View Full Version : Can I add more fish?
In my 55gal I have 3 angel fish, 2 dwarf gouramies, 5 peppered cories, 3 flame tetras, 5 black phantom tetras, 2 guppies, a pleco and a twig catfish. Am I over-stocked or do I still have room? I was thinking about getting a couple albino cories or maybe some more flame tetras.
I was at Petco the other day and I almost bought a pair of blue rams, but luckily the fish guy was taking a really long time helping someone else and I had time to come to my senses. I'm a terrible impulse shopper. A pair of blue rams probably wouldn't be a good addition to my tank, would they? It's too bad, they are so cool looking.
-jen
Hound
02-20-2004, 10:03 PM
Hmmn, by my thinking your probably pushing your limits.
dwf73
02-20-2004, 10:07 PM
I think you still have room, but the rams might be a little pesky with those other fish
daveedka
02-20-2004, 10:10 PM
IMO you aren't overstocked, and a couple more cories and some more Tetra's would be OK Providing you have good filtration and good maintenance. As Far as the Blue Rams, I have been trying to find out if anyone has kept them with Angels and how they did. I don't think you would stretch you tank capacity by putting in Rams, just don't know if the Angels and Rams would be OK together. The only big fish you have so far are the Angels , the Pleco and the cat, Angels don't get much over 4 inches usally. So really the only thing that is going to get huge is the pleco, The Cat I don't know about. If you try the rams, let us know how they do with the angels.
NGerdes
02-21-2004, 9:25 AM
I think a lot will depend on the type of pleco, some will only get to around 6-8 inches, and others will get to over a foot and take up a lot of the bioload. For what it's worth, I posted a similar question about adding Angels to my tank that currently has blue rams and nobody really thought it would be too much of a concern, but I don't have any personal experience yet. Just make sure you have hiding places for the fish to escape to if they are getting bothered and to set up their own territory.
Thanks for the responses everyone! That's just what I wanted to hear. There are plants, driftwood and plenty of hiding places in my tank, so maybe I'll try the pair of blue rams. I have an empty 29gal that I'm setting up, so if the rams don't get along with the angels they can have their very own tank. I'm excited! I'm going straight to Petco after work today to pick out my new fishies.
-jen
if you double your filtration you can double your fish load, so you can have 110 platys if you want in there safely
Originally posted by Hans
if you double your filtration you can double your fish load, so you can have 110 platys if you want in there safely
Huh? If I get another filter, I can add 110 platys to what I currently have in my tank? Interesting...
NGerdes
02-21-2004, 1:50 PM
Can you sense the sarcasm here???
What is sarcasm? I already added 110 platys, in various sizes and colors. Was that the wrong thing too do??
NGerdes
02-21-2004, 2:17 PM
Did I say that? Absolutely not, I have a 10 gallon tank, and because the box that the filter came in said "up to 40 gallons" I put 40 tetras in there.
I don't know what I did wrong. The platys are running into each other and 37 of them have already died. One angle fish jumped out and the other slit her tiny wrists. Maybe I should add another filter?
dethjam316
02-21-2004, 2:58 PM
if you add a canister, i hear you can add 200 more platys to a tank of your size.
Bustedthumb
02-21-2004, 5:16 PM
The general 'rule-of-thumb' that I've always heard is "one inch of fish per gallon of water". So in a 55gal tank you could (in theory) have 55 one inch fishes, 11 five inch fishes, or any other variable that equals 55 inches of fish. (of course, a single 55 inch fish probably won't fit in the tank unless you fold him in half...gotta use some judgement)
Mind you, I'm kinda new to aquariums. So I may be wrong. I know a decent amount about fish, but not much about the stats on filters and powerheads and how much debris they can handle.
I went to Petco when I got off work tonight and I got my rams! They were all out of the blue ones so I got gold, which they didn't have last time I was there. I think the colors of the gold rams go with my tank better, so I'm happy.
Thanks for all the great replies, everyone!
-jen
dethjam316
02-21-2004, 11:29 PM
we said your filter could take 110 platys, not 2 rams! what are you, crazy!?
you can also keep more fish in a tank if you add seltzer water, its like a bath for them they love it. and you should reverse your lightting so that its on at night and off during teh day, they like it better that way, its more amazonish
daveedka
02-22-2004, 8:16 AM
Wow, This has been fun to read. By the Way Yen, I talked to two different people yesterday that have kept Rams and Angels together, and they said they have had no problems at all. Let us know if you have any difficulties, I will be trying it in about 5 months If my Contractor ever gets my Rec room (aquarium Room) done.
aquariumfishguy
02-22-2004, 12:43 PM
you guys are so bad! :shake: tsk tsk tsk !!! :D
...And yen, your a dumba$$. Your a troll, or an extremely dumb person. I'm not sure which is better but I'm sure we'll find out.
Originally posted by aquariumfishguy
you guys are so bad! :shake: tsk tsk tsk !!! :D
...And yen, your a dumba$$. Your a troll, or an extremely dumb person. I'm not sure which is better but I'm sure we'll find out.
That's a little harsh. The first post, the question about the rams, was serious. I know it's hard to convey saracsm or "joking" on a messageboard, but I think the platy/filter thing was obvious. For the record, I did not add 110 platys to my 55gal fish tank but I did add 2 rams. I terribly sorry if anyone was fooled by my rampant "trolling". I'll have my fun somewhere else.
-jen
hey aquarium fish guy, you are a damned loser i suggest you go out to a bar tonight instead of attemping to mate with your pana cories
PumaWard
02-22-2004, 5:32 PM
Ya'know, this is all a little uncalled for Hans, I am sure that AFG didn't read things quite right... and if I hadn't read the entire thread I would have thought the guy was trolling too. I am sure AFG is sorry.
And yen, please don't leave the board, sometimes things ge testy because we can't read facial expressions or hear tones on the board... and sometimes things are read incorrectly... so on and so fourth. Like I said, I am sure that AFG is sorry...
aquariumfishguy
02-22-2004, 6:00 PM
Puma, no need to apologise for me...I wouldn't feel comfortable putting that burden on anyone besides myself but thanks for trying to help. ;)
Yes, I am sorry that I said your a dumba$$...that was harsh. And I am sorry for accusing you of trolling around. If you've noticed, AC has seen lots of that lately.
In any respect, this is general freshwater, not GCC. Many of my friends have been refered to this forum for help, and many others I know come to this perticular forum to keep their sanity sayings how GCC has been so crazy lately.
Anyway, what I am saying is that you can't expect everyone to understand what your intent is. Your right, I didn't read it all. I skipped 2-3 longer posts after I have had enough of it. I was so mad that someone would even joke about harming animals that I posted as I did.
I didnt think you were really serious which is why I added the "your either extremely dumb or a troll" part in. Once, again sorry. ;)
....Hans, I suggest you cool off. I know your all about having fun and joking but honestly...what have you done to help people here at AC lately? All we ever get from you anymore is "jokes". It's a shame, because your very smart and I have seen that and I'm sure others have too. :)
HOWEVER,
"you are a damned loser i suggest you go out to a bar tonight instead of attemping to mate with your pana cories"
....thats offensive and uncalled for. We (most of us) are adults here and we dont need this childish behavior. Sorry, but the only loser I see is one who talks about "mating with animals". ;)
no offense or anything.