How many CARDINAL TETRA's in a 38G???

[landmineyouth]

So this may not be "monster" exactly, but I'm curious as to how many Cardinal Tetra's I can fit in a 38gallon(high) before it would be considered OVERSTOCKED...

I will be adding a blue cray fish into the tank as the primary "monster" when I can find a nice baby sized one to grow up in the near future, and altho I know he may snack on a cardinal or two if he can get his hands..err..claws on them, it's worth risking them being feeders, especially if I can add a giant school of them....

Once again the tank is 38 gallons, tall, running an emperor 280 filter....


So.... HOW MANY at the MOST?

I am thinking something around 30... is this too low, or too high?

 

[bigspizz]

I bet 40 and some heavy heavy plants would be lights out.

 

[Ianab]

Let the water tests be your guide.

Add the fish gradually, maybe 10 at a time, and make sure the water conditions stay good. If you get ammonia or nitrite appearing, then your filter isn't up to that number of fish. If your nitrate builds up faster than you wish to do water changes, then you are overstocked.

You can keep an amazing number of fish in a tank if you have extra filters, aeration and are prepared to do massive water changes. Doesn't mean its a good idea though, you are just that much closer to a disaster if something goes wrong

Having said that, 30 tetras is probably OK for that size tank and would certainly look pretty good

Cheers

Ian

 

[bigspizz]

Let the water tests be your guide.

Add the fish gradually, maybe 10 at a time, and make sure the water conditions stay good. If you get ammonia or nitrite appearing, then your filter isn't up to that number of fish. If your nitrate builds up faster than you wish to do water changes, then you are overstocked.

You can keep an amazing number of fish in a tank if you have extra filters, aeration and are prepared to do massive water changes. Doesn't mean its a good idea though, you are just that much closer to a disaster if something goes wrong

Having said that, 30 tetras is probably OK for that size tank and would certainly look pretty good

Cheers Ian

If you cycle your filter properly you can fully stock your tank as soon as it complete. Matter of fact, with tetra you would be copiously cycled (if you use real ammonia, I/we can show you the way and its easy) And might not need that much filtration. An A.C. 70 would do you just right, and I would run a sponge filter or ugf with reverse flow power head attached as a complimentary type of filtration.....

 

[Lupin]

So this may not be "monster" exactly, but I'm curious as to how many Cardinal Tetra's I can fit in a 38gallon(high) before it would be considered OVERSTOCKED...

For a 38 gallons, you can consider 30-40 cardinal tetras.

I will be adding a blue cray fish into the tank as the primary "monster" when I can find a nice baby sized one to grow up in the near future, and altho I know he may snack on a cardinal or two if he can get his hands..err..claws on them, it's worth risking them being feeders, especially if I can add a giant school of them....

I disagree with your plan for this. While it may be up to you to decide, do you realize you are spending a lot more money than you can think of? And I don't think cardinals should be subjected to being hunted down either.

 

[Ianab]

If you cycle your filter properly you can fully stock your tank as soon as it complete. Matter of fact, with tetra you would be copiously cycled (if you use real ammonia, I/we can show you the way and its easy) And might not need that much filtration. An A.C. 70 would do you just right, and I would run a sponge filter or ugf with reverse flow power head attached as a complimentary type of filtration.....

True.. if you cycle without fish (using ammonia) then you can just add a full population of fish and it should be fine.

But that doesn't tell you what a full population is.

Watching the water quality as you add the fish will give you a better idea of how many fish the tank can actually support.

Not that I suggest you go to the max. If you loose a filter in an overstocked tank, you get home from work and find dead fish. If a tank is lightly stocked, you get home and find you have to fix the filter sometime soon

Anyhow.. he should be fine with 30 tetras.. maybe 40?.. or 50 even? I dont know, but water tests will tell.

Cheers

Ian

 

[DasArab]

Let the water tests be your guide.

Add the fish gradually, maybe 10 at a time, and make sure the water conditions stay good. If you get ammonia or nitrite appearing, then your filter isn't up to that number of fish. If your nitrate builds up faster than you wish to do water changes, then you are overstocked.

You can keep an amazing number of fish in a tank if you have extra filters, aeration and are prepared to do massive water changes. Doesn't mean its a good idea though, you are just that much closer to a disaster if something goes wrong

Having said that, 30 tetras is probably OK for that size tank and would certainly look pretty good

Cheers

Ian

I agree. Gradually is best. Filter bacteria only survive at levels to cope with the ammount of bio load being produced. If you were to add 30 or 40 cardinals all at once your tank may fall in to a mini cycle which could see ammonia or nitrIte levels rise to dangerous levels. Much better and safer to add 10 every week.

 

[Mystix212]

Skip the cray. You dont want cardinals to go mssing just for the sheer sake of a pretty feeder.

 

[landmineyouth]

I see we have some cardinal enthusiasts here... heh...


Although I do not want to see them eaten and hunted down, the main purpose of this tank WAS for a cray..... I had a blue cray I raised from a baby before for a few years before he died of old age....

In the entire time I had him with tiger barbs, neons, and guppies, I think he managed to get his claws on.... 2.... in a 3-5 year span.... given that, I wont mind missing a cardinal here or there, as I said.


I'll aim for around 3 Dozen Cardinals, I've decided, adding 10 at a time once a week.... I may also invest in a SECOND Emporer 280 HOB Filter... cant hurt...

to cycle I will use a filter cartridge from another established fresh water tank.



sound good? lets do it!

 

[wataugachicken]

i would say 25-30 for a tall tank. if it was a 38 long or breeder-style 40-50. more surface area.