Overstocking?

[Robbo85]

Hi,
 
I have done a online tank stocking which says my current and potential stocking is fine but I have heard its not the most reliable source.
 
My tank is 180l bow front planted tank , trying to go with a south American set up.
 
I have a Fluval 205 external and a Fluval U2 internal filter
sand substrate with plenty of plants wood and rocks.
 
nitrite at 0
ammonia at 0
nitrate an 20ppm
PH 6.4
hardness 12 dh
 
current stocking
 
17 cardinal tetras
6 panda corries
1 common pleco around 5 inch's (bought 12 years ago after bad lfs advice) 
3 golden barbs
1 apistogramma nijsseni
6 marble hatchet
 
is this overstocked ?
 
I am trying to give away the barbs and would like to add a golden BN and a Bolivan Ram but think that might be too much.
 


 
plants are more mature now than in this photo, most background plants are to the surface
 

 

[Far_King]

Personally I'd say it's fine.
 
Obviously you're aware of a couple of issues there, the stunted growth of the pleco and the numbers of barbs which aren't enough for a shoal.
Once the barbs are moved on then that issue will be solved and you can't do any more for the pleco being 12 years old.
 
Rams are beautiful but can be territorial which is one reason I've avoided having them in a community tank.
 
Plecos are poop machines and I'm not sure how well an internal filter would cope, so I'd steer clear of the BN for now.  Especially as your existing common may also be territorial.
 
Pics of the apistogramma please

 

[Robbo85]

Personally I'd say it's fine.
 
Obviously you're aware of a couple of issues there, the stunted growth of the pleco and the numbers of barbs which aren't enough for a shoal.
Once the barbs are moved on then that issue will be solved and you can't do any more for the pleco being 12 years old.
 
Rams are beautiful but can be territorial which is one reason I've avoided having them in a community tank.
 
Plecos are poop machines and I'm not sure how well an internal filter would cope, so I'd steer clear of the BN for now.  Especially as your existing common may also be territorial.
 
Pics of the apistogramma please

 
 
thanks, if I removed the barbs and added the ram (im aware of the ram aggression but im willing to take the risk, the LFS will take it back if it got bad , ive heard various degrees of success keeping rams in community and with other SA cichlids, there is plenty of hiding spots to break line of sight) how full to stocking max would you say it was? would like to add something else if poss.
 
as requested
 

 

[Far_King]

Beautiful fish - thanks for sharing 

 
I can't say how a Ram and an Apistogramma would work together.  Hopefully someone else who has experience with both will be able to advise.

 

[Byron]

Generally speaking, more than one cichlid species in an aquarium is very risky (the exception obviously being rift lake cichlid tanks).  I would stay with the A. nijsseni.
 
The other issue is temperature (which is not given).  Rams, assuming the common species Mikrogeophagus ramirezi (any of the colour varieties are the same species), need warmth, at least 80F, and wnhile this can work for the cardinals and rummynose, the panda corys will suffer; 76-77 is max for pandas.
 
I agree on removing the barbs; they are not suited to the other fish.
 
I would also suggest increasing the marble hatchets; the species in this genus (Carnegiella) are always better in larger groups.  You have the surface space, so another three to six.
 
Byron.

 

[Akasha72]

that apisto is gorgeous 

 
The pleco aside, I'd say your stocking is fine, even with the ram

 

[Munroco]

I'd say that was a Panduri not a nijsseni

 

[Robbo85]

I'd say that was a Panduri not a nijsseni

the Panduro or Pandurini have a dark spot before the caudal fin which this one doesn't but they are very similar aren't they? is there any differences other than markings?