A question to all the MFK's

[Abe]

I've noticed in looking at a lot of the pics out there that while tanks seems large, I see a lot that are pretty heavily stocked. Several Arro's Oscars, ect.

My question is how do you keep up? I have a 110 with a 12" Albino Oscar, a 4 inch clown loach, and a 9 inch Pacu (and after reading some of the info on Pacu's, I know that I am going to have to make a decision as to what to do with him in the near future), and I do a 50%-75% weekly water change, rinse the filters on my 2 Emperor HOB's weekly, and maintain my canister monthly to keep the nitrates under 20ppm. What do others do?

Seeing those pics makes me want to throw in another fish, but I feel that I am already overstocked as is....

 

[ShadowBass]

Looks can be decieving. Many people have a whole seperate tank of water hooked into their main tank, which adds a larger volume of water than is in the tank the fish are in. This extra tank can house several different types of filtration, but the main thing is it adds more water volume which lets you get away with stocking more fish. This extra tank can theoretically be as large or larger than the main tank
Some have a water exchange system which changes out tank water for fresh water on a constant basis.

There are a lot of ways too get away with the overstocked look, the main thing is the most overstocked tanks aren't running canisters and HOBS as their soul filtration, and usually a large amount of water is being changed out either manually or mechanically.

Personally on the tanks we have "overstocked" I just do manual water changes with a python very often. 50% every 3 days, sometimes more. We are nowhere near as "overstocked" as some of the people you're thinking of though.

More bio-filtration doesn't necessarily mean you can throw more fish in, it just means you will have a larger capacity for nitrifying bacteria. You either have to add more water volume somewhere or change out a lot of tank water for fresh water constantly.

Right now it doesn't seem that your tank is heavily stocked biologically, but adding more fish will require either additional water volume or more water changes, depending on how high you want to keep your water quality.

Hopefully some others will post, there are members with some really interesting types of filtration

 

[sandtiger]

I can't speak for others but personally, I stock based on how often I'm willing to clean my tanks. For me, I like to keep water changes at about one per week and try to keep my nitrates below 20 ppm. For others it's different, the same is true for you. Stock your tank based on the work you're willing to put forth. Granted, there are other rules you need to follow. Such as making sure you stock compatabile species or fish that won't outgrow their tank. Also keep in mind that you can have mega filtration but there are still things they won't remove, things like nitrates. With most setups you need to remove them with water changes.
You do need to get rid of that pacu, if you do then you should be able to place more fish into that tank. I would suggest more clown loaches, they do better and prefer to live in groups.

 

[Miguel]

First of all, GET RID OF THE PACU

Secondly, and as stated, some of those tanks have sumps and massive filtration.

Thirdly, massive water changes are perhaps the most important factor.

I do all this, but I also agree that some of the tanks one sees over here are overstocked. I have learned, in MFK, to find the beauty in "overstocked" tanks, but you will notice that most of them are in tip top condition, so the guys know what they are doing..

My 2 cents

Miguel

 

[Euge]

i agree with what has been said. I know one of my tanks now is slightly overstocked. But i have a sump that is approx. 25 gallons on a 40 gallon tank.

 

[cichlaguapote]

Setup a drip system and you can add whatever you like to an extent. I do agree get rid of the pacu though.