Overstocked 10 Gallon?

[Fishhub]

My 10 gallon has 3 platys and 3 otos. Will it be overstocked if I add 4 Black Khulis? Will it have too much bioload for my Topfin power filter 10?

 

[mtv8dmarine]

The general rule of thumb is 1" of fish per US gallon of water. That should help you estimate if you're overstocked or not as only you know the size of your fish. Do give a buffer and consider the adult size of the fish. I do not know if khuli's are heavy bioload fish but as long as you are doing adequate water changes and are maintaining healthy water parameters you will be ok.

 

[Assaye]

I would say that should be fine. Consider adding 3 more otos as well to give them a decent group.

For khulis you'll need very, very fine gravel or ideally sand.

 

[Fishhub]

Yes i read that khuli loaches produce very, very low bio loads. I am a risk taker myself and I was wondering if I could add a few more small fish that swim mid water level that stay very small and dont produce a too much of a bioload. Or just even a single specimen of a dwarf gourami or betta. I am careful making water changes every week.

 

[ajs2294]

The general rule of thumb is 1" of fish per US gallon of water.

This rule is generally useless as length doesn't determine body mass and waste of fish. It also doesn't take into account experience level or filtration and water change routine. You could get away with adding Kuhli loaches but make sure you do about a 50% water change a week or split that amount up. I would also recommend picking up a filter like an Aquaclear 20 and placing the pouch from your current filter in it to cycle the filter. As those Top Fin filters aren't that great as they are mostly just carbon in a little foam pouch. But you'll get away with it just Aquaclear will give you more surface are for bacteria and a bit better flow rate for your stocking

Also just a bit of advice if you tank is new you way want to wait a little while until its "matured" as Kuhlis do better in a matured aquarium

 

[Fishhub]

Yes everything is going to be mature, will that aquaclear 20 fit in my tank slot for the powerfilter.

 

[ajs2294]

Yes everything is going to be mature, will that aquaclear 20 fit in my tank slot for the powerfilter.

I would presume so I've ran aquaclear 50's on 10 gallons with plastic hoods in the past.

 

[Fishhub]

Thanks i'll have to look at some, Now i have another queston, With my current fish I have, with the same filter I have now, and i dont get khulis, what other fish i could get and how many?

 

[mtv8dmarine]

This rule is generally useless as length doesn't determine body mass and waste of fish. It also doesn't take into account experience level or filtration and water change routine.

As I said, it's a general rule of thumb. Funny you're quick to be critical yet you too state it is "generally" useless. The rule has merit and of course there are other parameters and routines that affect the overall health of fish in a tank.

 

[GAB99]

1 inch of slender fish that does not exceed 3" per gallon thats IICRC the whole rule

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Kuhlis, being ~10cm of pencil-thickness are generally regarded as minimal bioload. They are much happier in numbers, which will mean you are more likely to see their lovely markings, so I say get 8-10

 

[Fishhub]

8-10 ? Really you think i could get that many, it just sems the bottom will be overcrowed wont you think?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

They are very social fish, often found in fish shops all huddled together. As long as you have no other bottom-dweller, I reckon 8-10 would be fine!

If you have recently added any of the other fish to your tank, give it a couple of weeks with daily ammonia and nitrite readings, to be sure everything is ok with your bacterial colonies... Then add the Kuhlis

 

[james_fish]

This rule is generally useless as length doesn't determine body mass and waste of fish. It also doesn't take into account experience level or filtration and water change routine.

As I said, it's a general rule of thumb. Funny you're quick to be critical yet you too state it is "generally" useless. The rule has merit and of course there are other parameters and routines that affect the overall health of fish in a tank.

The rule is useless. Its like comparing 5 Neon Tetra's to a single 5 inch Goldfish, the goldfish will produce 5 possibly 10 times as much waste but is the same length. The rule would also suggest in this case that you could keep a 10 inch fish in a 10 gallon, when clearly you cannot

In answer to the original question, I think would work well. But like Assaye quite rightly said, 2-3 more Oto's would be sensible at this point

James.

 

[Fishhub]

Okay guys how about this, i get at least 4 khulis, maby more, and add a small school of a small tetra or something. With the only 3 platys in there the mid level to top level look kinda empty. With the possibilty of more ottos. This is a rough sketch of my plans but I hope you can help a little with it.