Overstocked Maybe?

[James9114]

hi, so i have a 110 litre juwel aquarium with an internal filter with a 600 lph pump. so my question is, is my aquarium overstocked with these fish.

6 x black skirt tetra
7 x kuhli loach
4 x albino ccrys
4 x bronze corys
2 x pristella tetra
2 x hillsteam loach
5 x amano shrimp

I know there are other problems with this which im sure you will all tell me about which i already know but all i want to know is my aquarium overstocked?

Thanks in advance James

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Firstly, how long have you had this setup with this stock and how has it been?

Do you test the water parameters? what are the results if you do?
How much and how often do you do water changes and what sort of substrate do you have?

I am unable to help you with the compatability of the stock but if you can answer the questions it will help the people who keep them.

For stocking, use the below link as a guide. Its very good and gives some information about compatability as well.

(w w w. a q a d v i s o r. c o m )

 

[James9114]

well iv'e had all these in together for about 2 months or so now i do water changes every 10 days or so and do gravel vacs every other water change, also forgot but i also have 4 glass catfish in there. started cycling early september if that helps and slowly built it up from there. did ammonia and nitrite test yestrerday and all was good but i did do the water change day b4, hope i havnt missed anything out

 

[KittyKat]

hi, so i have a 110 litre juwel aquarium with an internal filter with a 600 lph pump. so my question is, is my aquarium overstocked with these fish.

6 x black skirt tetra
7 x kuhli loach
4 x albino ccrys
4 x bronze corys
2 x pristella tetra
2 x hillsteam loach
5 x amano shrimp

I know there are other problems with this which im sure you will all tell me about which i already know but all i want to know is my aquarium overstocked?

Nothing wrong with that stocking as such. I would add another 4 pristella tetras and make sure the temperature is 21-22C (for the coolwater hillstreams) which would put you at maximumish. Also, if you don't have any plants, try some like Java moss, Java fern, Anubias and easy Hygropilas, they will make the fish more comfortable.

I personally prefer to have only one mid-water schooling fish in a set-up that size, so would prefer a stocking such as..
* 15 schooling fish
* 8 Corys
* 5 amano shrimp
* pair of peaceful cichlids such as Apisto. cacatuoides

well iv'e had all these in together for about 2 months or so now i do water changes every 10 days or so and do gravel vacs every other water change, also forgot but i also have 4 glass catfish in there. started cycling early september if that helps and slowly built it up from there. did ammonia and nitrite test yestrerday and all was good but i did do the water change day b4, hope i havnt missed anything out

Hurm, with the glass cats, you are fully stocked for my liking. Comment about plants still stands.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

i have tried posting a link for you but it does not work.

You appear to be very close to max stocking and some interesting info about your hillstreams and priscillas.

Remember it is a guide only

 

[James9114]

well im thinking of getting rid of the glass cats as i think the lighting is too much for them because when i put the light on they move right to the bottom of the tank behind some wood, i have 5 plastic plants in there because i wasn't sure how to care for real ones though i might eventually go for them and for the corys i realise now i shouldn't of got 4 of each but 8 of 1 kind. Any other advice would be appreiciated and thanks again

link is not working mate.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Sorry mate, for some reason it does not allow links.
I have had to type it with spaces for it even to appear on the screen!

 

[James9114]

Sorry mate, for some reason it does not allow links.
I have had to type it with spaces for it even to appear on the screen!

no worries im going to remove the glass catfish, so should be ok with stocking levels. thanks again

 

[KittyKat]

well im thinking of getting rid of the glass cats as i think the lighting is too much for them because when i put the light on they move right to the bottom of the tank behind some wood, i have 5 plastic plants in there because i wasn't sure how to care for real ones though i might eventually go for them and for the corys i realise now i shouldn't of got 4 of each but 8 of 1 kind. Any other advice would be appreiciated and thanks again

They're shy fish and schooling.. that's the same reason I said to get some more tetras. Same reason you know about Corys.. but I don't think it matters that much with your Corys because they are actually the same species, just different colours.

If you like, we can help you with the plants.. the easiest ones require no care at all once they're in place! A photo of the tank would be a good start if you'd want help

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Even with the Glass Catfish (providing you know these are one of the small species that get given this common name, such as Kryptopterus minor, as opposed to say K. bicirrhis), I would not say you are too overstocked, although I would suggest you check your tank water readings if regularly leaving ten days between water changes.

Some general observations...

• Do you know which "hillstream loach" species do you have? A "Hong Kong Plec" or Sewellia, perhaps? Depending upon the species, you will need to be very careful with the temp (keeping it below 24C, some need lower for higher oxygen saturation), but more importantly your tank will need excellent aeration from at least 8x water turnover from filters or powerheads. I highly recommend you look into a small powerhead (perhaps from the Hydor pico or nano range), with upto 800lph, to supplement the internal filter that is unlikely to provide a "real world" 600lph.
• I think most "Glass Catfish" are not fans of bright light, so you could provide some respite for them by using some floating plants and/or small pieces of suspended bogwood, secured to the tank back by suckers. The fact you have four may be contributing to their skittishness, as they are suposed to aquire confidence through numbers.
• As said already, some more X-Ray Tetras wouldn't go a miss.