stocking ...good or over?
- Thread starter Nevernuff
- Start date
I'd pretty much leave it as it is. What is your typical nitrate level just before you do your regular 40% weekly water change? Because with that stock in a 220 i'd be surprised if your weekly 40% is enough to keep your nitrates in check, unless you underfeed and syphon crud out regularly.
Do people use some kind of formula to decide how many can go in or it is different with each persons opinion?
There is no absolute one size fits all formula as what works for one person can go horribly wrong with another person. When the majority of people have kept fish A with fish B then it’s a rather safe to say that they can be kept together but someone may have an experience with fish A killing fish B. It all depends on the individual personality of the fish you obtain.
Some people have murderous jack demseys and some have jack demseys that could get pushed around by a bolivian ram.
Some people have murderous jack demseys and some have jack demseys that could get pushed around by a bolivian ram.
That’s a tricky area, some people prefer to stock heavy and see no issue with it while some people prefer to stock lightly and see no issue with it. It all comes down to personal opinion at the end of the day. I believe that
Stanzzzz7
once said that a 75 gallon would be an ideal habitat for a couple apistogramma since they would show their natural behavior. I personally stock my tanks a bit on the heavier side and I like it that way. We are of two different opinions and could give two different answers on how to stock this tank for example and neither one of us would necessarily be wrong or right as it’s all a matter of personal opinion.I hope I’ve answered your question to satisfaction.
Your nitrate level on water change day is the factor which tells you whether you're overstocked or not. Plus the hobbyist has to decide how many water changes they want to do per week.
Stuff your tank full of fish and big water changes everyday will be needed. Lightly stock your tank and one medium sized water change per week might be all that's needed.
Determine what nitrate level you are happy with and then ask yourself how busy do you want to be in keeping it at that level.
And even if you did fancy doing massive water changes everyday, with an overstocked tank you then have other issues like fish not getting on and then stress levels rise often leading to disease etc.
There is no "formula" that we all adhere to. All our tanks and situations are unique to us.
But in your case, as a starting point, get to grips with your weekly nitrate creep and take it from there.