1200 gallon stocking

[twhittle]

I wasn't sure if this belonged here (as most fish are sa/ca) or in the pond section, but since it's not a question limited to ponds, I'll try here.

I am running a 1200 gallon indoor pond I purchased recently. It came with some fish and I added some of my own. I wanted some opinions on whether I am overstocked. This is not so much an aggression question as I have many tanks to move fish if aggression arises. So far...none. it's more of a bioload/fish health question.

Fish...

4 oscars
4 peacock bass (2 azul, 2 orinoco)
4 wide bar silver dollars
1 red devil
1 jaguar
1 datnoid
2 plecos
1 vieja fenetratus

I am very aware of the sizes these fish get...

Filtration is a 55 gallon drum with lava rock, bio balls, and filter pads and a fluval FX6.

I've been doing 500 gallon water changes 1x per week.

Is this stock with my filtration and maintenance schedule sustainable for good fish health?

 

[twentyleagues]

Really only you can answer this question. Continually test your water. Watch your parameters and you will know the answer.

To me it should be fine. I don't have any idea how you feed though.

If I was to do anything, I'd add a bog filter. It will help eat up the nitrates. If you were to get an unexpected ammonia spike the plants will take care of that also.

 

[Gourami Swami]

^ +1 to this, your water test kit will give you a better answer than we can. 500g water change a week sounds like a good amount, that's around 40%, if your nitrates don't creep up too high you are in the clear. If they do, might need to up filtration, W/Cs, or adjust feeding.

 

[Dovii kid]

I’d really look into a drip system for the pond. Not sure how an overflow would work though

 

[twhittle]

The bog filter idea is interesting. I'll research that.

 

[Hendre]

Terrestrial plants hammer nitrates due to the higher available co2 content in air, leading to more photosynthesis and growth (requiring nitrogen). Pothos is the gold standard for bog plant, but many others are available too. Even some aquatic plants such as echnidorus (amazon swords) can be grown emersed. Pond looks great by the way.

 

[cichlid tank]

yea if you add some pothos it will certainly help

 

[Fishnerd360]

You could probably add some floating plants like water lettuce.

 

[twentyleagues]

Pretty much what Hendre said. Pothos is great but there are more plants that are better at it. Lots of grasses and even some edible plants like lettuces. If you have the space it's a great way to create a complete (as complete as it can be) ecosystem. It can look really cool to you may find yourself looking at the plants as much or more then the pond.