It will trap the solids that could gunk up your noodles. Once a month take the noodles and swish them in tank water to remove any gunk that may have found it's way inside that canister.

I will thanks. Is it not good to do that in the tank? it will let some gunk go into the clean water?

 

[drobbyb]

Not in the tank, in water that has been removed from the tank like during a waterchange.

 

[ny2oz]

Not in the tank, in water that has been removed from the tank like during a waterchange.

You have been most helpful, got it! I will get on that soon. Too bad I cannot seem to find anyone to take my rainbows...your sig has 3 of them lol.