What are your thoughts...?

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Do you think that its ok to overstock a tank as long as your filtration and water changes can handle your bioload and your fish seem happy?

or

Do you think its wrong to overstock even though your fish are getting along, have good water, and are living in healthy yet cramped conditions?

(just wanted to create some discussion here)

 

[messiner]

if the water is fine and the fish are healthy than sure.

 

[Honda12]

I don't think it is a bad thing to overstock your tank to some extent. As long as all the fish have room to swim and turn around with out running into each other and get along, I don't think it is too much of a problem.

Also like you said there needs to be adaquite filtration on the tank for the amount of fish you have. Plus with an overstocked tank you most likly will end up with better filtration that you would with an understocked tank.

But I do agree with overstocking for the fact that I have found myself doing it on a few occasions, but the fish were always heathly, active, showed great color, ate with vigor, and would breed if conditions were right so I found no problem with it.

 

[Honda12]

Hey, what is your take on this Gr8KarmaSF?

 

[milkman407]

My 120gallon is gona be overstocked for about 2 weeks and as of now it looks awsome it has like 18 fish that are all small but they are all healthy and swimming fine...

Mo on this is as long as your fish have clean water and are healthy there is no problem

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Hey, what is your take on this Gr8KarmaSF?

Honda, thanks for asking but not really sure what i think yet...

this question came about because last night one of my tanks sprung a leak and i had to move some fish around forcing me to overstock, which i gererally do not do. i will have to keep in eye on my new overstocked tank and see how it goes before i come to a conclusion.

healthy and clean water doesnt always make for a happy fish IMO overstocking i think is more for the owner than the fish.

my instinct tells me that fish are "happier" when given lots of space, since fish are mostly solitary, unless schooling, but if overstocked can they really school?

just my .02

 

[Kenta]

You can overstock in two main ways.

One being bioload, the other being space. Both can be detrimental to your fishes health in the long run. An overstocked tank can run into fast trouble in the case of a power outage. You will end up with many dead fish very fast with no power. Also, if a disease breaks out in your tank (hopefully most people use preventative quarantine and hospital tanks) it will quickly spread to your other fish and could end up messy.

Other than that, large fast swimming fish or schooling fish ideally should be kept in a tank that provides a lot of room, but often is not done. Fish grow faster and bigger in larger environments allowing them to reach their real potentials.

That said, i have an overstocked tank, but have plans for an upgrade in the future when the time comes.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

An overstocked tank can run into fast trouble in the case of a power outage. You will end up with many dead fish very fast with no power.

gr8 point - i have a power generator

 

[grmanrocks]

i am aginst overstocking for the following reasosn....

1. isnt the point of fishkeeping to build a replica of a small ecosystem and provide the best for our fish? how can you do that with a overstocked tank?

2. many large fish like arownas and RTC cover litterally miles of territory in the wild, its bad enuff that we confine them to a tank, let alone a overstocked tank.........

IMO only optimum conditions should be considered acceptable for a captive fish.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

isnt the point of fishkeeping to build a replica of a small ecosystem and provide the best for our fish? how can you do that with a overstocked tank?

some people collect just to show off....