How does overstocking cause a problem?

[jimbooo]

yes because you'll end up with a build up of phosphate if you over feed. uneaten food rots to form phosphate

you could feed more regularly but dont increace the ammount of food ie if you only feed at night start introducing breakfast or afternoon tea

phosphate = algae above 0.03ppm


off home now so wont pick up replies till tomorrow.
Jimbooo

 

[Tiggs]

i guess i better test for phosphate to see if i have room for extra food then.

 

[Avinitlarge]

Sorry for hi-jacking this topic, I know our tank is overstocked, but how badly?? The water is crystal clear, We have a FLUVAL 3 PLUS filter and a FLUVAL 4 PLUS filter and all seems well.

We have all the fish below in this tank and have had no problems, There are loads of hiding places, Nooks and grannies and plants, Non of the fish seem to bother each other apart from a neon has vanished, Pim pictus or feather fin has probably munched on it, All of these fish apart from 3 of the angel fish and the pangasius lived together in a smaller tank for about 6 months but we thought is was a bit unfair on them all being in such a small space

2 cory's,
9 Diamond tetra's,
1 Neon Tetra
1 Glowlight Tetra
Pangasius,
6 angel fish,
A balloon molly,
4 sucking loach
2 large plec's,
2 Feather fin cat fish,
2 blind cave fish,
clown loach,
Bolivan Ram,
3 zebra loach,
Polkadot loach,
4 columbian tetras,
A deformed platty,
2 Honey gourami's
2 Blue gourami's
2 Three spot gourami's
2 Swordtails
and 2 rainbow fish

EDIT

Its 49.83 UK gallons

 

[Bignose]

There is one issue with overstocking that has not been mentioned yet. Simply that with a large fish density, disease can spread much more quickly that it otherwise might. With so many fish in such a close proximity disease will be passed from one another more frequently. You will have to watch for health issues.

That said, experienced fish keepers overstock regularly. But it requires a much larger time investment. Extra water changes, more frequent check up for health, extra filter and tank maintenence. So long as you keep up the necessary maintenence, it can work.

Finally, the zero nitrates are not necessarily something to be concerned with. Of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, most aquatic plants use ammonia the most efficiently. The real question is, are your plants actively growing? New shoots? If so, it is very possible your plants are using the ammonia, leaving none to go through the bacterial cycle. No ammonia through the cycle -- no nitrate as the output.