wife dont allow me to have plants growing outside the tank, since it is in the living room. and i use canisters, not sump. 1-2x 50% WC weekly not big nuff?.
am i overstocked?
- Thread starter giar
- Start date
The 80 ppm (assuming it's 80 ppm before and not after a water change) is an indicator of water quality. It says the bio load is too high for the manner in which it's being kept.
Yes, starting with 40 ppm out of the source water explains half of the source, but knowing the source isn't an answer. The point is that it will get much worse unless something is done as the stock (which is not nearly grown) continues to grow.
Reducing the bio load is part of a solution. Adding plants which you said you can't add is part of a solution. Etc., etc.
My point is that looking forward, which is really what the OP is asking, what is the condition of the tank. IMO, it's overstocked given how the tank is being maintained. If maintenance can't or won't be changed, then the stock needs to be reduced.
Let's say you change 75% of the water each week, using 40 ppm water to change, both from your posts. Your average nitrates would be around 80 ppm, as you also said. That means you are adding 8 ppm of nitrates per day through food.
When the stock is much larger (in weight), which it can reach given it's current size, that will be far more nitrates a day in food. E.g., at 40 nitrates a day from food (just 5x the current food level), nitrates will range from 140 - 380. If you change 80% of the water every 4 days, it will still range from 80-200.
Yes, starting with 40 ppm out of the source water explains half of the source, but knowing the source isn't an answer. The point is that it will get much worse unless something is done as the stock (which is not nearly grown) continues to grow.
Reducing the bio load is part of a solution. Adding plants which you said you can't add is part of a solution. Etc., etc.
My point is that looking forward, which is really what the OP is asking, what is the condition of the tank. IMO, it's overstocked given how the tank is being maintained. If maintenance can't or won't be changed, then the stock needs to be reduced.
Let's say you change 75% of the water each week, using 40 ppm water to change, both from your posts. Your average nitrates would be around 80 ppm, as you also said. That means you are adding 8 ppm of nitrates per day through food.
When the stock is much larger (in weight), which it can reach given it's current size, that will be far more nitrates a day in food. E.g., at 40 nitrates a day from food (just 5x the current food level), nitrates will range from 140 - 380. If you change 80% of the water every 4 days, it will still range from 80-200.
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Ok will take your opinions into consideration..
I agree with my tap water quality, having an understock tank would be the best option since i cant grow plants outside the tank.
I will see what i can do
The color is "Sandy granite tile" if im not mistaken.. but it is just granite tile that i cut to fits the tank. Pure bare bottom isnt too appealing for me.. and having messy fishes isnt an option for me to have substrates
