Over stocked tanks

djm761

djm761

Large Fish
#1
Mar 21, 2011
190
0
0
#1
Yes this is my tank, I've always liked a busy tanks as do a lot of people, but more and more on these boards we're hearing from new hobbyist who don't understand how much money, work and time have to be invested to keep an over stocked tank healthy. So lets start with filtration and water quality and see where it takes us.

150 gallon tank

Filtration
2 Fluval FX5 canisters filled with media and 2 Emperor 400's using cartridges and carbon baskets

Water changes 60 gallons twice a week cleaning the gravel both times.

Feeding
I feed the fish flake food, watching them eat then hand feed them a treat every day, this way I know who's eating and who I should keep an eye on.

With my fish it seems to be consistency do it the same all the time. example a couple of weeks ago I was very sick I missed one water change and within a day or two you could see the difference in their appetites, they became very lethargic and didn't want to eat.

A short video of my tank tank001.mp4 video by djm761 - Photobucket

Feel free to add to the list, but lets keep it friendly and informative.
 

Kiara1125

Kiara1125

Superstar Fish
#2
Jan 12, 2011
1,142
0
0
Florida
#2
Yes, a lot of people like to yell at me saying that my tanks are overstocked (10g's when I first got them) but they don't understand that I do a water change twice a week totaling 60%. My fish are healthy, never had a disease besides ich in my goldfish tank during the summer (the tank was 90°F) and yet people still don't believe me when I say that I can handle it. I may have only been in this hobby for a year now (tomorrow marks the anniversary :D) but I know what I'm doing. As I'm laying here typing this, I'm looking over at my new black kuhli loaches that finally started to eat. I would never have got these guys if I didn't know enough information about them already. I love fish and this hobby is one that's staying with me for a lifetime. Im glad I got into it. Also, so many members on MFT are experienced and know what they are doing. I trust these guys and always ask them about information that I'm unsure about or I'm just double checking. I've never gone to another forum. I've become fond of the people on here like skjl, thyra, orangecones, ryanoh, kenny1tothe6, orion, and lotus just to name a few. I want to thank you guys for being on here and helping me to have a wonderful experience in fishkeeping. :D
 

KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#3
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
0
Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#3
Nice 150G, you spend a lot of time on that bad boy. I sure do on mine, its got 6 Jack Dempsey's and a sail fin pleco in it. Before I put my algae scrubber on it I was changing changing 100 to 120 gallons a week via two weekly water changes so I know what it takes to manage an overstocked tank. One big thing that really helps is several SMALL feedings as this really eases the vacuuming chore.
 

djm761

djm761

Large Fish
#4
Mar 21, 2011
190
0
0
#4
Kiara1125 said:
Yes, a lot of people like to yell at me saying that my tanks are overstocked (10g's when I first got them) but they don't understand that I do a water change twice a week totaling 60%. My fish are healthy, never had a disease besides ich in my goldfish tank during the summer (the tank was 90°F) and yet people still don't believe me when I say that I can handle it. I may have only been in this hobby for a year now (tomorrow marks the anniversary :D) but I know what I'm doing. As I'm laying here typing this, I'm looking over at my new black kuhli loaches that finally started to eat. I would never have got these guys if I didn't know enough information about them already. I love fish and this hobby is one that's staying with me for a lifetime. Im glad I got into it. Also, so many members on MFT are experienced and know what they are doing. I trust these guys and always ask them about information that I'm unsure about or I'm just double checking. I've never gone to another forum. I've become fond of the people on here like skjl, thyra, orangecones, ryanoh, kenny1tothe6, orion, and lotus just to name a few. I want to thank you guys for being on here and helping me to have a wonderful experience in fishkeeping. :D
Click to expand...
Kiara1125, Happy Anniversary, I would also like to say I've read some of your post here and I definitely think you have a good handle on the hobby, Or should I say in fishkeeping.

