Stocking levels

[luke1989]

Hello

Im new the this forum so ill start with saying hello everyone and thank you for excepting me.

Im not sure if my tank is overstocked. its 8x2x2 210gallon tank. its currently got in there-

Black ghost knife fish about 14 inches
Oscar about 8 inches
5 x silver dollar about 4 inches each
silver arowana about 7 inches long ( He will be housed accordingly as he grows)
common pleco about 1 foot long
lima catfish about 12 inches long

The reason I ask is because my nitrates seam to rise pretty quick. I understand that majority of my fish are predatory so they are messy and produce a lot of waste I just want to make sure it is that and not something else. I water change with RO water so that's not a problem. I change 220litres of water weekly and aquarium vac the top of the sand pretty much everyday to get the poo out.

they were temporarily housed In a small tank the had an fx6 attached which is now attached to there new tank along with another fx6 which was brand new when it was all put together 4 weeks ago so I can imagine the new fx6 is still maturing. The old fx6 had all the bacteria to support the fish so the move was fine no spikes in an parameters at all.

Any help would be welcomed and thank you in advanced.

 

[esoxlucius]

Hello

Im new the this forum so ill start with saying hello everyone and thank you for excepting me.

Im not sure if my tank is overstocked. its 8x2x2 210gallon tank. its currently got in there-

Black ghost knife fish about 14 inches
Oscar about 8 inches
5 x silver dollar about 4 inches each
silver arowana about 7 inches long ( He will be housed accordingly as he grows)
common pleco about 1 foot long
lima catfish about 12 inches long

The reason I ask is because my nitrates seam to rise pretty quick. I understand that majority of my fish are predatory so they are messy and produce a lot of waste I just want to make sure it is that and not something else. I water change with RO water so that's not a problem. I change 220litres of water weekly and aquarium vac the top of the sand pretty much everyday to get the poo out.

they were temporarily housed In a small tank the had an fx6 attached which is now attached to there new tank along with another fx6 which was brand new when it was all put together 4 weeks ago so I can imagine the new fx6 is still maturing. The old fx6 had all the bacteria to support the fish so the move was fine no spikes in an parameters at all.

Any help would be welcomed and thank you in advanced.

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

It's unsurprising your nitrates rise quickly, that is quite a bio load. And you say 220 litres per week water change? If that isn't a typing error that is only about 50 gallons a week, which is pretty wimpy to be honest for all those fish.

I'd increase your water change amount and just keep monitoring your nitrate when it comes to water change day. Ideally you should be looking at around 20ppm nitrate on water change day.

 

[FJB]

I too came to the same observation. That is under 30% water change weekly. It should be no less than 50% and as much higher as possible (60-70%) weekly, or more. In addition, several of those large fish do put out a lots of waste (pleco, oscar, catfish, black ghost), but regardless, all together it is a lot of waste. In addition, even removing visible poop more often than once a week, does not help much, particularly because poop is not the largest problem, but the invisible waste, which comes out only in water changes.

 

[Toby_H]

Have you tested your tap water for nitrates?

Your stocklist doesn't sound overstocked to me. It is a lot of fish, but it's also a lot of tank.

My guess is, you didn't clean your old FX6when you moved it over. I'd consider cleaning the mechanical media in it. If it has a bunch of waste trapped in the media it could be breaking down and contributing to the bioload.

It sounds like you practice good maintenance. Near daily spot cleanings of physical waste. Weekly water changes. As mentioned, I'd also consider increasing the volume of your water change. 50% is the hobby standard, though going higher than that as needed is also common.

You say, Nitrates rise quickly... can you give us numbers? Such as a before and after value when you do your weekly water change. And also if your tap water has nitrates.

 

[Rocksor]

Lots of feeding I bet with those ravenous SDs

 

[luke1989]

This is my nitrate reading this morning and I water changed 5 days ago now

 

[esoxlucius]

If that's your level of nitrate after FIVE days (i'm reading it as 5ppm), with that stock, and that low level of water change, then you're doing something very special. There's many many people on here who'd love to have such a low nitrate creep, myself included.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

It's unsurprising your nitrates rise quickly, that is quite a bio load. And you say 220 litres per week water change? If that isn't a typing error that is only about 50 gallons a week, which is pretty wimpy to be honest for all those fish.

I'd increase your water change amount and just keep monitoring your nitrate when it comes to water change day. Ideally you should be looking at around 20ppm nitrate on water change day.

+1
I would do 50% at least twice a week

 

[Toby_H]

5~10 ppm of Nitrate isn't bad at all. under 20 is ideal and consistently over 40 is when problems start to build.

Is the tank planted? Plants eat nitrates and help keep them in check. I tend to assume large cichlid tanks are not planted, but every now and then you guys pull it off.

Have you checked Ammonia & Nitrite? You said this is a new set up after a temporary situation. It's possible your still in, or again in, a cycling situation.

 

[FJB]

If that's your level of nitrate after FIVE days (i'm reading it as 5ppm), with that stock, and that low level of water change, then you're doing something very special. There's many many people on here who'd love to have such a low nitrate creep, myself included.
Keep up the good work.

I agree completely. If that test kit is indeed working properly, and last water change was 5 days ago, my hat is off to you.
However (and just for myself), I would change more water regularly, regardless of nitrate levels. Keeping nitrates low is one major goal, but replenishing dissolved essential minerals is necessary as well.