Am I overstocked?

[Kets]

20 g Long:

4x Female Mollies
6x Juvenile Xiphophorus Montezumae (Will remove two or three of these once they get to a sexable size)
4x Guppies
3x Panda Cories (1 Long Fin, 2 Short Fin)
9x Aeneus (7x Albino 2x Regular)
1x Brochis sp.
1x Spotted Cory (Was sold as Julii, but probably isn't)

20 g High:

10x Platys and swordtails (9 adult, 1 juvenile)
2x Peppered Cories
1x Bristlenose Pleco

I do a 10% water change every two days and a 20% change on saturday.

[joephys]

I would say the 20L is a bit over stocked. I would limit the corys to about six, and mollies get pretty large to have 4 in a 20 L with the other fish in there.

The 20H should be ok as long as you keep up the water changes.

Of course, stocking rates are always subject to opinion, and there are no hard and fast rules unless you are extremely over stocked.

[wesleydnunder]

I agree with Eric. I think the 20L will be a bit more work to keep the water clean with the current inhabitants.

Mark

[Kets]

Ok then. Guess Ill be looking for more tanks.

[Raskolnikov]

While those are higher stocking levels than I myself would employ, since they all are smaller fish you should check the nitrate fluctuation of your tanks (provided that they are not planted). While nitrates aren't the biggest concern, they can be used as an easily measured indicator of water quality in a non-planted tank. If nitrates are rising over time, then you should be doing higher volume or more frequent water changes. Personally I am a fan of frequent large volume (over 50%) water changes and have streamlined my own system to make them as easy/interesting as possible. You certainly can't do too many.

Also observe the behavior and health of the fish...are they brightly colored and acting normally or are they dull and stressed? This is a good indication of whether your current regiment or stocking choices are suitable for your finned charges.

[Kets]

Oh yeah, is six Jewel cichlids too much for a 15g?

[Kets]

Originally Posted by Raskolnikov

While those are higher stocking levels that I myself would employ, since they all are smaller fish you should check the nitrate fluctuation of your tanks (provided that they are not planted). While nitrates aren't the biggest concern, they can be used as an easily measured indicator of water quality in a non-planted tank. If nitrates are rising over time, then you should be doing higher volume or more frequent water changes. Personally I am a fan of frequent large volume (over 50%) water changes and have streamlined my own system to make them as easy/interesting as possible. You certainly can't do too many.

Also observe the behavior and health of the fish...are they brightly colored and acting normally or are they dull and stressed? This is a good indication of whether your current regiment or stocking choices are suitable for your finned charges.

Ok, guess Ill make larger water changes. The fish seem fine. They seem relaxed and happy and active.

[wesleydnunder]

Originally Posted by Kets

Oh yeah, is six Jewel cichlids too much for a 15g?

Too much by about 5.

Mark

[Kets]

Originally Posted by wesleydnunder

Too much by about 5.

Mark

Ok, I guess Ill have to get rid of some of them.

[Kets]

Ok, I rearranged my tanks. Are they still overstocked?

20L

9x Aeneus Cories
3x Panda Cories
1x Brochis sp.
1x Spotted Cory
2x Pepper Corys
2x Sterbai Corys
6x Montezumae Swordtails

20H

2x Goldfish

30(?)G (not sure on exact volume, but at least 30g)

8x Mollies
10x Swordtails/Platys
6x Guppies
1x Bristlenose Pleco

[OrionGirl]

Goldfish don't really belong in small tanks. They get very large...and if they don't, it's because they're stunted.

IMO, yes, the tanks are all still overstocked.

[Trixie]

Originally Posted by OrionGirl

Goldfish don't really belong in small tanks. They get very large...and if they don't, it's because they're stunted.

Thank you so much for saying that! I tell people that every single day. Over and over and over and over.

[joephys]

They seem more so than before

17 cories in a 20L is a lot of corys roaming around the bottom of the tank.

The gold fish should be gotten rid of, and some of the fish from the 20L and the 30 should be put into the 20H.

That still leave another issue. Corys are schooling fish and do best it groups of six or more. The different types of corys know the difference between each other, so mixing them together does really work well.

[Fractured]

Originally Posted by joephys

They seem more so than before

17 cories in a 20L is a lot of corys roaming around the bottom of the tank.

The gold fish should be gotten rid of, and some of the fish from the 20L and the 30 should be put into the 20H.

That still leave another issue. Corys are schooling fish and do best it groups of six or more. The different types of corys know the difference between each other, so mixing them together does really work well.

LOL .. yah I thought the same ... about looks like more than before at a glance.

I agree on the gold fish but for other reasons. They are nasty buggers and bring problems with them. Bacterial and parasitic in particular.

I used to have a Pleco cory only tank for a long time till I took the saltwater challenge...

My corys were funny...i had about 7 different species and they hung out together. Panda and the Emerald were best buds.. I had one panda hang out with my Royal Pleco..of all the plecos (the mean one) ..it was odd..royal never ever attacked him or anything..just everyone else.

OP I think you just should get it over with. Pick up a 75 gallon tank and call it a day

You are showing signs of Aquarium hobby addiction..just dive in!

[Kets]

If I had the cash, I would happily buy a 75G tank. But I don't . However, I plan to get rid of the Jewel cichlids, which should make enough room for the fish.

Im just wondering, but why is the goldfish tank overstocked? I followed the stocking guideline. (1 fancy goldfish per 10 gallons)

[johnpeezy]

craigslist is a good place to get VERY affordable tanks, as for the gold fish they get hugex2

[joephys]

Originally Posted by Kets

...

Im just wondering, but why is the goldfish tank overstocked? I followed the stocking guideline. (1 fancy goldfish per 10 gallons)

Unfortunately there are no hard and fast stocking guidelines for anything. No gallons per fish, or inches of fish per gallon. They just don't work, because so many things can be different between fish.

Personally, if I were doing a fancy gold fish tank, I would use 30 gallons for the first fish, then 15 gallons for each additional fish. Like I said though, thats my personal opinion, and not a set guideline.

[johnpeezy]

Originally Posted by Kets

30(?)G (not sure on exact volume, but at least 30g)

If you do this simple calculation it will give you a decent Idea on the capacity of your tank

measure your tank dimensions in inches and then do the following

lenght x width x height x 0.00432900433 = approximate tank capacity in US gallons

[Kets]

Originally Posted by johnpeezy

If you do this simple calculation it will give you a decent Idea on the capacity of your tank

measure your tank dimensions in inches and then do the following

lenght x width x height x 0.00432900433 = approximate tank capacity in US gallons

Its a 30 Breeder.

[OrionGirl]

Uhhh...Where on earth did you here 10 gallons per fish? The closest I've heard that might be remotely accurate is 10 gallons per INCH of thick bodied fish. One 2 inch goldfish = 20 gallons. One 10 inch goldfish = 100 gallons. Since a goldfish, even a fancy, should get to at least 8 inches within a year or so...Anything less than a 100 gallon tank isn't realistic.