Can This 50 Gallon Advice Be Right

[TETRALADY]

I recently ran across a question posed by a 15 year old in popular fish publication.

His question: He has a 50 gallon aquarium which he will stock with the following:

-8 Lemon Tetras
-8 Black Neon Tetras
-8 Glowlight Tetras
-15 Cardinal Tetras
-6 Congo Tetras
-1 Bristlenose
-3 Clown Loaches
-2 Cories

The filter being used is Fluval 303 with peat.

The person answering the question has been keeping fish for 50+ years. His response: Yes, these fish will do fine in your 50 gallon aquarium however, I would suggest a few more Clown Loaches and Cories.

I guess the 1" rule was thrown right out the window, along with tank furnishings and plants which, Hello, do take up tank space.

Love to hear some input on this setup! :confused:

[CandiBug2]

Um... wouldn't that be grossly overstocking the tank? Don't clown loaches grow to be pretty big?

[TETRALADY]

Yes, they do. I had one that grew to 7". Congo's have the ability to reach 6" or more.

[CandiBug2]

Sheesh, then I'd definately say that whomever gave that advice didn't do a very good job. Those fish are going to end up dead because of the overstocking.

[OrionGirl]

There's a difference between experience and history--you learn from experience, not from history.

I wouldn't stock a tank that way. I prefer understocked tanks--where you have to look for the fish. Nor would I recommend that someone else stock their tank that way.

Can this level of stocking be maintained? Sure--but it's going to require a lot of work, and the fish will be stunted. This is not a problem for some people, because they subscribe to the myth that a fish will only grow to the size of it's environment. It's a very prevalent myth, and most people don't question it. The fact that it is not true, and that it grossly shortens the life of the fish is never accepted.