Stocking *PLEASE READ*

ThePetFreak

ThePetFreak

ThePetFreak
Aug 5, 2007
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0
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Phoenix, AZ
www.thepetfreak.com
Real Name
Jonathan Sourp
As many of you know, I have an overstocked 29 gallon. I am looking for as many opinions and options as possible. I traded some fish since last posted, current stock consists of:

3 Long Finned Zebra Danio
2 False Julii Cory
3 Black Skirt Tetra
2 Long Finned Black Skirt Tetra
4 Red Minor Serpae Tetra
1 Long Finned Red Minor Serpae Tetra

Please keep in mind that my favorite fish are the red minor

Should I get Otocinclus Catfish?

Tank is 29 gallons w/ live plants and driftwood
For now has small gravel, but I want to switch to sand.
Filtered by Fluval 404 & Undergravel filter w/ 2 power heads connected (AquaClear 50) in reverse flow
pH is ~7.1
Ammonia is 0
Nitrite levels is 0
I do a 5 gallon water change bi-weekly

What should I do now?
 
bi weekly as in twice a month? or twice a week?
if you add oto's you may want to consider the latter. or at least 1 per week.
 
Otos are sensitive to water quality. I don't think a 17% water change every 2 weeks will work for them. I'm pretty new, but I think 30% a week is more common?
 
furfinsfeathers said:
Otos are sensitive to water quality. I don't think a 17% water change every 2 weeks will work for them. I'm pretty new, but I think 30% a week is more common?
Click to expand...
I prefer twice or thrice a week. More water changes, the better.
 
i have an overstocked 30G with 2 x eheim 2213 cannisters and a ugf with an air pump rated at 440l/h....thats a total of 1240l/h filtration on a 100l tank....and i still do 3 x 30% pwcs per week, thats 30l 3 times per week

no matter how much filtration you have nitrates will always be an issue in an overstocked tank, as well as pH crashes....

so, what do you do now...if you want to continue overstocking then you (a) seriously increase your pwc schedule (b) get rid of some stock
 
What do you suggest I keep in there if I do 25% water change once a week.

I am not just talking about adding fish. I will get rid of some as needed.

I have been told that...
4 Julii Cories
6 Red Minor Serpae Tetras
4-6 Black Skirt Tetras
6-8 Long-finned Zebra Danios
4 ottocinclus catfish
...would be good, but I believe in second opinions.
 
first of all its important to know what you absolutely can commit to in terms of maintenance schedule...dont push 25% if you wont do it every time

you could get away with 10% per month if you only put 2 or 3 danios in the 30g, but i still wouldn't advocate that

tell us what you really can do then stocking can be properly advised....its as much about you as it is the fish
 
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