Am I overstocked?

[yhbae]

Haven't asked this question for a while, but before introducing changes to the tank, I thought it might be a good idea to get it checked out...

25g tank(2.5ft):
- 5 Platies (1.3 inches)
- 2 Blue Ram (2 inches, both male)
- 4 Panda Cories (1.2 inches)
- 5 Harlequin Rasboras (1.3 inches)
- 4 Albino Bristlenose Pl*cos (1.8 inches)

- Lots of java ferns
- Some java moss

Ph is at 7.2, KH is at 2 and nitrate is close to zero (I guess due to plants). So far, absolutely no water parameter problems - all readings are super stable.

Even the above by itself should be considered overstocked if they are fully grown, but I have few more tanks to distribute them as they grow up further (especially bristlenoses and platies).

I'd like to do the following for the 25g:
- 4 Platies (2 different colors, 1 inch each)
- 2 Blue Rams (this time, 1 male and 1 female!)
- 4 Panda Cories (1.2 inches)
- 5 Harlequin Rasboras (1.3 inches)
- 2 Albino Bristlenose Pl*Cos (1.8 inches)
- 6 Cardinal Tetras (1.5 inches)
- 4 Cories (debating between sterbai and adolfoi)
- 4 Amano Shrimps (about 1 inch, will they survive in this tank?)

It looks overstocked just imagining the tank... :D

[carpguy]

Its not the sizes that the fish are today but the sizes they'll be if given the opportunity. Plecos aren't 1.8 inches. Most of those fish should get bigger than they are now.

[yhbae]

Originally posted by carpguy
Its not the sizes that the fish are today but the sizes they'll be if given the opportunity. Plecos aren't 1.8 inches. Most of those fish should get bigger than they are now.

Thanks for the concern but I think I'm ok there as I do have other tanks. In fact, I have a 33g which is currently empty (no fishes, uncycled), and a 15g with only 1 fish and 4 1/2 inch fries, fully cycled. Heck, even my 10g platy breeder tank can probably accomodate one bristlenose, so I'm not too concerned about them.

Most likely the setup I am proposing will only be kept for about 3 months, knowing myself... :D

[Slappy*McFish]

So, what's the question?

[yhbae]

As usual, I'm confusing everyone again... Sorry... :D

I just wanted to get a 3rd person's opinion on whether my stocking plan would survive the next 3 months if I go ahead and stock it that way...

[TKOS]

It will probably end up looking really messy at best with all of those different schooling fish in small quantities. Like Noahs arc for fish just blew up in the tank. ;)

You probably won't really get to see how good the fish look or act as everyone will be just hanging out.

Most are peaceful but I don't know much about rams.

[emoore]

I agree with TKOS in that the tank will messy with all those fish in there. Plus if you have a male and female blue ram they will become territorial when they start mating (which is about every 3 weeks). With that many fish in there the rams will be very stressed trying to defend their territory/eggs. I think the bristlenose gets too large for a 29 gallon. IMO I would skip the cardinals, get more harlequins, keep the two male blue rams, and maybe just keep one BN pleco.

[Dahlia]

Out of curiosity, why are you planning to get fish to keep them temporarily in that tank? Wouldn't it be better to put them directly into the tank you want them in permanently?

[yhbae]

Originally posted by Dahlia
Out of curiosity, why are you planning to get fish to keep them temporarily in that tank? Wouldn't it be better to put them directly into the tank you want them in permanently?

:D

I get bored with the same look in the tank after al while... Also I have 7 and 3 year old girls who get bored very quickly if the tank stays about the same (at least that's my excuse to my wife so that I can introduce more changes and buy more fishes... So far, it's working... :D )

My goal is to breed just about every species I have. I already have a 15g, 10g and 5.5g for that purpose so as soon as I see any signs of spawning, they will be moved out right away, hence I don't really worry about rams becoming territorial (they won't get a chance to become aggressive in that tank).

I am lining up species to breed. Next one is the rasbora (hence I'm not purchasing any more of them).

TKO, my current tank is already half way into Noahs arc... :D On the other hand, my kids like it since there's alot happening in the tank, and has baby platies... Eventually, I'd like to setup a decent sized tanks (65g+) for Amazon, African cichlids and reef, but for now, this will have to do...

emoore, just like rams, bristlenoses will not get a chance to spawn in this tank either. Currently, I can't even tell which sex they are - all of them are under 2 inches with short bristles (hopefully not all of them are females!). As soon as I can tell their sex, I will relocate the "pair" into a separate breeding tank, and only the females (or 1 male depending on the outcome) will stay in this tank. I want to get some Cardinals since I want to try breeding them too in the near future...