How many fish is Too Much

Rolrod39 · Aug 31, 2020

Hello Everyone,

I haven't posted in a while. I was wondering if I'm Over the Limit. I have a 90 Gallon Aqueon Reef Ready Aquarium. I have a 55 Gallon sump with Refugium. Biopellet reactor, Skimmer, Carbon and GFO reactor. I have a Yellow Tang, Sailfin Tang, 2 Damsels, 2 Anthias, 2 clowns, Sleeper Gold Head Goby, Coral Beauty, Yellow Watchmen Goby, Six Line Wrasse, 2 Fire Shrimp, 5 turbo snails, 6 hermits, Emerald crab, and 1. Sea Urchin. As I was typing the inhabitants it seems like alot. What do you all think?

susan ingram · Aug 31, 2020

I’m not sure about the bioload but it sounds ok. Might add additional CUC.

im no expert let’s bump this

Cell · Aug 31, 2020

Fine.

Pistondog · Aug 31, 2020

Rolrod39 said:
Hello Everyone,

I haven't posted in a while. I was wondering if I'm Over the Limit. I have a 90 Gallon Aqueon Reef Ready Aquarium. I have a 55 Gallon sump with Refugium. Biopellet reactor, Skimmer, Carbon and GFO reactor. I have a Yellow Tang, Sailfin Tang, 2 Damsels, 2 Anthias, 2 clowns, Sleeper Gold Head Goby, Coral Beauty, Yellow Watchmen Goby, Six Line Wrasse, 2 Fire Shrimp, 5 turbo snails, 6 hermits, Emerald crab, and 1. Sea Urchin. As I was typing the inhabitants it seems like alot. What do you all think?

Similar in 75 + 25. Can you control phosphates?

SifuMemphis · Aug 31, 2020

Most of the fish you named are fine for the 90 gallon. Regarding the tangs, long term, the sail fin might get too big which will need to be re-homed, but pending how big it is now, I think you're safe for at least a couple years

Cell · Aug 31, 2020

I'd get more snails.

Rolrod39 · Aug 31, 2020

I have to change GFO every 4 weeks to maintain low phosphates. Also Chateo grows fast. I was also going to get more turbos .

ca1ore · Sep 1, 2020

Doesn’t seem overstocked to me ... I’ve over 120 fish in my 450. Sailfin will eventually outgrow a 90 as noted.

Rolrod39 · Sep 1, 2020

I know. It's about the size of the palm of my hand. Greets me when I get home

TheRealDmorty217 · Sep 1, 2020

I have 10 fish in my 625g but they’re on the larger size

LatinoHeat · Sep 1, 2020

You're good.

EntitledSushi · Sep 1, 2020

You have just a couple more than I have in a 75 gallon tank. I recently scaled back, that is, I did not replace a couple fish that died. Now my fish seem happier and healthier. I also over feed them. Sounds to me like your tank is OK, but I wouldn't add more fish.

blstravler · Sep 1, 2020

I have RS 425xl so about 90 gallons. I have the following -

4 Lyertail Anthias 1m3f
8 Ignitus Anthias 1m7f
7 Green Chromis
1 Chevron Tang
1 Midas Blenny
1 Black Leopard Wrasse
1 Yellow Wrasse

I have a ton of rock (the old school wall of rock) and my CUC is probably out of control for most people’s liking. I also add pods every month.

I feed pretty heavy but also skim very heavy and run a refugium with Chaeto. Most of my fish have been around a long time though I did just add 2 more Ignitus Anthias.

Smarkow · Sep 1, 2020

I think you are good for now, provided your nutrients are in good ranges. You seem to have solid filtration.

Too many fish sounds like an excuse to add some coral to feast on all that tasty fish poo!

BlennyTime · Sep 1, 2020

Just keep measuring nitrates and phosphates, as long as your system can keep up you are fine. There's no overall rule since every system is set up different.

Thomashtom · Sep 1, 2020

TheRealDmorty217 said:
I have 10 fish in my 625g but they’re on the larger size

Whats up? Talked to you alot on RC !!

Oz_Puffy · Sep 2, 2020

I’m a long long way from providing any definitive advice. However I would think that any assessment of numbers of inhabitants is more about the nutrient control, and space/overcrowding. If nutrient export/control is keeping up with it, then that would indicate from that perspective things might be ok. I suggest though that if “heavily” stocked, if something with nutrient export suddenly failed your parameters could change very quickly in comparison to a tank that was less heavily stocked. Just a thought though, there are others far more experienced on here to advise of that.

The other element, or at least ‘an’ other element to stocking is consideration of animal welfare (I’m not starting an argument of “fish in a glass box vs the ocean”). Different species will use the environment very differently behaviourally. So consideration can be given to numbers based on species behaviour and how they use the tank. Consideration of this can avoid conflicts and possibly lead to a greater number overall because they don’t interact or overlap too much in the real estate they use in your tank.

Again, I’m very much a novice with marine, but I think it relevant consideration regardless of salt or freshwater. Far more experienced people on here to take advice from though.