Tank Stocking Advisory Websites Versus Real Life Experience

[N0body Of The Goat]

Over the last couple of months or so, I've come to realise that website stocking calculators are still lacking crutial information about tank setup when deciding how many fish can be safely put in a tank of any given size, with experienced fish keepers often stating that their setup has been deemed upto ~150% overstocked, despite not being a Lake Malawi biotope.

What really does not help matters is that one popular calculator (that has recently been given "###143###" status) thinks that my Rio 240 is overstocked once I reach ~225cm of adult fish, while Thinkfish thinks that upto 400+cm of fish is of no concern once I add my Eheim 2078 external filter!

Tank details: Rio 240; Juwel Bioflow 8 with 1000 pump; Koralis 1 powerhead ; Dennerle CO[sub]2[/sub] system; various high-tech plants; Eheim 2078 filter expected to arrive any day

Planned Fish stocking (from water surface to base, with expected adult size)
Upto 4 African Butterfly Fish (~10cm) <------------------------------------- Second lowest priority
Upto 4 Golden Wonder Killifish (~10cm) <------------------------------------- Lowest priority, only if room
5 Pearl Danios (~6.5cm)*
3 [commercially bred, not wild caught] Redline Torpedo [Denisons] Barb (~15cm... Unless they are the 10cm variant that sometimes hit the market)*^
5 Yellowtail Congo Tetras [may be boosted to 10 by buying remaining LFS stock] (~6.5cm)*
6 Humphead Glassfish (~10cm)
3 Panda Garra (7cm)*
5-7 "Orange-ringed Barb" [Puntius rhomboocellatus] (~8cm) <---------- Third lowest priority, on my "wishlist" for rarity and colour, rather than quirky looks or behaviour
1 African Bushfish (~13cm)
2 Opsarius pulchellus (~11cm)*
1 or 2 AFrican Filter Shrimp
4 Indian Red Tail Squirrel Loaches (~8cm)#
EITHER 4 Steatocranus cichlids (~10cm) OR 2 Steatocranus & 2 African dwarf cichlids [likely to be Nanochromis nudiceps or transvetus] (6-8cm)

Legend: * already have; ^ not sure if I should increase to 5; # on order from "vickiandkev" from their visit to wholesaler next Thursday

Virtual penny for your thought

 

[ian]

A lot IMO goes on common sence ( which isn't that common in fish keeping ) or should go on common sence. I would go on test results, bioload of the fish and the more important, whether the tank looks overstocked, there should be plenty enough swim space. Last but not least, ask the folks on here! I personally would never use that stocking calculator as it gave my pc a infection. Always find out and research, also if ya gonna buy your fish from P&H read the label!

 

[Wills]

IMO the calculators are flawed because the accounts are often created off 2-3 people experiences and some of the profiles are even made off other internet profiles Im so glad that the most common one has been made a dirty word on this forum. Most of the people on here know the fish they keep because they have spoken to multiple other keepers and also been able to read through 3 or 4 reliable source additionally they also all have looked at these calculators and made of them what they want/need.

I really dont think you can beat peoples opinions on fish keeping because no rule is set in stone. The calculators sets everything in black and white with yes or no answers when realistically most tanks are in more of a grey area.

If Im honest with you Goat, youve been giving out such good advice on this forum recently you are more than capable of judging your tank Im not saying dont ask for help but you are a very competent fish keeper.

A few thoughts on your stock though.

4 African Butterfly Fish or 4 Golden Wonder Killifish (I wouldnt do both as they might fight for space in the top areas - male killies can be territorials and the butterflies can as well)
5 Pearl Danios
3 Redline Torpedo Barb - (Up these to 5 or 6)
5 Yellowtail Congo Tetras
6 Humphead Glassfish (I think with these I would have either these or the cichlids)
3 Panda Garra
7 Orange-ringed Barb
1 African Bushfish
2 Opsarius pulchellus (Unfamiliar with these but since you turn up on the net asking the most questions haha you will know more than me as to if they need groups, I would guess because of the type of fish they are they will appreciate groups but because of rarity so yeah)
4 Indian Red Tail Squirrel Loaches
4 Steatocranus cichlids (Like I said I would pick between the two, 240 liters is a good size but with the amount of large fish in there and most being quite active)

Im not sure if it will work to be fair Im almost on the border of saying leave the glass fish and the rhombo barbs as it is a heavy stock but it will look great.

Wills

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

You write very generous words, Wills, but I am still a "young grasshopper" and look upto "fish jedi" who have actual experience of keeping fish. I suspect there are many forum members on here that have raised their eyebrows to the point they are floating away in the loft breeze at the fish I have and hope to have for my first ever tank, with internet reading since aound April Fools Day!

Several of your valued opinions on my stock are things that my heart is telling me also...

• I think it has to be either African Butterfly or Golden Wonder Panchax, with the former concerning me about lowering the water level for them (which concentrates the fish stock, while giving them a bit of jumping room) and whether they will hate the stream current I have planned with the 2078 Eheim filter.
• Originally, Redline Torpedos were never planned, the Rhomb were going to be the true barb of the tank. But then I saw them domestically bred at my LFS of choice (great, as wild stocks are almost exist like Celestial Pearl Danios) for just £16 a pair less 10% discount! Some sources suggest a trio will be happy while young and when they get older, they will hardly ever want to school at all, while other sources suggest they need to 5+, "end of."
• The 6 Humpheads are in a mixed shop tank and keep displaying disputes in-house, even leaving the smaller fish alone. They are my second most wanted fish, second only to the Steatocranus, I would find it so hard to choose one and not the other! The Humpheads' nature in the shop tank, plus the few sources I've read online, suggest they will stay mid-mid upper, leaving the base free for the Steatocranus and thereby preventing territory battles... I hope!
• My gut feeling is the Rhomb Barb have to go now, I effectively made it "Hobsons Choice" when I semi-impulse bought the Redline Torpedos. Not to mention, their mid-lower preference always had a potential problem with the Steatocranus, plus a group of 5-7 adding significant bioload (they are quite stocky). In addition, they could possibly have been a bit iffy with my gH of ~13.5 and as much as they look nice with their snakeskin appearance, they have nothing of note behaviour wise that makes them a "must have."
• I thought I had found some more Opsarius pulchellus the other day to increase their numbers, but closer inspection showed 3 different Barilius species
• I need to wait and see which Steacranus species are part of this wild caught Congo batch arriving soon at the LFS, as 4 or 5 are expected (tinanti, casaurius, gibbiceps, red eye and one other). I would need to double check, but I think the true Lionhead is the significantly bigger species of these.

Its ironic how my stocking ideas have gone... I went through all sorts of general combos, only now to end up in a situation where there are too many fish that fit the stream coolish biotope I decide upon!

 

[OohFeeshy]

The point is though, that for new fishkeepers, they're ideal. Well, thinkfish is a bit over generous for my liking, but the other one is actually pretty good if you're just starting and want to play around with the options. It's always better to be understocked, no? Then once you've gained experience and can actually tell when to stop adding fish, when fish are too big etc, then you can make up your own mind.