Overstocked tank?

[smackitsakic]

Is a 55 gallon tank overstocked with the following?

• 3 corycats
• 12 neon tetras
• 4 black skirt tetras
• 6 cherry barbs
• 1 parrot cichlid

 

[Utar]

Is a 55 gallon tank overstocked with the following?

• 3 corycats
• 12 neon tetras
• 4 black skirt tetras
• 6 cherry barbs
• 1 parrot cichlid

Except for the parrot cichlid I would say your stock for a 55 gallon is fine and not overstocking. I don't know anything about parrot cichlids except that if it is like some other types of cichlids that can get up to 7 or 8 inches then he may eat the rest of your fish. He for sure will probably eat your neons.

On another note, all of your fish with the exception of the parrot cichlid are schooling fish. You have enough neons for a good school, but you need at least six corys, and at least ten of black skirt tetras and cherry barbs. Schooling fish need these numbers to help them feel safe as individuals, this will also cut down on stress which leads to drops in immune system which lead to diseases, and other bad stuff.

 

[AilyNC]

Up the cory gang to minimum of 6 they're worth it. Actually just gave a 55G tank with all cories

 

[mcordelia]

Based on what I've read, the parrot will eat the neons, but larger tetras and barbs will generally be fine. I agree with increasing the school of cories to 6.

In general, for all the fish on your list except the parrot you can follow the "1 inch per gallon"(grown size) rule as long as you have adequate filtration (aim for at least 5x tank volume / hour), but the parrot (and I think other larger fish as well) go by the "1 in 30 gal to start, then an additional 10gal per fish" rule. Also with parrots, especially if you are thinking of adding any other cichlids or larger fish, or messy fish like plecos, you should aim for 8-10x/hour for filtration.

so if we do the math on one possible setup (assuming at least 5x filtration and maybe plants too):

• 6 corycats -> 6*3 = 18
• 12 neon tetras -> 12*1.5 = 18
• 10 black skirt tetras -> 10*2.5 = 25
• 10 cherry barbs -> 10* 2 = 20
• 1 parrot cichlid -> 30 gallons

18+18+25+20 = 81 inches, plus need to leave "room" in inches for the parrot. Note I increased the numbers to the size schools that the fish need based on above comments, and I assumed the cory species you are going to choose is 3''.

If you leave out the black skirt tetras, you'd be at 56 inches, which after the addition of the parrot would be pushing it, so maybe just pick one of the midwater schooling fish and stick with the cories and get the parrot as a showcase fish, that should work

Depending on your school of thought, there is nothing wrong with overstocking, but you do have to have the filtration and the expertise (and the willingness to do water changes) to keep up with it all.

Edit: don't mix the parrot and the neons, I can see how that would have been lost in the math part of my reply.

 

[smackitsakic]

Based on what I've read, the parrot will eat the neons, but larger tetras and barbs will generally be fine. I agree with increasing the school of cories to 6.

In general, for all the fish on your list except the parrot you can follow the "1 inch per gallon"(grown size) rule as long as you have adequate filtration (aim for at least 5x tank volume / hour), but the parrot (and I think other larger fish as well) go by the "1 in 30 gal to start, then an additional 10gal per fish" rule. Also with parrots, especially if you are thinking of adding any other cichlids or larger fish, or messy fish like plecos, you should aim for 8-10x/hour for filtration.

so if we do the math on one possible setup (assuming at least 5x filtration and maybe plants too):

• 6 corycats -> 6*3 = 18
• 12 neon tetras -> 12*1.5 = 18
• 10 black skirt tetras -> 10*2.5 = 25
• 10 cherry barbs -> 10* 2 = 20
• 1 parrot cichlid -> 30 gallons

18+18+25+20 = 81 inches, plus need to leave "room" in inches for the parrot. Note I increased the numbers to the size schools that the fish need based on above comments, and I assumed the cory species you are going to choose is 3''.

If you leave out the black skirt tetras, you'd be at 56 inches, which after the addition of the parrot would be pushing it, so maybe just pick one of the midwater schooling fish and stick with the cories and get the parrot as a showcase fish, that should work

Depending on your school of thought, there is nothing wrong with overstocking, but you do have to have the filtration and the expertise (and the willingness to do water changes) to keep up with it all.

Edit: don't mix the parrot and the neons, I can see how that would have been lost in the math part of my reply.

Thanks. I’m good on filtration. I’m running 350 gph so am 6x.