Maximizing how many fish you keep in a tank....

[roger saltwaters]

Ok, it seems to me that people always want to be extremely conservative on the number of fish they recommend for any given tank size. But at the same time I see numerous threads on here about increasing nutrients for coral both artificially as well as by adding fish and the nutrient input that comes with them. So is it possible that its good to kind of push the envelope and add more fish than many of the fish police would say is prudent?? I'm new at this and just making an observation. I have a 45 gallon tank and want as many fish as possible without overloading my system.

 

[jd371]

Besides overloading the system there's the aggression factor. Too many fish and there will be conflicts over territory.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Remember, only you can dictate how difficult the hobby is. The more fish, the more water changes. People that over stock successfully, have to keep up with nutrient export.

 

[Feltman]

If seen some very successful tanks full of sps, that are way over stocked. In the end it comes down to what combination of fish (aggression), are they healthy (proper quarantine) and can u keep up with the bioload created from being overpopulated.

 

[Broadfield]

I'm definitely overstocked, but I run bio-pellets, my skimmer is on the large side and I do a 15% water change every Sunday. My nitrates have been zero for months.... so I started dosing sodium nitrate to bring that up to around 0.2. My Phosphates usually hover around 0.01. I have zero algae aside from the dusting that gets on the glass. I noticed that some of my encrusting Montipora and Euphylia were pale. Also noticed a couple of Acans weren't doing so well. So I figured I would try bringing those nitrates up... my Monti have colored up after just a week of dosing and slightly heavier feeding.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I'm definitely overstocked, but I run bio-pellets, my skimmer is on the large side and I do a 15% water change every Sunday. My nitrates have been zero for months.... so I started dosing sodium nitrate to bring that up to around 0.2. My Phosphates usually hover around 0.01. I have zero algae aside from the dusting that gets on the glass. I noticed that some of my encrusting Montipora and Euphylia were pale. Also noticed a couple of Acans weren't doing so well. So I figured I would try bringing those nitrates up... my Monti have colored up after just a week of dosing and slightly heavier feeding.

Your bio-pellets are starving your tank of nitrates. It seems counter productive to run bio-pellets and then dose sodium nitrate to increase nitrates.

 

[Broadfield]

Your bio-pellets are starving your tank of nitrates. It seems counter productive to run bio-pellets and then dose sodium nitrate to increase nitrates.

Yeah, but my Nitrates are too high if I don't run the bio-pellets.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Yeah, but my Nitrates are too high if I don't run the bio-pellets.

What is too high?

 

[CarrieB]

The question is where does this goal - as many fish as I can- rank in comparison to these goals:

Happy, healthy, stress free fish
Low maintenance
Robust ecosystem that doesn't crash swiftly when something goes wrong (equipment or maintenance failure)

Personally, these three are much more important than having a few extra fish, so yes, I'm conservative.

As I see it, the problem is there's no neon sign that says "no vacancy" to warn you to stop, just a dirty tank and/or dead fish.

 

[roger saltwaters]

So the way I understand it.....you can have more fish than you are "supposed" to, but you have to make sure they get along, and that you do the proper maintenance involved with a high bioload.

 

[CarrieB]

I think you are missing the point that fish that get along when they have enough room may not get along when they are crowded. Think about sharing a room with one roommate versus sharing the same room with three. At what point do you starting snapping at people? What if you could never leave the room?

 

[roger saltwaters]

I think you are missing the point that fish that get along when they have enough room may not get along when they are crowded. Think about sharing a room with one roommate versus sharing the same room with three. At what point do you starting snapping at people? What if you could never leave the room?

Yeah, I understand that. But as long as they are getting along.....

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Your bio-pellets are starving your tank of nitrates. It seems counter productive to run bio-pellets and then dose sodium nitrate to increase nitrates.

I don't think its the bio-pellets. I use them and my nitrates are between 5-10 and phosphates are .04-,08.

 

[CarrieB]

Sure thing. Just keep putting'em in there until they start killing each other and you have to take your tank apart to catch the offender or the ones getting picked on. Sounds like a plan.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I don't think its the bio-pellets. I use them and my nitrates are between 5-10 and phosphates are .04-,08.

He's using them and his nitrates are 0.2 and po4 of 0.01. He's starving his system. You are correctly using your bio-pellets.

 

[reeferfoxx]

So the way I understand it.....you can have more fish than you are "supposed" to, but you have to make sure they get along, and that you do the proper maintenance involved with a high bioload.

If you don't understand the risks of over-stocking, maybe you shouldn't. You will leave yourself no room for failure. The cost might also outweigh the success.

Weekly water changes with sand vacuuming
Daily parameter testing
Regular GFO, bio pellet and carbon maintenance
Skimming will be a must
QT is a must
Dosing
And again no room for failure.

 

[Rob Lion]

I think I read somewhere once, that the max a tank should have is 1" of fish for every gallon of water, so in your 45G tank could have 45" of fish in total, with the average small tank fish being 3", that would be 15 fish MAXIMUM.

 

[CarrieB]

I think I read somewhere once, that the max a tank should have is 1" of fish for every gallon of water, so in your 45G tank could have 45" of fish in total, with the average small tank fish being 3", that would be 15 fish MAXIMUM.

That's the rule of thumb for freshwater. Marine systems can't support that much.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I think I read somewhere once, that the max a tank should have is 1" of fish for every gallon of water, so in your 45G tank could have 45" of fish in total, with the average small tank fish being 3", that would be 15 fish MAXIMUM.

I believe that to be different for saltwater. Thats more a rule of thumb for freshwater.

 

[roger saltwaters]

Sure thing. Just keep putting'em in there until they start killing each other and you have to take your tank apart to catch the offender or the ones getting picked on. Sounds like a plan.

Sigh