Over Stocked Tank?

[Sacred]

Hi everyone

I just want to know if my tank is over stocked or not. It's a 55gal tank, with heater, filter, do water changes 2-3 times a week, it's planted and uses small gravel. It's a year old now. Dimensions: 30x60x30

Current contents:
6 Male Guppy
6 Black Phantom Tetra
5 Neon Tetra
2 Silver Shark
2 Swordtails
1 Flying Fox
1 Clown Pleco
3 Peppered Corydoras

Reason I ask is I got 5 cory's two weeks back and I have lost 2 of them in the process. I wonder if it's the tank stocking thats the problem. I wouldn't be suprised if it is overstocked thats causing the problem. In which case I need to move some stuff around but you guys would know better

 

[KittyKat]

It isn't overstocked, but the stocking is very poor and the sharks with suffer in a tank that size, given that they have the potential to grow to 16+ inches long.

 

[Sacred]

It isn't overstocked, but the stocking is very poor and the sharks with suffer in a tank that size, given that they have the potential to grow to 16+ inches long.

Why is the stocking poor? If and when the sharks get too big of the tank I will move them out to another tank.

 

[KittyKat]

Wait, can you confirm your dimensions? If they really are 30*60*30 cm, then your tank is 54 litres and very, VERY overstocked. I was basing my comment on the tank being 55 gallons.

 

[Sacred]

It is 30cm (front to back) by 60cm (legthways) by 30cm (top to bottom)...

 

[KittyKat]

6 Male Guppy - ok, but don't do best in water which is different from water preferred by tetras
6 Black Phantom Tetra - ok
5 Neon Tetra - schooling fish, keep in groups of 6+, prefertably 10-15+
2 Silver Shark - schooling fish, keep in groups of 6+, prefertably 10-15+, should have at least a 6*2*2 ft tank, preferably larger. EDIT: the tank is too small for them even now
2 Swordtails - keep 2 females per male livebearer or only males. EDIT the tank is too small for them
1 Flying Fox - can get too aggressive for guppies. EDIT: the tank is too small for it
1 Clown Pleco - depends on tank size, generally ok if the tank is big enough. EDIT: tank is on the small side for it
3 Peppered Corydoras - schooling fish, keep in groups of 6+, prefertably 10-15+

In a 30*60*30 tank, your stocking should be something like:
* 12 tetras
* 6 small Corys
* the guppies may fit too, but not guaranteed and don't always mix well with tetras

 

[Sacred]

I have a problem. I can't believe it...54 litres not gallons. It's only about 11 gallons.

 

[crazychris]

Yep you need to get rid of the sharks and Flying Fox immediately.

 

[KittyKat]

"Problem" is putting it mildly.. even if you upgrade to a bigger tank, some of those fish will have to go.. try advertising them on here or taking them back to your LFS?

Edit, can you get a photo of the whole tank, so we can judge the current size of the fish?

 

[Sacred]

"Problem" is putting it mildly.. even if you upgrade to a bigger tank, some of those fish will have to go.. try advertising them on here or taking them back to your LFS?

Edit, can you get a photo of the whole tank, so we can judge the current size of the fish?

Here we go

I am in contact with people trying to sort out how to rearrange this. The main problem is with the silver sharks and the flying fox being the bigger ones, or potential. My dad is taking the swords into his tank.

I have another 10 gal tank, which has a betta, 6 neons and 1 corydoras. Though I think that is stocked

All these fish don't have to have the correct 'school size' to live happily. It's nonsense It's probably more realistic to real life but you don't have to keep the schooling amounts

 

[KittyKat]

All these fish don't have to have the correct 'school size' to live happily. It's nonsense It's probably more realistic to real life but you don't have to keep the schooling amounts

Have you ever tried keeping those species in larger groups? The difference in behaviour is easily visible.

All of your fish really are still very young, so it shouldn't affect them too much if you take a week or two to find new homes. It also helps with the overstocking, that you have a few plants in there.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Keep a close eye on the ammonia/nitrite in that tank until you get the proper stocking level... One of the biggest dangers in an overstocked tank is excessive waste producing massive amounts of ammonia, not to mention that stressed fish also will excrete more ammonia from their gills than non-stressed fish.

 

[Sacred]

Keep a close eye on the ammonia/nitrite in that tank until you get the proper stocking level... One of the biggest dangers in an overstocked tank is excessive waste producing massive amounts of ammonia, not to mention that stressed fish also will excrete more ammonia from their gills than non-stressed fish.

I do frequent checks and the results have been 0 for ammonia and nitrates every time. I change the water 3 times a week, normally 20%. Nitrates doesn't breech 20ppm. I've got things figured out now so I can rearrange abit.

I am sure Silvers do act so differently in a school, but my one and his friend are happy. They don't get any hassle from anyone. The Flying fox use to be grumpy but that was because he was terratorial over a cave in there, but I took that out and he's fine now. He's been there since the start.

I'm gonna put some aeration in this tank for faster fish. The Silvers are ok for the time being. I will keep an eye on them and if they do get into trouble I will get another tank sorted, but they are ok for now.

 

[KittyKat]

Keep a close eye on the ammonia/nitrite in that tank until you get the proper stocking level... One of the biggest dangers in an overstocked tank is excessive waste producing massive amounts of ammonia, not to mention that stressed fish also will excrete more ammonia from their gills than non-stressed fish.

Aye, but it looks like the tank is quite well set up, so the fish should not be too stressed.. especially since most look too young for any aggression to have come out yet. Hopefully the fact that the tank has been set up for a while means that it can, at least temporarily, support the fish currently in it.

I am sure Silvers do act so differently in a school, but my one and his friend are happy. They don't get any hassle from anyone. The Flying fox use to be grumpy but that was because he was terratorial over a cave in there, but I took that out and he's fine now. He's been there since the start.

I am not talking only about the sharks. How can you tell that they are "happy"? And yes, they need more space even now to *grow* properly. The affects of a small tanks are usually only seen a few years down the line, when the fish end up with an odd body shape, a short life span and difficulty swimming properly.

Given that your fox can not establish a "home" now, how do you think that affects him?

I'm gonna put some aeration in this tank for faster fish. The Silvers are ok for the time being. I will keep an eye on them and if they do get into trouble I will get another tank sorted, but they are ok for now.

The aeration won't help, it's the flow and swimming space that they need, which they don't have.

 

[Sacred]

I'll take my chances. It's all well and good having the 'perfect evironment for all' but right now it's not a problem. I know my Flying fox is not unhappy just because he doesn't have a cave. They are all ok for now and I will see how things progress. If things get too big, I'll sell them or what not.

I've not had many deaths in this tank, just a few, you can't always tell if it was your tank, or the shop it came from. Some fish are weaker then others. I'll get things rearranged and fish moved about