Would This Be Overstocked?

[mislisa]

i was wondering if i would be overstocked if i up my fish numbers. it'll be a few weeks before i can add more, but i want to figure out the optimum stocking before that. i have a 55g that is being treated for internal parasites/fin rot at the moment, so it'll be after i've made sure the fish are all healthy!


at the moment, i have:
8x Khuli loach
7x Cardinal tetra
5x peppered cory
1x pearl gourami
2x longfin rams
6x harlequin rasbora

would it be ok if i upped the numbers to:
15x cardinal tetra
15x harlequin rasbora
3x pearl gourami
8x peppered cory
8x Khuli loach
2x longfin rams
and added a farlowella cat, or a small pleco? (a BN or similar type)


i'm a little concerned that this might be overstocking the tank...

any/all suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

 

[minnnt]

I would say you would be overstocked, what you are proposing to add is over 50 fish to a tank that has already got nearly 30 inhabitants. I would definately up the numbers of the Cardinals. I would make the HR's up to 10, Cory's up to 10 and the Cardinals up to 20 or 25. You could also look at Starlight Bristlenose Plecs as an alternative to normal ones.

Thats what i would do anyway, but i am usually wrong.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I would say you would be overstocked, what you are proposing to add is over 50 fish to a tank that has already got nearly 30 inhabitants. I would definately up the numbers of the Cardinals. I would make the HR's up to 10, Cory's up to 10 and the Cardinals up to 20 or 25. You could also look at Starlight Bristlenose Plecs as an alternative to normal ones.

Thats what i would do anyway, but i am usually wrong.

They are asking about upping the numbers TO 50+, not adding an additional 50.


But, that said, 55 gallons isn't nearly enough for 50 fish! I would think that going with ONE school rather two (pick either harlequin or cardinal) with larger numbers would be better than trying to have two smaller schools like that OR overstocking the tank.

 

[minnnt]

I would say you would be overstocked, what you are proposing to add is over 50 fish to a tank that has already got nearly 30 inhabitants. I would definately up the numbers of the Cardinals. I would make the HR's up to 10, Cory's up to 10 and the Cardinals up to 20 or 25. You could also look at Starlight Bristlenose Plecs as an alternative to normal ones.

Thats what i would do anyway, but i am usually wrong.

They are asking about upping the numbers TO 50+, not adding an additional 50.

Oh yeah... haha, oops!

My appologies to the OP.

 

[mislisa]

But, that said, 55 gallons isn't nearly enough for 50 fish! I would think that going with ONE school rather two (pick either harlequin or cardinal) with larger numbers would be better than trying to have two smaller schools like that OR overstocking the tank.

i didn't think it would work... the problem is that i really like the harlequins, and the cardinals were requested by my father... i do like the look of the two schools though, as they will often school together.

should i just up both schools to ~12? and add a few more corys? i still want a pleco or farlowella (i really like the starlight bn, but my lfs rarely gets them and won't order in fish so it really depends on what he has when i go in)

the main reason i was going to add more gouramis was that i was told that they seem happier in a group... should i still add more, or just leave it?


i do a weekly 25% water change, and have been really good at keeping on top of the cleaning routine, but my stock was badly hit with internal parasites after i introduced the rams & new plants (forgot to quarantine )
thanks everyone!

 

[minnnt]

Unsure about the gourami's tbh, but upping the numbers of the schoolers is always a good idea, even if you had 100's!

 

[mattlee]

every gourami ive ever owned has been a complete sod. so i would just stick to a single specimin.

with tetras etc the more the better so stick to the types of fish you have and up the numbers

the twig catfish (farlowella) can struggle in comunity tanks as they are very slow eaters and can easilly die of starvation. i would be more inclined to go for a smaller whiptail or pleco.

 

[mislisa]

so... the numbers would look like this then:

12x cardinal tetra
12x harlequin rasbora
1x pearl gourami
8-10x peppered cory (i have fry, so it'll depend on how many survive!)
8x Khuli loach
2x longfin rams
1x small pleco (a BN or similar type) (i'd like a farlowella, but i think i'll save that for a future tank!)

any other thoughts?

the advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[minnnt]

Stock list sounds great to me!

Well done for researching first!

 

[mislisa]

Research is key.... i'm SO glad i found this site.... i would have just put the fish in on the first day when i got the tank otherwise!
i've always tried to do my research before i got a fish... ther've been a few close calls with impulsiveness, but i'm managing to curb that! i hope i can keep them healthy from now on though! i'll have to wait until my fry are grown to get new fish though, as they are in the (cleaned out) isolation tank while i medicate the main tank.

it'll be hard to wait that long, but i want my fish as healthy/happy as possible!