Mel Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Ok so I am wanting to put 6 (6cm) clown loaches in my discus tank - but am thinking it is already pretty "full" on the bottom level tank is 3 ft x 2ft x 2ft approx 200 litres with 1200 LPH cannister filter stock so far: 2x 10cm discus, 1x 8cm discus, 1 snowball pleco, 1 BN, 1 15cm royal whiptail, 2 8cm whiptails, 11 assorted cories, 2 zebra loach, 2 yoyo loach, 6 tiny kuhli's, 3 marbled hatchets, 2 SAE i do have bigger tanks that fish can go into when bigger etc So really what i want to know is - when is a tank "overstocked" and can you have too many bottom dwellers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 id say your getting close to being overstocked on the bottom. im surprised your snowball is tolerant of the others, ive read that they usually get intollerant of other bottom feeders. :-? why not set up your other tanks and spread them out amoung them? then you can also get more fish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Its over-stocked when the filtration and water change schedule can't keep up with the waste the fish produce. You've only got 6 times turn-over per hour (thats if the canister is working at the optimistic maximum claimed by the manufacturer, whuch it probably isn't) so if you're worried you could add more filtration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted August 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Sorry forgot to add - the tank geta a 50% water change every second day and once a week a 80% water change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Add a hang on filter too, an aquaone clearview 800 will take your filtration to a rated 2000lph, and is better than the canister for creating surface movement, as well as easier, but more frequent maintenance. Instead of adding bottom fish id add a shoal of 20 tetras or something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 I would suggest that 2 zebra loaches, 2 yoyo loaches, 6 khuli loaches and 6 clown loaches all sounds a bit much! Why not choose just two types of loach to keep (for example the khulis and clowns) and trade in the others? Loaches are generally better in a group of their own kind anyway so the zebras and yoyos might not be at their best with just two of each. The same applies to the 11 assorted cories and 3 marbled hatchets - how about choosing one or two types of cory and having six of each? And the hatchets would look much better in a larger group in my opinion. Personally I would go further and only keep either the cories or the loaches. I strongly prefer a larger school of a single type of fish rather than lots of ones and twos. Even the SAEs seem to behave very socially when there is a school of them in the tank rather than just a couple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted August 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Thanks for that whetu - I know i'm a bit of a oddball when it comes to my bottom dwellers. I'd rather have a tank full of bottom fishes :oops: i got the yoyo & zebra loaches to eradicate my snail problem and have now grown rather attached to them and they all seem to get on marvellously. I did have 6 hatchets, but 3 have since turned to carpet fishes (due to jumping out at cleaning time) :-? so I won't be replacing them As for my cories - I love cories - they could possibly go into another tank Cricketman. My snowball pleco gets on very well with all other residents - I had him in his own tank and he was rather unhappy i never saw him - but since being in the tank he's in now we see him all the time and comes out to eat with all the rest of the fish As for my filteration - I think with the large water changes the tank gets I think the filteration is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 that terrible snowball of yours will KILL ALL YOUR FISH! ill take him offf your hands cause im such a good guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 OHhh NO phoenix is at it again :roll: He just cant seem to help himself :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted August 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 that terrible snowball of yours will KILL ALL YOUR FISH! ill take him offf your hands cause im such a good guy LOL I don't think so mate!!!!! Good try or perhaps ... I'll give you snowball .... if ... you give me your king tiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 really want to trade? ill be happy doing that. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted August 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Sorry no... Glen just said no he's part of the family, but we'll buy him off you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 ahahhahahahhaaha. he is part of the family too. only i only ever see him like twice a week. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted August 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 You have to be sneaky then .. and do what I did, position his cave directly in view ... I've done that with snowballs cave and see him whenever i like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 yeh. but ALL i have is caves :lol: I reckon you can put more bottom feeders in there - ive seen the tank and it looks pretty empty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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