Stocking V.s. Exp And Filtration

[Gankutsuou]

I am open to all CONSTRUCTIVE critics.

My current stocking of my Thirty Eight US gallons tank includes

5x Flagtail Porthole catfish
2x Peacock eels (one stripes and one normal)
1x Syno. Flav.
2x African Butterfly
1x Angel
1x Bolivian Ram
1x Angel
1x Albino Senegal bichir
1x Flounder/Butterfly pleco (L168?)

All things considered, that would be a lot of fish for a 38 gallon, right?

But take into consideration, per say, how much water is changed a week, how much filtration is on the tank, and how much is done to keep the tank clean.

The tank is planted. It has lights of over 120 watts.


The tank has a Fluval 205 and an Aquaclear 70. Both of the filters ALONE would/should in theory filtrate it fine. But a good canister with a good overhead would do nicely and be a necessity for keeping these fish alive.

The only problem I've seen is the angel being a bad guy and attacking my ram, and once in a while nipping the senegal.

The portholes seem GREAT!

My stripped peacock, like the two before it, has finally gone anorexic after six months (I had a longer run with this one...), and the normal one is fat as can be.

The senegal will do good in any water condition

The ram doesn;'t seem too hot due to the angel

The angel is obviously fine and running about

The butterfly/flounder pleco is getting over an infection, and has recovered nicely.

The african butterflies are a male/female pair. I fear the female getting eaten by the senegal one day.

So, obviously, it looks like too much fish. But with proper hiding in plants and bogwood, proper 30% weekly water changes, good filtration, and minimal agression problems, is it all right? It's been this way for nearly two months, which in my fluval 404 has been broken and just the aquaclear was on , but everything managed till I saved up for the 205 to replace it.

I'd also like to take a minute to point out....

Senegals don't poo as much as large cichlids
Plecos poo a lot more than the average 6 inch fish
Portholes and angels don't seem to put out that much
Rams seem to put out a lot...
The ABF and the peacocks put out very little for their size.

 

[Gankutsuou]

Oh yeah, just to point out, that tank in my sig is the 38 gallon in its former glory. I had to toss a lot of the plants due to over growth and am restarting a planting session.

 

[Gankutsuou]

nobody has an opinion?

 

[Fella]

Well, it's overstocked and you know that, and you've pretty much made up your mind that you're unwilling to either get a bigger tank or cut down on buying so many fish.

Filters and water changes can maintain water quality, but fish need more than that.

 

[piper]

I also have a heavy stock in my tank and over filter with two ehiem 2026 in a 70 Gal. All my fish seem happy and feed well so I dont really care anout the 1" rule of thumb. As my rainbows growth I may relocate my barbs or something but this would only be to free up swimming space not for any other reason. If your fish are happy and have the room they need then I can't see it being a problem.

Over stock but never over crowd !

 

[TylerFerretLord]

1" per gallon is just a way to help beginners not overstock, and is really only applicable to smaller fish.

So long as you have a lot of filtration and water disturbance, along with compatible fish and enough room for them to make territories, you can go past the 1"pg rule.

Just keep up on the water changes.

 

[CAC]

Ive said it before (not to you) and will say it again, if a person is happy with keeping X ammount, or X size fish in a certain sized tank then its up to them, I personally wouldnt keep a senegal bichir in a 30g for example, but thats whats reccomended as the min, but I would keep guppies in a 5g, when the reccomended size is 10g, but I would feel ok with that decision. I do think however that you tank is overstocked, not in terms of water quality (as long as those filters are over flitering big time) but in terms of space, I know in my 38g I wouldnt want all those in there, allthough its what your comfortable with I think.

 

[SJ2K]

As most have already said, once you've gained more experience you can go by your judgment rather then the generalized 1" per gallon rule. Use your head and always keep the fish's best interests at heart, not your own!

 

[Gankutsuou]

Fella - where did that outburst come from? I'd love a bigger tank. I just can't have one until I move out. If I'm willing to go out and spend on filters, food, and fish, I'm obviously willing to get them situated correctly. the last fish I bought were for my 25 gallon which is finalized. 3 SAP's, my queen arab, flying fox, and 5 glow lites. The only change that could come is getting one more glow lite.



Catfish are cool - Yes... I noticed my Senegal getting big and fat, and do think it would be happier in a bigger home.

Tyler - Thank you. I will try my best

Piper - that's what I'm worried about. I may take the angel back to the LFS.

 

[piper]

Yeah I think its easy to tell when you have over crowed a tank. Taking fish back is always hard to do though

 

[Gankutsuou]

Yeah I think its easy to tell when you have over crowed a tank. Taking fish back is always hard to do though

Yesh, my flounder pleco apparently wasn;t over his infection, which is bad.... I'm gonna dig more space under the bogwood so he won't scratch against it.

I think I may have to take my angel back.... I will miss him.

 

[Gankutsuou]

Good news everyone!

I just looked into the tank and saw the flounder pleco has made almost a complete recover y and looks dashing good.