KcMopar said:
Nice 150G, you spend a lot of time on that bad boy. I sure do on mine, its got 6 Jack Dempsey's and a sail fin pleco in it. Before I put my algae scrubber on it I was changing changing 100 to 120 gallons a week via two weekly water changes so I know what it takes to manage an overstocked tank. One big thing that really helps is several SMALL feedings as this really eases the vacuuming chore.
Click to expand...
Feeding was a big speed bump for me, this is my first cichlid tank so I started with the twice a day feedings recommended by Petsmart, I learned in a hurry what these fish can eat, not only could they say ahead of the filtration system keeping the water cloudy, they were also eating away at the budget.

PS. I moved the video to youtube now you can see it on full screen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y0iXy9bi8M&context=C3c0298aADOEgsToPDskLIy6aWHNlb4Cdl4GO5Zj4D
 

Last edited:
KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#6
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
0
Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#6
I make my own food now mostly. Is much cheaper!!! I use canned peas, raw peeled shrimp and or raw cod, and canned carrots then I bind it with gelatin from the cheese cake section at the store. I heat the peas and carrots so the mix is warm, I add the gelatin at the end and refrigerate it until the mix sets-up in a couple hours or so. You can also add a little can of spinach to make the mix a little more buoyant. Once its set I spoon out the amounts I need. Be sure to liquefy the peas really good so the shells around the peas are all ground up. I use 1/2 to full pound of raw meat, 1 reg can of peas and 1 reg can of carrots and 1 small can of spinach, then about 2 or 3 packs of gelatin depending on the consistency of the mix you want, all this gets put in the blender. I like to use three as its less messy in the tank.
 

Kiara1125

Kiara1125

Superstar Fish
#7
Jan 12, 2011
1,142
0
0
Florida
#7
So KcMopar, how much does the food product cost in total and how long does this food last?? How much do you think you spend on your homemade fish food per month??
 

KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#8
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
0
Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#8
The cans of food are under a buck each and the seafood meat is about $3 - $5 per pound. One batch can last me two - three weeks. On store bought food I was spending about $40.00 a month for my salt water alone. I just pour the mix into some shallow plastic storage containers. Sometimes I freeze the extra.
 

djm761

djm761

Large Fish
#9
Mar 21, 2011
190
0
0
#9
Kiara1125 said:
So KcMopar, how much does the food product cost in total and how long does this food last?? How much do you think you spend on your homemade fish food per month??
Click to expand...
Yes I too would like more info, but I just got home from work, time for bed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Kiara1125

Kiara1125

Superstar Fish
#11
Jan 12, 2011
1,142
0
0
Florida
#11
lo9l you beat them to it KM. xD

It's cool that your dedicated to the best possible food for your fish. My parents won't let me do that, even if it is with my own money. I made homemade dog treatws for my Bichon and they yelled at me. WTH??
 

exhumed07

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
#15
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#15
I typicaly run pretty overstocked since i do alot of breeding and time it takes to grow large enough to sell my tanks get pretty packed. but i run double to triple filtration on my tanks but i do maybe a monthly waterchange of 50% and a bi monthly 75%. i've never had an issue besides once when i went on vacation for a week i lost alot of fish. but overstocking tanks is not a bad thing if u can take care of the tank. i have no issues and my fish thrive and are very healthy and vibrant.
 

KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#16
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
0
Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#16
As long as you can keep the nitrates down you can work with it. I try to keep mine under 20 to no more then 40 in my FW. Mine all get weekly changes due to nitrate levels. Well all except my FW 150G which has gone down to once or twice a month with the addition of an algae scrubber I built for it.
 

Lotus

Lotus

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#20
Aug 26, 2003
15,115
13
38
Southern California
home.earthlink.net
#20
It's good to see you have several filters running. That's an important factor when you have a lot of fish in a tank, mostly for the oxygenation.

One thing to be aware of if you know your tank is overstocked is that if there's a power outage, you need to have something to get oxygen into the tank. A couple of battery-powered air stones will work (if there's a power outage, put the stones near the surface of the tank). When you have a lot of fish, they'll soon start running out of air if the power goes out.
 

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