Nitrates are low can I had more fish?

[epond83]

So i have a planted tank, i recently posted pictures http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/fre...on/57537-pictures-my-planted-tank-shrimp.html The plants grow well enough that my nitrates are always zero even though my tap water tests at 5ppm. And i know the test works cause my turtle tank is hard to keep under 40ppm.

The tank now has a decent amount of fish in it but they all get along fine, so i was figuring that i could have more fish then an average unplanted tank, as long as they aren't crowed and since they are small tetras i should be able to add some more.

 

[Orion]

As long as the fish in the tank and what you want to add aren't really territorial, if it can handle the biological addition then I don't see why not.

The plants do act as extra biological filtration, helping eating at the nitrates for their own growth. It's not too uncommon to see a well planted tank that's over stocked when compared to a non-planted one.

 

[MissFishy]

Ditto with Orion, however, keep your stocking in check. If you overstock you need to be very experienced with fish needs that may need territories, etc.

 

[epond83]

ok cool thanks guys, i have a few neons, red phantom, black skirt, monk, and lemon tetra. Also a few algea eating shrimp, siamese algae eater, and a few otos, i know i want more oto's and a couple more neons not really sure though, kinda want to keep with the tetra theme.

 

[jo3olous]

ok cool thanks guys, i have a few neons, red phantom, black skirt, monk, and lemon tetra. Also a few algea eating shrimp, siamese algae eater, and a few otos, i know i want more oto's and a couple more neons not really sure though, kinda want to keep with the tetra theme.

You might want to increase the numbers of your schools rather than have 1 of everything. Most tetras if not all are schooling fish, so give them schools! (4-5+++)

 

[epond83]

yeah that was basically the plan, right now i have 3-4 of each, the neons are at 3 and are the smallest so i figured they should be bumbed up fist, and my algea needs a little more control so figured a few more otos would help lus i only have 2 or 3, i would really like to get more red phantoms but i guess it was a rare thing that they normamlly don't carry.