Is My Stocking Ok?

[Ben M]

hi, i have been told quite a lot that my tank is overstocked, any opinions?

my tank is 216l and measures 120cm length x 40 depth x 45 height. the filter is a Rena filstar xp2, and i do 25% water changes fortnightly. the stocking is 4 kribs, 5 SAE's, 5 harlequins, 3 serpae tetras, 8 cherry barbs, 4 rummy nosed tetras, 3 otocinclus affinis and 19 copper harlequins (Trigonostigma hengeli).

is this stocking ok?

cheers

 

[Wills]

I dont think its overstocked, I think its pretty much full but not overstocked. Im guessing those people are using the inch per gallon rule.... Who where they, different forum? Or on here?

If anything I would consider juggling your schools a bit, Id say up everything to at least 6 or juggle one against the other if you see what I mean just to bring them up to acceptable levels for the schooling hierarchy.

 

[Ben M]

hi, the people were on another forum (i think it's best not to name it). i did have bigger groups of the serpae's, cardinals etc, but over the years they have started to die off as they are all pretty old now (except the copper harlequins) and i don't really want any more. the final stocking that i intend to have is: 10 otocinclus, 19 copper harlequins, 5 SAE's, 20 cherry barbs and either the kribs or a shoal of corries (possibly panda or trilineatus). and then if there is enough room possibly 12 marbled hatchets? i want to get rid of my kribs so i can get some corries, but my mu isn't too keen on selling/giving them away to a fish shop. and they are breeding ATM so i am hoping for my first krib fry!!

cheers

 

[Wills]

Ah right I see, personally I would give the hatchets a miss I think but the other school numbers sound good to me. If you want cories you could always cut the cherry barbs to 12 and get 8 cories one of the medium/small species.

Wills

 

[Truck]

All of the numbers are fine IMO, too many people jump on the over stocking band wagon, ignore the rules and guides, do it by eye, if your water parameters are in check and the fish are happy, and are no fighting etc, then you'll be fine