Overstocked?

If you use the old "one inch of fish per gallon" rule, then yes. But the tetras are not bulky/wide fish, and the ghost shrimps add minimally to the bioload... I'd say you're fine!
 
I have an Eclipse system. It all came together. I clean my tank every Saturday or Sunday

This question will be answered easiest with nitrate numbers, that is assuming your ammonia and nitrite stay at 0 IME and IMO they best guide to how well your tank is doing is the nitrate test. The filtration on an eclipse is adquate but not great, and you fish load is high. your maintenance is good assuming that you weekly cleaning includes a decent water change. If you nitrates stay under control, and don't rise over time you should be O.K. If you start to see a rise there are three options (actually four if you count feeding habits)
1. reduce stock to lessen the load
2. increase maintenance to make up for the load
3. increase filtration to help keep the tank cleaner

4. reduced feeding which does help keep nitrates down.

It should be noted that option 3 only works if the filters are kept well rinsed in cunjunction with water changes and maintenance. More mechanicle filtration will not remove things from the tank as it is part of the tank, but will allow you to remove more when you do maintenance. I would feel comfortable with that fish load in that tank, but would personally use more than just the eclipse, I haven't tried them so I can't be too judgemental but have heard they are on the light side for filtration.
Just my opinions. HTH
Dave
 
Last edited:
I do not use the "1 inch per gallon" myth, and I still say you are O.K.

The fish you listed were (for the most part) all small fish. A 29 gallon works fine for the fish listed. And with weekly water changes, I see no reason why you wouldn't be fine. ;)
 
If I'm thinking correctly the eclipse system should have both a sponge bed and a bio wheel set up. Because of that biological filtration should be sufficient for a reasonably large load. That being said water testing is the only way you are going to be able to tell if you are overloading your filtration. Ammonia and nitrites should test at zero and nitrates should not get above 40ppm. I think most of us however use 20ppm as our upper limit on nitrates. If you find that after being fully cycled you still show some ammonia and nitrates then you will probably need to supplement your filtration. If you can't keep your nitrates under control with water changes however you will need to control it in other ways. One way is less fish. Another is less food. Also make sure when changing water you are vacuuming the gravel reasonably well.
 
I wouldn't worry about it. It's not a heavy load taking into consideration the type of fish and the size that you have - not big polluters either.

You should make sure to change around 40-50% at least every two weeks and make sure you do good gravel vacuuming. Also, I don't know how the filter is setup. If it has sponges, if you can put two, use two and one at water change and the other the next time-cycle.

Is it a planted tank? Plants will help with water quality.
 
AquariaCentral.com