Weigh in: is it really "overstocking"?

Can a tank be called "overstocked" if the water is perfect and the fish are healthy?

  • Yes

    Votes: 52 60.5%

  • No

    Votes: 8 9.3%

  • It depends

    Votes: 26 30.2%
  • Total voters
    86
A

aquariac

Aquarium + Maniac = Aquariac
Jul 15, 2008
9
0
0
Joliet, IL
So I was thinking about this today, and I'd like some of the other experienced fish keepers' opinions:
I know that the 1" of fish to 1 gallon of water rule is kind of contested. But assuming that it was accurate for small bodied fish, can a tank really be called "overstocked" if the water quality is perfect and the fish are healthy and happy? Or is it just for new tanks? Or for new fish keepers?

I'll be the first to admit, my tank (according to this rule of thumb) is WAY overstocked. I mean, in a ten gallon tank, I have at least 20 adult guppies and endler's (males about 1", females up to 2"), 15 juvenile fry (about 1" long), 15-20 juvenile fry (about 1/2" long), 30-40 new born fry (1/4"), one 2.5" male betta, and one 3" pleco... BUT, my water has ALWAYS tested at perfect (or near perfect) levels, and the only deaths in the past year have been "accidents" (one died by choking on a baby and the other by squishing himself between a rock and a hard place).

So, is anybody else willing to fess up to "overstocking"? It might help to list your filtration system if you do. I run an under-gravel filter with 4" of substrate and an in-tank mechanical filter simultaneously.

Thanks!:)
 
Yes..it doesn't mean there will not be issues further on as they grow and reach maturity.
 
i do have a few schools of rasboras and tetras in my 125 but they have plenty of swimming space with room to spare, and the water is always clean. i think the rule applies more to large fish. the term happy is difficult here. guppies school in the wild but they need swimming space. i would say your tank is definetly overcowded. it is tough to control livebearer populations though.
 
i agree, they need room to swim around and do their thing. the water may be clean but they are still too crowded. over stocking a little bit is okay if your filtration can handle it but that is going overboard.
 
Yep. Very easy. First, even mention of the "inch / G rile should be banned". You can do more than an inch per if you appropriately stock, filter, and maintain though. Flipside is you can overstock a tank and still be under that "rule". It's about appropriately stocking and understanding each species needs and habits IMO.
 
i chose "it depends."

if you have a 30 gallon tank with an extra corydoras or two, thats not going to make much of a difference.

your tank is VERY overstocked. it would be pretty stocked with 6 adult guppies alone. just because the parameters are within desired zones does not mean that the water quality is up to par. it does not include growth-inhibiting pharmones that the fish all emit to help get an edge on the copetition. it doesnt take into account the useage of so many minerals that the fish need.

IMO, nitrates staying under 40 with just weekly 25% water changes does not seem plausable with that tank.
 
Yes, your tank is overstocked. The fish dont sound like they have room to swim, and a betta with all those fish, Im suprised he hasnt went psyco..Id say upgrade to a 125
 
I believe fish need adequate space to show their true personalities, you basically have a fishy brothel going on in there.
 
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