Overstock ???

[StPatrick89]

Why can cichlid tanks be overstocked but saltwater tanks cant or is frowned upon by most of you?

 

[fachatga]

I can’t answer for other kinds of tanks but we appreciate that these fish are our pets and we want them to be as comfortable and happy as we can make them. That means giving them space not to be constantly bumping into each other and giving them space to swim.

 

[Jekyl]

I feel like freshwater just don't care about the fish as much. Look at goldfish. They should be in a 55 gallon or even bigger and can live 20 years and get 12" long.

 

[fuelman]

African tanks "need" to be overstocked to spread out aggression. Or one fish gets isolated & beat to death.

 

[Reefing102]

African tanks "need" to be overstocked to spread out aggression. Or one fish gets isolated & beat to death.

This

If you try to stock a cichlids tank similar to a saltwater tank you will see active aggression to the “weakest” link

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Aggression is why you overstock a cichlid tank but if you try to do this in a SW tank then you will likely have issues with export methods covering nutrients. Also different reef fish stick to certain zones which complicates things.