View Full Version : Overstocked?
tarheels910
04-02-2007, 8:58 PM
I was wondering if anybody could help me by telling me if my tanks are overstocked. The first one has 14 fish and the second has 18. The list are in my signature. Thanks for your help.
sorry - I don't know.
But maybe stick your filtration & water change/maintenance regime in a post as well; get ya better answers
tarheels910
04-03-2007, 4:13 PM
I have 2 Emperor 400s. I do a 25% water change every week. The fish all look healthy and get along just fine.
kjr928
04-03-2007, 4:16 PM
I don't know if you're overstocked either, but you can probably tell on your own judging from how quickly your filter mucks up, and how much gunk is coming out of your substrate when you vacuum. When I do my PWCs, I get almost no gunk.
Also, if your nitrates are always on the high side that would be indicative to overstocking as well.
mostlycichlids
04-03-2007, 5:15 PM
Both tanks are overstocked and if you dont have all males you are going to have problems with agression. These fish should be kept in groups of four or more. They may get along now but when they become adults you WILL have problems. Two emp 400's will be good for now but when they are full grown you will need a larger tank and much more filtration. With that many fish you should be doing at least 50% weekly water changes.
Rbishop
04-03-2007, 6:55 PM
I think it is hard to tell, unless we know the size and sex. Some of those fish need to be kept in proper ratios, and if you do not have issues now, you may as they mature.
tarheels910
04-03-2007, 8:56 PM
Im sorry if you misunderstood. I have 2 Emperor 400s on each tank. I do a 25% water change weekly and extra upon need. So how many or which ones should i keep? I might buy another tank to put some in. Thanks for your help.
mostlycichlids
04-03-2007, 9:34 PM
Im sorry if you misunderstood. I have 2 Emperor 400s on each tank. I do a 25% water change weekly and extra upon need. So how many or which ones should i keep? I might buy another tank to put some in. Thanks for your help.
First off the rubberlipped pleco is going to become lunch meat. Secondly the Synodontis depending on what kind appreciates friends (3-4). Some of those cichlids are pretty Agressive and require 75 gallons. Here is what I think you should consider.
55 gallon #1 3 ice blue zebras,5 kenyi,1 ob zebra and the other 2 zebras,1 albino zebra. 75 gallon with this stocking would be better. In a 75 gallon you could add the synodontis and some friends.
55 gallon #2 4 yellow labs, 4 or your favorite peacocks, 1 socofoli add 3 more
Keep in mind this is still pushing the stocking limit.
Both the tanks need to have lots of hiding places especially the first one. I would still do 50% weekly water changes with the filtration you have. I realize you have a high turnover but emperor filters dont have a lot of room for filter media. so basically you just have a high turnover.
Personally I would get rid of the rest of the fish or trade them.
The reason they need to be kept in groups of four is for breeding purposes. The males will fight over the female. The female can also be harassed sometimes to death by the males if there are too many. These species breed very often if kept in good water conditions.
My labs breed every three weeks or so. They also enjoy good water chemistry. All males is an option as well, with this option you dont need to group them in fours.
Hope this helps!!!
Paul