Over Stocked?

[alisdairkr]

Hi, my first post.
I have searched the forum for 'over stocking', and found masses of information, so I can already imagine the replies I am going to get.

I have an 18 gallon tank (12"x18"x24"), and am losing a few fish. Recenlty lost a couple of Guppies, and a couple of Dannios. The tank has been going for about 6 months, but I recently put a few extra fish in (White clouds and Platys).

I am having trouble with the PH dropping, and I assume this is because the filter is not coping, which, having read info on this site, I now presume is due to the number of fish I have. I reckon I have 29 inches of fish in the tank.

My current list of fish is:
6 White clouds
3 Plattys
4 Cherry Barbs
4 Neon Tetras
3 Guppies
3 small Catfish
2 Ottos
1 Dannio

Help

Cheers

Alisdair

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup definately way to many fish in there as you expected.

you can upgrade the filter on the tank which would then cope with a slightly heavier bi-load, but your still gonna have to loose some of those fish. however some of the groups and choices you have really aren't suitable for your tank so by removing the ones where it's not suitable then you should be ok

my choices to go would be-
4 Cherry Barbs - these like quite a bit of room to swim, i think your tanks too small for them
1 Dannio - as above and would be better in a group of 6
4 Neon Tetras - best in a group of 6

leaving -
6 White clouds
3 Plattys
3 Guppies
3 small Catfish
2 Ottos

still a little over but as they enjoy different swimming spaces they're OK

are the 'small catfish' corys? if so there's one more change I'd make which is to get rid of the otto's and get 2 more corys as they prefer to be in a group of 5+, as do otto's so just keeping a few of each they won't be really happy.

 

[alisdairkr]

Hi
I probably should havge explained that I was originally told I could have 1" of fish per 12" of surface area (hence 24 would have been right). Hence the huge disparity in inches compared to gallonage (gallonage?? )

The numbers of Neons, Dannios and Guppies have reduced as one or two have died off.

The catfish are Corys I think, yes. (At work at the mo, and can't remember exactly)

EDIT: AND I suspect I will soon be down to 1 Guppy.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i have heard that 'rule' before, but personally i think it'sa bit off, in any 'standard' rectangular type tanks 1" per gallon of water works out alright, if your tank's especially tall/long/round etc etc then you can't really make a rule to cover all the shapes, you have to use a bit of common sense really

just remember there's no set rule, everything is guidelines, there are about a zillion exceptions, but 1@ per gallons is as good as anything to get a rough idea. if your constantly having problems despite decent maintenance then you can bet your badly stocked, if your a little over the 'rule' but there's no problems ever and all the fish are fine..... then you've got no problems!