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Over Stocking


fishandchips

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The general rule is one inch of fish per gallon of water. Gravel, rocks, plants, equipment and fish take up tank volume so the actual water volume will be less than the volume listed for the tank. Fish weight is more important than fish length. For example, the strain-on-system capacity of an eight-inch cichlid is far greater than that of eight one-inch tetras. Experienced hobbyists can safely maintain more biomass of fish in a tank than can a novice. A common exception to this rule is the Malawi (African) cichlid tank. A hobbyist can stock high numbers of these cichlids (up to one fish per gallon) in order to overcome the problems associated with territorial aggression. When this is done tanks require large filtration capacity and close attention to water quality.

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Hi fishandchips welcome to the site I am pretty sure there are quite a few experienced fish people out there who will help you with any and all queries you may have and then you really will be confused :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Hi All

I don't know about the "one inch of fish to the gallon of water" theory but:... :oops:

I have always stuck to what the late "Bill Sievewright" told me; and that is "one inch of fish, less the tail, to eight square inches of tank surface area". :roll:

It still works for me to this day. :wink:

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I was quoting a "BELT & BRACES" system that does not allow for anything other than fish and plants in a tank. That allows for 1 inch of body length of fish to 8 square inches of surface area.

It's a shame if you are stocked to maximum using the literage or any other system and rely on a pump and, or filter to allow HIGH stocking levels.

You have to allow for failures and filters and pumps DO BREAK DOWN.

Too late then to worry about over stocking "that tank" when the break down occurs.

It's time to start moving fish into another tank.

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I agree with you Amazonian about understocking. Most of my tanks could hold a bit more than they do but its always nice to know that i can skip a few days on a w/c or things arent going to go sour quickly if we lose power and so on.

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Why can cichlids be overstocked in a tank. Have been looking at other peolpes set ups and they all seem to be over stocked.

Slightly confused about why??

If you are talking about African Cichlids (bright pretty colours) they are normally 'over'stocked to keep agression low. With lower stocks, fighting between males can become problematic I'm told.

I dont keep africans, just what I was told.

American Cichlids don't like being crowded though.

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Yeah I overcrowd my africans I had probably 40-50 africans in a 260litre tank more than half of them were over 10cm's im pretty sure that blew the rule out of the water... I even had fish that shouldn't be a tank that small (fully grown bumblebee male) and everything was fine.

But I did run 2 externals on it around 2000LPH total and 2 airstones going nuts the filters got clogged weekly also had huge problems with green water (even with a UV steriliser) the fish were all happy and healthy.. They were supposed to go into my 540litre tank but that got broken so they ended up in the 4ft as a holding tank I have reduced numbers a bit now as it looks like its going to be a while before I fix the 5ft could have left it as is but couldn't stand the green water lol

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That rule/guideline is the biggest laod of horse s**t ever! There are far too many variables to take into consideration, its so vauge and variable its not even worth considering as a 'rough guide'. IMO if you're not having problems with territory, aggression or water quality issues then your tank is not over-stocked.

400g.jpg

8)

BTW that is only an end-shot of a 400g tank!

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