Swordtails?

[5teady_2012]

You have 8 gallons in your tank, 7 fish already, abd its only a small tank..

You should put 7-8 max in it end of..

On larger tanks, its not as bad overstocking but on a tank this small, you shouldnt (especially that considering, with gravel/sand. filter heater, inside measures, your tank probably only has about 7g in it, if that.)

If you want to overstock it thats up to you, just do more waterchanges, but i wouldnt as your just heading for trouble, but its your tank and the advice has been given, what you want to do with the advcie is totally your choice.

Good luck

 

[tenohfive]

The stocking levels as it is limit, i wouldnt add anything else at all, no guppies, swords or anything

ive been told by several reliable places that i should put 12 fish in max.

Fish shops often feed duff info. If I were you I wouldn't ask them for advice, and do your own research on places like this.

And I agree, you can't afford to add any more fish. So buy a bigger tank...

 

[wilkesy88]

The stocking levels as it is limit, i wouldnt add anything else at all, no guppies, swords or anything

ive been told by several reliable places that i should put 12 fish in max.

Fish shops often feed duff info. If I were you I wouldn't ask them for advice, and do your own research on places like this.

And I agree, you can't afford to add any more fish. So buy a bigger tank...

i know this will make me sound stupid but...
why?

and i cant get a new tank, ive only just got this one!!!!

 

[tenohfive]

So you can add more fish...? I'm going old rule of thumb of:

Little tank=not many fish. Big tank=lots of fish.

Yes, you look stupid - and I'm a b*****d for taking the mickey but its been a long day and I need some easy kicks.



What I'm referring to is Bigger Tank Syndrome - you buy a tank, put fish in it, want more or different/bigger fish and can't get away with them in your tank...so you buy a bigger tank. Thats how I've ended up with 6 tanks (and looking to expand still lol.)

Side note: buy second hand tanks. You'd be amazed the number of people who buy a tank, kill their fish and decide fishkeeping isn't fun any more - or have to cut back. If you're patient and check ebay every couple of days you can pick up a bargain.

 

[wilkesy88]

So you can add more fish...? I'm going old rule of thumb of:

Little tank=not many fish. Big tank=lots of fish.

Yes, you look stupid - and I'm a b*****d for taking the mickey but its been a long day and I need some easy kicks.



What I'm referring to is Bigger Tank Syndrome - you buy a tank, put fish in it, want more or different/bigger fish and can't get away with them in your tank...so you buy a bigger tank. Thats how I've ended up with 6 tanks (and looking to expand still lol.)

Side note: buy second hand tanks. You'd be amazed the number of people who buy a tank, kill their fish and decide fishkeeping isn't fun any more - or have to cut back. If you're patient and check ebay every couple of days you can pick up a bargain.

no, i mean how come i cant put say 9 or 10?

 

[tenohfive]

I don't use stocking calculators anymore - I used to when I was new to the hobby but now I've some experience...I just think its overstocked. Theres so many different things that factor into how well stocked you tank is - type of filter, size of filter, surface area, any surface disturbance, planting, ornaments or hiding places, open swimming area, maturity of the tank, activeness of the fish, specific care needs for the fish. Once you factor all those in you get an accurate idea of what you can stock - and they vary from species to species. A rule which says "if you have so many litres you can have so many fish is frankly inaccurate.

 

[Corleone]

Dilution, basically. Fish poop and pee in the water, contaminating it with ammonia and the filter removes it. The filter only removes it when enough bacteria grow inside it to do so, and there's a limit to how much a tank can support.

The general rule with small fish (and it's a very loose rule, not exacting by any means - tenohfive's spot on with the limitations) is about 1 inch of adult size per 1 gallon of water. After about 6 months out of the cycle, you can exceed this to some extent, but with smaller tanks, there's less water to dilute an imbalance between waste production and removal, and the water can go toxic quite quickly.

You're already at 14 inches in 8 gallons, which is about 1.75 inches per gallon. A single small fish like the ones you have will put you at 2 inches per gallon, a single swordtail will put you over that.

The most important limit, IMO, of the stocking calculation is swimming space. A fish may be 2 gallons worth of stocking, but could still require at least a 20 gallon tank.

 

[wilkesy88]

how big do the fish that ive got atm normally grow then?

i know im sounding like an idiot, but i want to get into this, if i can get this tank running well, then ill get a bigger one.

 

[Corleone]

Most of the ones you have right now are right around 2 inches adult size, maybe a bit smaller for the headlight tetras. I don't know about rosey tetras, though, 2 inches is a guess there.

 

[wilkesy88]

ill probably get the same answer but....

two harlequin rasbora?

im talking about in a month or two's time, when everything is established.

 

[justjon]

You really are pushing it for such a small tank, and I doubt if you add anymore no matter what the fish will be stressed more.

 

[wilkesy88]

ill probably get the same answer but....

two harlequin rasbora?

im talking about in a month or two's time, when everything is established.

ignore that last post.

 

[shelaghfishface]

the only way to get it right,is to carry on asking.. you`ll get there
shelagh xxx

 

[wilkesy88]

You really are pushing it for such a small tank, and I doubt if you add anymore no matter what the fish will be stressed more.

thats irritating.

b*****d fish shops.

 

[justjon]

Just bare in mind that if you want to get into this type of hobby, you need a lot of patience in some areas, (both money wise and other areas) - I would LOVE to add more fish to my main tank, but i'm pushing it as it is, and my fishies will only get bigger.

I'm waiting till I move into a new place myself then getting a bigger tank = more, and happier fish!

A lot of people unfortunately think that fishkeeping is just a case of sticking fish in a tank and be done with it, in terms of numbers and things...

Good Luck!