Overstocking World Record

[Aquarius0015]

mustangsally, he likes it well enough, but he cannot wait to add more fish. I stocked it with 4 platies, 2 swords, and 3 small cories. He didn't understand why I only came home with 9 fish. He thinks the tank looks empty and 9 or 10 more will do the trick. It is obvious that he is not the one who will be doing water changes (mother is in charge right now and I take over whenever I'm home from school). This is also a man who prefers $1 fish and thinks $4 for a fish is outrageous, so I imagine he will choose small tetras or guppies. On the other hand he really likes mollies (uh-oh.....)

I'm just hoping the lack of cycling won't kill what is in the tank now. I tried to tell my parents that you need to progress slowly, but adults are just too impatient I guess. So now mother is stuck with twice weekly water changes, hahaha.

 

[Must4ng s4lly]

Aquarius Yeah, it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks He'll get it soon enuf! that is funny tho.... I did NOT over stock my 5 & 10 gal tanks, they are just not as flexible.... my theory is get the largest tank possible and then go for it. I think its cute your stepfather found that old tank and got all into it. He'll learn soon enough about it all. He'll figure it out. but in the mean time you get to be on poo patrol with all the water changes.....

The mollies are cute, but OH the babies LOL! the expesive fish rule! I hope the cycling is OK. I actually had no cycling issues with my 58 gal. My 10 gal was another story. OH what a nightmare! AHhh! Of course I learned it all the hard way
take care and good luck!

 

[blitzen25bm]

this is the worst. its a 180 6x2x2 with a few arapaimas, silver arowanas some oscars and a red tailed cat. i only have 1 silver arowana in my 180. http://www.arofanatics.com/members/toospicynoodle/bigfishes/

 

[Rhys]

Maybe someone should overstock a scat tank then you wouldn't have to worry about feeding to often as they eat poopoo.

 

[Mark_b]

Correct me if i'm wrong but as long as you have a large enough surface area for biological filtration isn't there no limit on how many fish you could have in a tank as long as it was cycled and then stocked slowly?

For example if you had an xp3 filled with ehfisubstrat then you could probably get away with a huge shoal of cardinals in a 10g.
Obviously that doesnt mean you can have a 12" oscar in a 10g, even if the bioload was the same it doesnt help the oscar turn around!

As for that 180g Blitzen, ive seen that before and it really is a disgrace isnt it!?I cant understand how those people think that it is not cruel to keep those fish in that size tank!:argh

 

[OrionGirl]

Providing adequate biological filtration for the fish load is just one aspect of correctly stocking a tank. The space needs, aggressive tendencies, growth factors, social structure, ect are all important factors in correctly stocking a tank. For example, you could have one of five different tetras in a 10 gallon tank. Those 5 fish won't come close to maxing out the biological capacity of the tank, they'll have enough space, and ever fish will be able to eat. However, having 5 of just one species would make for more comfortable fish.

 

[Mark_b]

Well put Oriongirl!
Thats basically what i was trying to say.
That providing enough biological filtration is obviously important but this to me seems the easiest part of stocking to take care of. It is easy enough to provide enough biological filtration using the likes of canister filters. So other aspects of stocking become far more important to consider, eg. space for fish, compatible tank mates, providing a group for species that only feel comfortable in groups, etc.

 

[dethjam316]

Originally posted by Mark_b
Correct me if i'm wrong but as long as you have a large enough surface area for biological filtration isn't there no limit on how many fish you could have in a tank as long as it was cycled and then stocked slowly?

you're right. as long as there is comparable surface area, there would be no limit. of course, to have infinite fish, you'd need infinite surface area!!

 

[LMOUTHBASS]

ok

where did you find that pic of the rediculously over stocked tank - the fish can't even turn aroun! that's just common sense that you can't keep them like that! i think when fish get that big they are boring to watch

 

[MelJr]

I think the tank that Blitzen posted wins the overstocking grand prize. At least I hope so.