Not sure if this is in the correct section but here goes, please move it if it is thank you. I have a 300gal tank, 8ftLx2ftWx2.5ftH, filter by a sump that has two Quiet1 pumps rated at 1140gph at 0 head. These are the old Q1, the redish brownish ones not the junky new ones that are dark blue and black, so my guess is around 500-600gph hour for each pump. I also have an UGJ system with 6 jets and a Q1 4000 (the newer junky ones) and I think its rated at around 1017gph. Ive lost 3 fish in the last 11 months, 1 large 10-11 inch Flowerhorn because he was harassed to death by my 12-13 inch Midas, and 2 Silver Dollars, who we wild when I did a water change and hit themselves against rocks or the tank walls causing them to severely damage themselves that later caused their death while in hospital tanks. Each week I do a 50-70% waterchange, I use water conditioner, and try to get the temp similar to the tank, along with this water change I rinse the filter pads and filter floss in the sump. Once a month when I do the water change I vac the sand. I feed mainly once a day, sometimes twice a day but, its typically only once a day. I currently have 23-24in Blk Aro, 12-13in Midas, 7-8in Chocolate Cichlid, 7-8in Pike (that I cant recall the name of but should grow only to about a foot or less), 3x Pictus Cats, 5-6in Suncat, 6x 5-6in Silver Dollars, 3x convicts (F3-4in and 2M 5in), 4in FireMouth, 8-9 Bircher, 2x 3-4in Green Sevs, 2-3in Gold Sevs, 6-7in Green Terror. Im planning on adding a Albino Bircher, 2 Dezhli (SP?) Birchers, and another common Bircher, once they have some size to them. I have a Florida Gar sill very young (3-4in) that might go in the 300gal as well. Im also planning on putting the Midas in at 180gal tank when I get a stand built, and the Suncat might join the Midas as well.
So my questions are:
1. Is my tank overloaded?
2. Should I add more bio balls to my sump?
I could add another 3-4 inches of bio balls if needed. I havent checked my water parameters for the last 8-9 months, which I should do, and the last time I checked it Ammonia was 0, Nitrite was 0, and Nitrate was under 20 if I recall correctly.
Answers, suggestions, comments, complaints, are greatly appreciated.
So my questions are:
1. Is my tank overloaded?
2. Should I add more bio balls to my sump?
I could add another 3-4 inches of bio balls if needed. I havent checked my water parameters for the last 8-9 months, which I should do, and the last time I checked it Ammonia was 0, Nitrite was 0, and Nitrate was under 20 if I recall correctly.
Answers, suggestions, comments, complaints, are greatly appreciated.
