overstocked tank but good water parameters

[modernhamlet]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I don't have sailfins, because the mollies I have will probably not get over 3". I've been feeding them high quality foods twice a day for months and they don't seem to grow very fast. What are all the kinds of mollies? What are the maximum lengths for each variety?

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Sailfins get to 4+". Common mollys get to 3+".

 

[steelhealr]

Hi..if you have a high tank, some 'may' benefit from the addition of an airstone. It helps to create an upward current and bring bottom water to the surface for better aeration. On the other hand, in the world of FW tanks, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' many times applies. Your 5ppm nitrates is a sign of not overfeeding and good water husbandry. Looks like you are learning and reading..keep up the good work. SH

 

[IMCL85]

acturally as long ur water is good over stock a little isn't going to do much harm as long you see no sign of stress or anything. My 25g atm is a little overstock as well. But fish seems to be fine. But I'm going to remove my cory any ways they dont tend to like my gravel on 25g.

 

[black_bull]

Thanks Steelhealr, that's good to hear.

Modernhamlet: so the average size of fully-grown common mollies (which are what I have) is about 3"? My male, which is the biggest of the three is about 2.25-2.5", and he seems to have stopped growing, although he is fed a good, varied diet. Is it normal for them to not reach full size? Is it possible he stopped growing but will start growing again in the future?

Also, how accurate are the liquid-type test kits? I have the kind where you take a small sample of tank water in atube and add 8 drops from one bottle, followed by 8 drops from another bottle, and then cap the tube and shake it vigorously. Is this the most accurate kind? I know that the strip-type test kits aren't supposed to be very accurate... are the liquid kind better? How accurate are my results likely to be? Thanks for the replies everyone, I appreciate the input a lot.

 

[modernhamlet]

Thanks Steelhealr, that's good to hear.

Modernhamlet: so the average size of fully-grown common mollies (which are what I have) is about 3"? My male, which is the biggest of the three is about 2.25-2.5", and he seems to have stopped growing, although he is fed a good, varied diet. Is it normal for them to not reach full size? Is it possible he stopped growing but will start growing again in the future?

Also, how accurate are the liquid-type test kits? I have the kind where you take a small sample of tank water in atube and add 8 drops from one bottle, followed by 8 drops from another bottle, and then cap the tube and shake it vigorously. Is this the most accurate kind? I know that the strip-type test kits aren't supposed to be very accurate... are the liquid kind better? How accurate are my results likely to be? Thanks for the replies everyone, I appreciate the input a lot.

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God knows what's happening in molly husbandry these days... Maybe you've got a small strain? Maybe you've just got a small fish (the "runt"? 3" is average and obviously there will be a lot a variation. My Pseudotropheus sp Acei were all the same 3/4" size when I got them and now range from 2.5" to more than 5" and still growing. If only fish conformed to our expectations!

Liquid tests are generally considered far more accurate than strip tests. How accurate compared to reality and how much more accurate than strip tests is a matter of debate. Unless they're really old, liquid kits are definitely accurate enough to be a fair judge of tank parameters. Not sure I'd say that about the strips.

 

[steelhealr]

Honestly...I think the liquid tests, eg API, are pretty good. I have a pH monitor in my SW tank and it correlates extremely closely to the liquid pH test portion. SH

 

[OohFeeshy]

Strips tend to be rubbish, the most common, the tetra ones, suck completely. It doesn't even say anywhere on the packaging its accurate, something that is definately 'if you've got it, flaunt it'