BIG overstocking problem

[Plec123]

well i have an overstocked tank and i need to fix it. its 38gals, 36"x12" toofprint, 20" tall.
filter is an aquaclear 110, filters 500gph.
plants- lots of cryptocoryne wendtii, a java fern, an anubias nana.
Its got the following fish:
1 angel
1 clown plec
1 BN plec
1 male swordtail, 4 years old, so should be dead soon... a friend forced me to take it from him.
1 whiptail cat (rineloricaria parva)
4 red and blue columbian tetras
...and, 1 clown loach. i never wanted it, my sister bought it when i told her not to.

i thought i had room for more fish but ive been told that i dont. i had previously thought that the CL had stopped growing at 4", but ive been told that hes just growing very slowly. i want to fix my stocking problem, but there are a few things in the way. my dad wont let me: bring fish back to the store, sell fish, get another tank or a bigger tank.

so, what should i do? talk to my dad about it? if so what should i say?

 

[seaofdreams]

well i have an overstocked tank and i need to fix it. its 38gals, 36"x12" toofprint, 20" tall.
filter is an aquaclear 110, filters 500gph.
plants- lots of cryptocoryne wendtii, a java fern, an anubias nana.
Its got the following fish:
1 angel
1 clown plec
1 BN plec
1 male swordtail, 4 years old, so should be dead soon... a friend forced me to take it from him.
1 whiptail cat (rineloricaria parva)
4 red and blue columbian tetras
...and, 1 clown loach. i never wanted it, my sister bought it when i told her not to.

i thought i had room for more fish but ive been told that i dont. i had previously thought that the CL had stopped growing at 4", but ive been told that hes just growing very slowly. i want to fix my stocking problem, but there are a few things in the way. my dad wont let me: bring fish back to the store, sell fish, get another tank or a bigger tank.

so, what should i do? talk to my dad about it? if so what should i say?

That leaves you with no options. You cannot humanely keep the fish you have in that size tank. You HAVE to upgrade your tank or reduce the amount of fish you have.

Also, clown loaches are fantastic fish, lots of fun but they don't do very well living alone, they need to be in groups or they tend to suffer.

 

[Plec123]

You cannot humanely keep the fish you have in that size tank.

am i correct in assuming that if i remove only the clown loach i will not be overstocked anymore and i will be able to humanely keep my fish?
might i also add that i found this issue out when i was planning on getting a bichir. i do not want the bichir anymore. however, if at all possible, i would like to be able to have enough room to get a charax gibbosus or an abramite.

 

[Eupterus]

If you were to get up to the southern VT area, I would adopt your clown pleco.

 

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

AC 110 for a 38 gallon?
Kudos for nice filteration

 

[Plec123]

Columbian shark catfish- thanks. Lots of current keeps the tank clean, and the plecs love it .

Eupterus- sorry, but if theres any fish im willing to part with, its the clown loach. I never wanted the loach in the first place.

But, does anyone have suggestions? If i were to get rid of the loach, would i have room for the charax or abramite? Sorry for thinking about new fish when im trying to make room as it is, i just think that way for some reason.

 

[Plec123]

I dont know if bumping is needed right now, but,
Bump!

 

[Plec123]

If i am able to get rid of the cl, and successfully get rid of it, will the tank be overstocked still?

 

[Burko]

"will the tank be overstocked still?"

You havn't indicated sizes but unless the Pleco and loach are huge I don't think you are over stocked at all.

"i thought i had room for more fish but ive been told that i dont"

If the fish are happy and you have good maintenance and filtration you should prove the nay-sayer wrong.

 

[Bderick67]

With the info given I do not think your tank is overstocked, however I would not recommend getting more fish. You should try to find a new home for the clown loach, it will outgrow that tank(it'll take a while) and CLs are schooling fish and should be kept with others in order to be happy.