So how are my stalking levels?

[Fishiaholic]

Ive given a number in inches for each species of fish i have, so you can follow along with the inch per gallon rule. The fish with stars are fully grown.

2 *Dwarf gouramis - 4 inch
2 *Platies- 3
4 *Harliquins - 3
2 *Diamond tetras - 4
3 Clown Loaches - 18
5 *Ottos - 4
2 SAE - 8
3 *Algae eating shrimp - 3
2 *Neon Rainbows - 3
2 Bosmanian Rainbows - 5
6 *Barbs - 12
6 *Rams - 12
1 Gold nugger pleco - 5

Total = 84 inches for a 72 gallon.

Note most of my fish are realitively small in their overal body, especially the Harliquins, Ottos, Shrimp, Platies, and even Rams so i doubt they produce much waste or stress the bio-load. The ones that are big like the loaches, pleco, SAE, are not the size listed above. Rather the size i have given for these fish are the size i will get rid of them at too avoid over stocking. Also, i will be getting rid of one SAE within the next few months once my BBa goes down a bit. One SAE and the 3 shrimp then should keep it in check!

I have also just recently added extra bio-media in my fluvav canister filter so ammonia levels aer kept in check just in case. As for the fish, they seem happy and are always eating well and going about with lots of space. The tank is also heavily planted with C02 and 4 watts per gallon of light. So im assuming the plants should also aid in oxygen for a bit of overstocking.

So with all that in mind, am i overstocked too much or should i be ok?

 

[Kasakato]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26409

 

[jordank]

looks pretty fine to me, most of those fish are small anyways.. And i read your topic and i was like "He wants us to tell him how good of a STALKER he is? ??!?!?!?" lol, sorry

 

[daveedka]

Looks pretty tight to me, I think I would look at some reduction. A lot will depend on maintenance filtration and decor.
Dave

 

[Raskolnikov]

I'd loose the clown loaches. After that you look OK if you have sufficient filtration to keep up with the load. The one thing that strikes me is the very small numbers of a bunch of different schooling fish. You'll miss out a lot on their behavior that way, with 3 of one kind and 5 of another, rather than a larger group of the same species.





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[Darkblade48]

Definitely loose the Clown Loaches, they'd be putting a huge strain on your aquarium (unless you just happen to have spare time to do lots of water changes )

Also, how do you manage to keep 6 Rams together without them being territorial?

 

[Harry Tolen]

Folks, don't micro-manage his/her tank for him/her. If you feel he/she has too many fish, then that's OK just say so...but don't tell him/her specifically which fish to get rid of (unless, of course, he/she is keeping something totally out of line, like an umbee, in there).

I would definitely not get rid of the clown loaches, especially if they are as large as indicated (6", by my high-tech calculations). Clown loaches in general are not cheap, and after they reach a certain size they are real specimens. As is the Gold Nugget pleco. (Do you know which L# it is, by the way? They vary widely in adult size, depending on the species.)

It would be far easier to simply remove some of the smaller fish, although if the tank is heavily planted and maintenance is good you probably don't even need to do that. The clown loaches, barbs, gouramis, and rasboras make a nice SE Asian tank, and Boesmani rainbows are also spectacular when they get larger (and are from the same general area). The odd fish out would be the tetras and Rams.

 

[nvan2]

the clown loaches will get about a foot long each, and possibly the SAEs. I dont think 3 foot long fish would be okay in a 72 gallon.... you might have to upgrade to a larger tank or exchange them in a couple years

 

[N8DOGG]

the clown loaches will get about a foot long each, and possibly the SAEs. I dont think 3 foot long fish would be okay in a 72 gallon.... you might have to upgrade to a larger tank or exchange them in a couple years

Yes but clown loaches will take 5-10 years to get that large. I'd keep them too.