55 gallon stocking/ bioload questions

[JenTN]

I have a 55 gallon planted tank that has been set-up since July. Stocklist is as follows:

Pair of adult (were adult when I bought them) Angelfish
5 Bolivian Rams (2 males, 3 females)
8 Cardinal Tetras
6 Flame Tetras
6 Panda Corydoras
1 Albino Busynose Pleco
3 Oto Catfish

Most fish were added months ago, however yesterday I aded the Oto's and 2 Pandas. I had lost 2 Pandas (brining it down to 4) of unkown reasons (water tested fine) and lost 2 Flames (had 8 originally), I suspected Angelfish biting to be the cause, since the Flames antagonize the Angels at times. Plants are growing, I divided some last week. Angels and Rams spawn.

My question is- I would like to up the number of Cardinals- I love them and they school nicely and leave the Angels alone and vice versa. I am wondering if I would be okay bio-load wise if I do this. The only thing else I would possibly add is another Oto Catfish.

TIA!

My filtration is Tetra EX 70, though I want to replace or add a diffrent type of filtration (tetra is the only HOB that will fit in the space I have between the tank and the wall, unfortunately). Nitrates read around 10-20 except when I accidentally dumped flakes in the tank and they read 40.

 

[Alhazred]

I have a 55 gallon planted tank that has been set-up since July. Stocklist is as follows:

Pair of adult (were adult when I bought them) Angelfish
5 Bolivian Rams (2 males, 3 females)
8 Cardinal Tetras
6 Flame Tetras
6 Panda Corydoras
1 Albino Busynose Pleco
3 Oto Catfish

Most fish were added months ago, however yesterday I aded the Oto's and 2 Pandas. I had lost 2 Pandas (brining it down to 4) of unkown reasons (water tested fine) and lost 2 Flames (had 8 originally), I suspected Angelfish biting to be the cause, since the Flames antagonize the Angels at times. Plants are growing, I divided some last week. Angels and Rams spawn.

My question is- I would like to up the number of Cardinals- I love them and they school nicely and leave the Angels alone and vice versa. I am wondering if I would be okay bio-load wise if I do this. The only thing else I would possibly add is another Oto Catfish.

TIA!

My filtration is Tetra EX 70, though I want to replace or add a diffrent type of filtration (tetra is the only HOB that will fit in the space I have between the tank and the wall, unfortunately). Nitrates read around 10-20 except when I accidentally dumped flakes in the tank and they read 40.

well i would say you are very close to max at the moment.

if you wanted to squeeze a few more schooling fish in then i would suggest a sump for your filter system the added water to the system (10g sump would mean 65 gallons water in your 55g tank) would hlep extend the bioload your system could take.

PS make sure you account for the fish all grown up

it sucks to have to give fish away

 

[JK47]

As mentioned above I would consider the adult size of your fish first. Investing in any schooling tetras would be a waste because angels will turn them into somewhat expensive feeders in the near future.