Overstocked? or just right?

[jjohnwm]

Nitrate build-up is definitely the issue...or one of the issues...with the kind of stocking you are describing. And yes, of course sufficient water changes will combat that...but sufficient in this case would be difficult to maintain on an ongoing basis. You will be going through one hell of a lot of water...which of course would also at the same time address the issue of pheronomes and other substances excreted into the water.

But no amount of water changing can impact the simple problem of the stress created by overcrowding. A large turtle constantly flopping around and on top of a ray is going to be a serious stressor, and in this case might also be in danger of catching a barbed sting for its trouble.

Please...just do it, take some pics and post it up here. I want to learn more about stingrays, maybe see your new pups when they start to appear. Enlighten and entertain us!

 

[ReynardGreer]

I wouldn’t do any of the main stock except maybe the ngt. The tiger barbs and loaches are a bad idea no matter what if put with the main stock.

 

[M3AN ONE]

I am happy to report that I have finally settled on a more reasonably balanced tank setup. I also decided to upgrade my grow out from 36x24x13 to 36x36x13 so if the male stingray needs to be separated it still has somewhat decent space in time out. I appreciate all the input I do believe i was a little over excited playing with stocking ideas in my head. Some might say this line up is overstocked but I think it will work for the foreseeable future cant wait to update with pictures when everything is up and running.

2 Short body alligator gars 1 albino 1 platinum
1 Fly river turtle
1Lince catfish
3 Stingrays probably 1 BD 1 BD hybrid and albino

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

I am happy to report that I have finally settled on a more reasonably balanced tank setup. I also decided to upgrade my grow out from 36x24x13 to 36x36x13 so if the male stingray needs to be separated it still has somewhat decent space in time out. I appreciate all the input I do believe i was a little over excited playing with stocking ideas in my head. Some might say this line up is overstocked but I think it will work for the foreseeable future cant wait to update with pictures when everything is up and running.

2 Short body alligator gars 1 albino 1 platinum
1 Fly river turtle
1Lince catfish
3 Stingrays probably 1 BD 1 BD hybrid and albino

Its definitely better than before, but I still think the turtle should be in its own thing. Everything else though is fine.

 

[CichlidFiend]

lince cats need alot of space, the more the better, they also dont ship well, DOA is a very real possibility, which becomes a problem when also taking into consideration the cost of the fish plus the cost of shipping

 

[M3AN ONE]

Its definitely better than before, but I still think the turtle should be in its own thing. Everything else though is fine.

I agree after doing more research might consider adding baby turtle when everything else is a adult. Most people have adult fly river alone. I can only assume its ceacuse it would kill any of their tank mates certainly a roll of the dice.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

I agree after doing more research might consider adding baby turtle when everything else is a adult. Most people have adult fly river alone. I can only assume its ceacuse it would kill any of their tank mates certainly a roll of the dice.

Yeah, it would look better on its own. Plus, you could get a shallow tank for the turtle and make your very own turtle touch tank lol. Maybe you could even have more than one if you have a large pool.

 

[duanes]

You can have an overstocked tank with Pristine water condition depending on the size of your filtration system and the frequency of water changes ect.

Filtration does not reduce nitrate, in fact one of the products of biological filtration is nitrate, and unless you frequently clean mechanical media, nitrate accumulates ad nauseam in between those cleanings..
So as you noted, frequent, large water changes are needed, but the 35% water change per week schedule you describe, is hardly what I consider large, or adequate, when housing large carnivorous fish.
I normally change 30% to 40% of my systems total volume, every other day, even with the heavily planted sump (sometimes more if my nitrate tests suggest more)
In my 300 gal system, I am able to hold nitrate to undetectable levels in between water changes, by using minor amounts of bio and mechanical filtration, but, by filling most of my 125 gal sump with aquatic, and terrestrial plants. To do this the weight of plants must exceed the weight of fish, just as it does in nature.
This is my 125 gal sump. Most fish in my main tank are no larger than 6", and are omnivores

Because your stock are mostly carnivores, and will be fed highly proteinaceous meals, I would suggest adding a protein skimmer to the filtration system.
Below is a video of one I built for a 500 gal pond stocked with only a couple 12" Koi, and a few 6" goldfish.
koi pond fractionation
GOPR6064
Even scaled back, yours is still a very ambitious project, and keeping up water quality is going to be the most difficult part.
Consider that the the fish you have chosen come from pristine water conditions where nitrate is basically undetectable.
The test below, done on a river in Panama, is representative of the conditions the fish you want, live in. (left tube is nitrate)

The link below explains the concept, much better than I can.
Exposure to Nitrate Increases Susceptibility to Hypoxia in ...The University of Chicago Press: Journalshttps://www.journals.uchicago.edu › doi

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