am i overstocked?

[sivel]

hello everyone,

i have a 20 g long. heres the list:

4 x damsels
1 x diamond back goby
8 x blue legged hermits
2 x peppermint shrimp

i have about 30 lbs of LR
and about 25 lbs LS

the tank water is crystal clear. 25% water change every week.
everything is in check, Ph, etc..

thanks,
sivel

[Lydo]

I don't think it's overstocked but from what I was told, the diamond goby will probably starve to death. (that's what I was told, I have no experience with them)

[sivel]

in regards to the goby, i feed my fish 3 times a day.
i always see him at the bottom eating and sifting
through the sand.


thanks,
sivel

[jdpierce21]

What are your water parameters? I think your stock level might be a little high for a 20 gallon, but it is probably okay. I've only got 3 fish in my 24 gallon. However, if you keep up with the water changes then you will probably be okay. That will be the most important thing. Also, what are you using for filtration? Do you have a sump area?

[BigScott]

when the damsels get bigger they will kill the diamon goby, dump the damsels an save a ton of money an stress..

[hmello@bermexin]

If the damsels are small you are probably okay. But be aware they do get big and big fish have big appetites and big appetites produce big poops and big poops create big bio-load. Your current tank may not be able to support that eventual bio-load.

[kevin2000]

Yes - 5 fish in a 20 gallon tank is overstocked.

[Sk8r]

Damsels can get palm-sized, and a few as big as your whole hand. They need room to run to develop healthily. The diamond may profit from the poo generated by the damsels, but he would be happier in 100g.

Kudos for looking to find out. I'd honestly recommend for a twenty that you stay to species that are cigarshaped [less body mass] and stay under 2" as adults. You'll have minimal bioload and a more self-sustaining tank. If you have a tank right on the edge of its capacity and have to go away for a weekend, it can be trouble, fast...the tank going bad in 'Finding Nemo' has nothing on the kind of trouble that can develop in 3-4 days. If your fish are much smaller, particularly heavy on detritus and algae eaters, you're quite likely to have a tank that can sustain itself for a few days, and you can have 5 fish easily, if they're of the 2" varieties. Look at gobies and blennies, dartfish and jawfish for such types.

[UnderCoverDork]

is your tank only one month old? then you have added WAY too many fish in too short of time.

[Travis L. Stevens]

My opinion is it is overstocked. If the goby is eating prepared foods, it should be fine. I would get rid of all of the damsels because of future aggression issues. If you have a can't-live-without damsel, then only keep one. Both the damsels and the goby could stand to have a larger tank, but we all have to start somewhere. Plus, if you're as hopelessly addicted to marine aquariums like most of the people on Reef Central, I predict a larger aquarium upgrade in your near future

[coast2coast7390]

IMO this is understocked...lol...i dont see how five fish and some shrimp in a 20 long is even close to being overstocked

[hmello@bermexin]

I don't know about understocked but like I said he could be good until the devil fish start to get larger, if they are small now.

[sivel]

wow, been at work all day!! long one today.

first off, thanks for all of the replies.

secondly, if im lucky, a buddy of mine is looking to "off-load"
a older 90g with overflows, and a mh setup lighting kit.
my question would be, for such a tank, would a wet/dry filter
be good for such a tank?


thanks,
sivel

P.S-
i hate addicting hobbies...

[kevin vara]

Originally posted by sivel
in regards to the goby, i feed my fish 3 times a day.
i always see him at the bottom eating and sifting
through the sand.


thanks,
sivel

i think feeding 3 times a day is way to much just my 2cents

[sivel]

Originally posted by kevin vara
i think feeding 3 times a day is way to much just my 2cents

do you mean the goby, the damsels, or all in general?

as far as the 3x a day feeding, its more focused on the
damsels.


thanks,
sivel

[chris31]

a sump is the most popular in reef tank there also good because you can put like you heaters skimmer and what ever else in there and you dont have to see them in you display

[kevin vara]

Originally posted by sivel
do you mean the goby, the damsels, or all in general?

as far as the 3x a day feeding, its more focused on the
damsels.


thanks,
sivel

in general , someone else chime in please!

[Gdevine]

The sand sifting goby probably won't make it. I had one in a 65g reef with a ton of live sand and it starved to death...most do...and I tried everything to feed it.

As for the Damsels; it all depends on what type of fish you have. Are they Blue/Green Chromis? If so, you got a great reef safe and friendly fish. Or are they Jewel Damsel's? If so, then you got a real threat on your hands.

Not all Damsel's are bad, in fact, some are great community fish; you just got to know what you're buying.

[Grins]

Originally posted by Gdevine
[B]The sand sifting goby probably won't make it. I had one in a 65g reef with a ton of live sand and it starved to death...most do...and I tried everything to feed it.

Really? Mine and many other I talk to say their's is the biggest pig in the tank when it comes to eating prepared foods. Granted my tank is only a few months old but it seems to be keeping weight in growing well. Not a diamond though, an amblygobious phalena.

[Grins]

Originally posted by coast2coast7390
IMO this is understocked...lol...i dont see how five fish and some shrimp in a 20 long is even close to being overstocked

Depends on the fish does it not? Put 5 groupers in a 20 gallon long. Overstocked? You bet'cha. I think the damsels are going to get too big for it, of course they'll probably kill one another off as well as the poor goby before the end.

[kkyyllee]

chromis can be just as bad as some damsels, most damsels get 2-4inches full grown, and will overstokc the tank, as for wetdry, its fine fore fo but if you want a reef it would cause problems, if you wanna go reef get at least 1lb/gallon liverock

[Gdevine]

Mine was a Orange Spotted Diamond Goby. They are notorious for starving to death. In fact, there is a questionnaire on this board and the general forum by a marine biologist from U of HI researching just this topic re Goby's life span in a tank. Sand sifting Goby's don't "generally" last more then a year in a tank. Sad, but true.

[Gdevine]

Originally posted by kkyyllee
chromis can be just as bad as some damsels, most damsels get 2-4inches full grown, and will overstokc the tank, as for wetdry, its fine fore fo but if you want a reef it would cause problems, if you wanna go reef get at least 1lb/gallon liverock

AGAIN, "some" Chromis can be bad, some not. Are you saying a fish like a Blue/Green Chromis is a threat?

[Grins]

Originally posted by Gdevine
Mine was a Orange Spotted Diamond Goby. They are notorious for starving to death. In fact, there is a questionnaire on this board and the general forum by a marine biologist from U of HI researching just this topic re Goby's life span in a tank. Sand sifting Goby's don't "generally" last more then a year in a tank. Sad, but true.

I saw that forum, when I researched them the one I got seemed to have a good track record and since he is eating frozen so well as well as other prepared I'll cross my fingers that he'll be an unusual success.

[Gdevine]

Originally posted by Grins
I saw that forum, when I researched them the one I got seemed to have a good track record and since he is eating frozen so well as well as other prepared I'll cross my fingers that he'll be an unusual success.

I wish you the best of luck, and I mean that in all honesty. Goby's that live off of the biology.chemistry within live sand don't do well with pellets or frozen food as it's not what they generally eat to stay alive. In fact, if they are attempting to eat foods that are not part of their ordinary natural diet that's an early sign of starvation; at least in my observation with my Orange Spotted Goby.

Give it time, see what happens.