i smoked the inch per gallon rule too

for those of you who are interested:

i rescaped the tank last night (long over due)

as suggested i removed the lava rock and then i took out all of the rocks and the space was used for the plants that had been a bit cramped

i trimed the stem plants so they're short and bushy now- looks better

i took out the low light cryptocoryne pygmea and put it in 1 of my betta tanks with lower light and added the water onion and the micro sword

i haven't got pictures yet but i made a silly little drawing for your amusement


tankscape2.jpg
 
There are several things to consider to be able to assess if your tank is overstocked or not.

Life support, which includes oxygen delivery and waste control. Water volume and circulation are your variables here. Fish cannot be measured in length alone if an accurate level of fish mass in a tank is to be measured.

Behavior, not haveing open space to swim to, and swim away from other fish is stressful. The ammount of room your fish has to move befor it has to turn affects it's quality of life.

Agression is one behavior that deserves it's own accounting for. The more aggressive a fish is the more room it needs to itself.

Full details in the article linked to in my signature.

Biologicly your tank may be sustainable with the right ammount of care in feeding and waterchanges, but if chaotic could describe the movement and activity in your tank it could be over stocked. I'll let you draw your own conclusions as to why.
 
JungleMason said:
I don't think your pleco will be too happy in that size of a tank, but it will be ok.
Click to expand...

my pleco is 1.5" long and will only get to 3"

by the time he is that size other occupants in the tank will have moved on to another tank
 
thankyou snake i am aware of the flaws asociated with the inch per gallon rule (i chose the title as a reference to another member's signature)

my stocking is based on the surface area and gas exchange possible. and the levels occupied by the fish according to thier preference

i have distributed my population in such a way that there is no chaos- i do not see chaseing or frantic swiming/pacing ever. the corys occupy the lower regions occationally bolting for the surface and a gulp of air, the sword tails meander picking at this or that invisible tidbit, the pleco stays in his "cave" until lights out then he can be observed munching on all surfaces and his veggies, the neons while they are in a smaller group than i would prefer do school up or disperse to thier favorite bushes as the feeling hits them.

eventually i will be thinning the ranks but i'm pretty sure i don't need to rush for fear of harming them- when i get my friends tank set up and cycled in the next couple months some will be put in her tank.
 
kyle3 said:
my pleco is 1.5" long and will only get to 3"

by the time he is that size other occupants in the tank will have moved on to another tank
Click to expand...

woops i thought that one got up to 6", sorry about that.
 
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