Your Opinion, Please

[fishboytoo]

Hi
In light of a current outbreak of disease(finrot and possible parasite) in my planted community tank, I was looking at possible contibuting factors. In particular I am wondering if you think my tank is overstocked.

It is 33 US gallons(125L) and is fairly heavily planted. I have filtration at 300 gph, its an aquaclear 300. I have DIY CO2 at about 17ppm and lighting of 3WPG-12 hours/day. The water stats are NH3-0,NO2-0, NO3-0, pH-7.0.
The current occupants are:
2 German rams-M+F
1 Amica splendens-for hair algae, seems to be working
12 neon tetras
7 rummynose tetras
5 lemon tetras
3 pristella(x-ray) tetras
4 ottocinclus
2 zebra snails
1 apple snail-visiting to help with algae
1 amano shrimp-there may be more as I didn't see any for 3 months then 1 appeared
2 ghost shrimp

After removing a couple of other species I am happy with the current assortment of fish. Although I may be adding more Amano shrimp to help with the brown algae.

I was told at a reputable LFS that for a planted tank you can have upto 3" fish/gallon. By my calculations I don't have more than 2" fish/gallon. Yes, I know this inches per gallon rule is overused and abused and isn't very useful for many situations, particularly when dealing with larger fish. The biggest fish here is 3-4" and most are about 2" so I think the rule is useful.

So please, give me your two cents worth.

Thanks, FB2

 

[WILDER]

Overstocked i wouldn't add anything else, what are your stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph or are they todays stats that are listed.
Plus how many gallons an hour does your filter turn over, and what is the make of the filter.

 

[fishboytoo]

Hi Wilder,

I have filtration at 300 gph, its an aquaclear 300. I have DIY CO2 at about 17ppm and lighting of 3WPG-12 hours/day. The water stats are NH3-0,NO2-0, NO3-0, pH-7.0.

That's 300 gallons per hour for the Hagen aquaclear 300. It is rated for upto 70 gallon tank size. The ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings are all from yesterday, pH is from this morning right before lights on so should be peak CO2 level.

I forgot to mention I perform water changes every two weeks, about 30%.

Do you think I should reduce these fish numbers? I don't know where I'd put them.

Thanks for the reply

 

[WILDER]

I would preform a gravel vac once a week with being overstocked, which you should be doing anyway, but your stats are ok so no need to move any, but don't add anymore.
Do you have ammonia reading as you have two reading for no3

 

[fishboytoo]

I just tested, ammonia-0, nitrite-0

I just ordered some dry ferts so I will be doing weekly water changes and gravel vacs with the EI dosing routine.

I have no plans to add anymore fish and I won't replace the x-rays or lemons as they reach their lifespans.

Thanks again

 

[dirtydogg]

Seems to me you have a nice balance of overstock/overfiltered. If it works without obvious overcrowding issues "fighting and such" than your stocking seems to be O.K. but the overstocking will help cause the algea growth that you are stocking against. Weekly water changes should help with that though.

 

[Alex_]

if you have good plant growth there should be no algea or very little algea.

and also i found this not to sure how accurate it is but the clams sound trustin

http/ecoaqualizer.com/products.htm the thing is suppose to clear up off colored water

prevent diease and bulid up the ammiume system. im think of getting one myself for my

46 gallon planted tank. Any one else have thougth on it???

-Alex


Edit: the 46 is goingt o have discus too.

 

[fishboytoo]

Thanks for the replies

I don't have any social issues with the fish in this setup-anymore. I did have an ongoing turf battle between the male german ram and a flying fox.
I gave the FF to a LFS, after that the algae rebounded. I have some Black Beard algae and a fair bit of brown, the hair algae is pretty much gone since the ameca splendens settled in. I'm hoping once I settle into a good fert dosing routine my algae will disappear. It's not terrible right now. I also have to work on getting my CO2 levels higher and more stable.