I've been wondering, how do you decide when a tank is overstocked? If a tank has over filtered and nitrates are kept low (drip system/regular water changes etc) then when do you decide a tank is overstocked? Aggression is less of an issue with heavy stocking so is it just down to swimming space? I should add that I'm not a fan of heavy stocking, I just decide by how crowded it looks.
How do you decide a tank is overstocked?
- Thread starter Jhncf
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For me its a few different things. You can be overstocked with 1 fish in the tank. if the fish produces so much waste that you would have problems maintaining good levels of tds and nitrates.
also based on fish size, can he/she swim around the tank at least 4-5 times its body length? turn around comfortably?
Some fish need far more room do to being open water predatory fish, or simply have tones of energy and are designed to cover a lot of water quickly. rose line sharks come to mind.
also have to look at compatibility between species. is there constant aggression where it otherwise wouldn't exist if they had more space.
also based on fish size, can he/she swim around the tank at least 4-5 times its body length? turn around comfortably?
Some fish need far more room do to being open water predatory fish, or simply have tones of energy and are designed to cover a lot of water quickly. rose line sharks come to mind.
also have to look at compatibility between species. is there constant aggression where it otherwise wouldn't exist if they had more space.
I'm thinking more along the lines of say a 240 with say 15 Oscars, sure almost everyone would say it's overstocked but if through regular water changes and a drip system the nitrates were kept in check and any aggression was dispersed due to the number of fish, how do you decide it's overstocked? Is it just down to the fact it looks crowded? Malawi tanks for example can be stuffed to the brim with fish and keepers keep good water parameters and they wouldn't be overstocked, so is it just a case of ensuring the fish have enough space to themselves to behave naturally?
Malawis are much smaller than oscars in general and won't have issues moving around each other. Oscars on the other hand are much much larger and will not be able too move too freely if packed in, so not so great even if the water is pristine.
I just like to keep my tanks lightly stocked anyways
I decide when I can't keep water parameters perfect or aggression is out of control.
Right now my 150g would be over stocked if all of my fish were adults. But most are under 3". Eventually I will have to and will thin the stock.
Right now my 150g would be over stocked if all of my fish were adults. But most are under 3". Eventually I will have to and will thin the stock.
this is basically how i do it as well. If things get too hot the stock gets rearranged
When the combined fish mass is greater than the mass of the water, you might be overstocked... Seriously though I'd consider water parameters are good, fish can move around easily, enough space to curtail aggression and/or not impede on natural behaviors.
If territories cant be claimed, if fish can't swim a few laps without bumping into another fish, or if fish cant get away during dominance or aggression displays. How much you filter or how much you change water doesn't mean much, thats just a crutch, as a hobbyist thats the absolute least you can do for your fish. I really just think of how the fish would behave in its natural environment, and truth be told most of the fish we keep wouldnt spend more than a few seconds around each other in any given body of water.