How Does This Stocking Sound?

[xweeqtx]

Well, we finally worked out the volume of the community tank. Using the dimensions, we came to approx 112 litres which then goes to 29.5 US Gallons. So, going by my education that is rounded to 30 Gallons. The current set up is:

Filter: Fluval 2+ Canister
Heater: 100w (can't remember make etc) - Temp is approx. 28 Celsius(80.6 F)
Quite heavily planted, and also has quite a few silk plants. Large piece of driftwood(which was boiled and such before being put in tank) and using sand rather than gravel. There was an air bubble piece in there, but the filter has been raised to allow the flow to create plenty of oxygen and bubbles.

Fish:
3 Cory's(1 albino, 2 bronze)
4 Golden Barbs
6 Neon Tetras
2 Platy's
4 Zebra Danios
1 Algae Eater

Is this too much? The cory's were only bought because there was a part in the sand where it dipped under an arch in the driftwood, and there was a bit of waste collecting which the filter obviously wasn't lifting. So, I was told that the cory's would help move it from the surface to let the filter catch it - and it does help.

Just wondering how the stocking is, lol.

 

[Dark Wolf]

well you have roughly 40 inches of fully grown fish in your tank, but that's not including the algae eater, because it depends what type it is.

In my opinion that is quite a few too many for your tank. The actual combination shouldn't be that bad, they all seem to be quite peaceful fish, and so the aggressiveness wouldn't be that much of a problem. But consider losing one of the croups, perhaps the tetra's, there's roughly 9 inch of fish there. Or maybe the golden barbs.

Also i've read that zebra danio's may prefer to be in groups of 6, although 4 probably would be good enough (don'tt ake my word for this).

If your fluval 2+ is the same kind of filter as i have, it's only suitable up to around 90litres, and with an overstocked tank, you'd want to be overfiltering, not under. So i'd suggest a bigger filter.

Most i have seen tend to use the general rule of 1 watt to 1 litre. But this can vary depending on the type of heater you have. I would say that the 100 watt heater you currently have, should just about do the job.

 

[xweeqtx]

http/www.aquaticbiotope.co.uk/ProdImages...al%20Filter.jpg

Thats the filter I have. The neon's I was wanting to transfer into another tank, I was thinking of giving them over to my parent's.. they just don't seem to go with the overall look of the tank to be honest. The danio's are perfectly fine the way they are, well, I think they are anyway - I've never had any problems with them.

The golden barbs were not bought by us, but by a friend who decided they would look "nice" in our tank. It doesn't look particularly over-crowded, but that's simply because all the fish are at different levels of the tank. That's the whole reason I asked - although I knew there was definitely enough fish in there. When the barbs arrived, we definitely assumed it was over-stocked and we regularly clean the filter rather than wait for the tab to pop up to tell us to clean it.

As for the Algae Eater, I'm sure it was described as an Albino one, although it has a white stomach then dark on it's side's and back.

 

[Dark Wolf]

Yeah that's the same filter as i have, so i'd suggest getting a bigger one when you can. The fluval 3+ will do the job. (there are probably better filters out there than the fluval variety, but i don't know much about this, and have always found the fluval to be prefectly fine)

If it is an albino algae eater, i think they grow to around 6-7 inches.

 

[afishdude]

5-7 inches

 

[znk]

I dont realy like the "inches" rule because it all depends on the type of fish, filtration and if you stay on top of your water changes.
I dont see a problem with that list. Maybe change the algea eater with a couple of otos.

 

[MermaidMel]

I think that the tank is stocked to the limit, so it sounds ok to me personally but I would no way add anything else.
It sounds like a pretty mix too, are your barbs aggressive? Also, I have no luck with neons at all, so if it was my tank, I'd be losing them at some point in the next few weeks - I think it depends on other key factors and I hope yours do just fine.

 

[afishdude]

I dont realy like the "inches" rule because it all depends on the type of fish, filtration and if you stay on top of your water changes.
I dont see a problem with that list. Maybe change the algea eater with a couple of otos.

what???
we were talking about the algae eater gets to 5-7" long
and otos need groups of 5+

 

[znk]

I dont realy like the "inches" rule because it all depends on the type of fish, filtration and if you stay on top of your water changes.
I dont see a problem with that list. Maybe change the algea eater with a couple of otos.

what???
we were talking about the algae eater gets to 5-7" long
and otos need groups of 5+

well then 4 otos
Algae eaters can get agressive. If it's a chinese algae eater when it gets older it can become way to agressive for such a comunity tank.

 

[xweeqtx]

It's not a chinese algae eater, I do know that. I just can't find a picture to compare mine with - I'll try and get a pic of him. I don't think it's an albino, although it was described in the LFS as that - but frankly, the shop I got him from is atrocious. I've noticed a bit of aggression with the algae eater(silver as described) in my sorority tank, but that's only because the girls like to chase him about. But there's no real harm caused. The one in my community tank just does his own thing.

The barbs aren't agressive in the slightest, they're happy darting about the front of the tank
The neons, I don't usually have much luck with them but I found an extremely good LFS that stocks all the other LFS's, so I can now get my fish from the place they "stop off before heading to the poky fish shops" lol. My only potential problem now with the neons is that a few of them appear to be carrying eggs(its possible to see rounded lumps in different places on their abdomen) - but if I do end up with fry from them, the LFS I spoke about said they would take them and give me credit for fish. So I'll have a constant supply if need be.

I wasn't entirely sure about the stocking, but the fish have been healthy and happy so far, and it doesn't appear to be over crowded due to the fact that they all dwell on different levels of water. i.e, the danios roam the surface, platy's all over, cory's are of mixed desire of water level and barbs are always at the front of the tank.

Anyhoo, I'll try get a pic of the algae eater to see if anyone can ID him for me!

 

[starrynightxxi]

aside from the mysterious algae eater, i don't think it sounds that bad. And if you are getting rid of the neons, my suggestion would be to lose the algae eater as well and replace with three more cories (six is a number that makes for very happy cories), and pick up some amano shrimp to control algae.

 

[xweeqtx]

got a pic, the best I could of the algae eater. I find it quite amusing how he "sits" on his fins.

 

[afishdude]

what is that???
it looks like a pleco.

my computer has horrible graphics so i cant see it at all

 

[xweeqtx]

Nooo, I'm pretty sure its an algae eater, lol, just don't know what kind!

 

[znk]

Altho I'm no expert in algae eaters it looks alot like a chinese algae eater to me.
http/images.google.com/images?q=chinese+...sa=N&tab=wi