Overstocking Tank

[Mike7]

I've got a 75 gal tank with a 25 gal sump.
It's a reef tank with small fish 1-2 inch, a couple of 3 inch.

How many fish should I keep?

[BangkokMatt]

It all depends on the fish you have and are thinking of keeping. They grow. Can you give more info on your animals.

[kau_cinta_ku]

i agree what type of fish do you have now. they could be a 2" shark for all we know

[ejrabekoff]

What size, and what kind of protein skimmer. How good your biological filtration is will also determine how much bioload you can handle

[Mike7]

I've got a sump with a g2 protein skimmer and a refugium. I've got 70lbs of live rock as well as bio balls.

[waxy]

Sounds like me, I always overstock my aquarium, depends how well you keep it clean and which order you introduce the critters.

Aggressive ones last, semi-aggressive prior and the friendly ones first Like clowns! They always stay near their anemones...cute!

[skeletor121]

The info on the filtration is a good start, but you didn't state the number and types of fish you currently have. Once that is stated advice can be given on how many more you could possibly have.

There is also a lot of talk about bio balls not being a good idea for reef tanks due to being a nitrate farm. Not sure the validity of those claims since I have no experience using them.

[Mike7]

I've been looking online to find the names of the fish I've got but it took some time.

I've got 4 small yellow tangs, 1 Coral Beauty AngelFish, 4 small Green Mandarins, 9 Three Stripe Damselfish, 5 Fridmani Pseudochromis, and another 4 small fish of the name I can't find. And also some critters like hermit crabs etc.

[ggk1988]

27 fish? Are my math skills right? That seems like an awful lot of fish in a 75. I won't go into to it with the tangs but be ready...You will get some heat for having them in a four foot tank. Also the mandarins need a very mature tank of at least a year.

[Thakr21]

Seems like a lot for a 75

[Mike7]

I bought all of them at once and introduced them at the same time. But I'd like to add another 5 or so. I just don't know if its a good idea. Am I overstocked? Or is it cool to add some more?

[ggk1988]

What are you water parameters? SG, pH, ammonia, nitrite nitrate?

[BangkokMatt]

You already have way too many fish. I doubt you will sustain 4 mandarins unless you have a huge fuge and the tangs will get crowded when they grow. You could do with getting rid of the damsels as well.

[Mike7]

My SG, pH, ammonia, nitrite nitrates are good. I don't mind getting rid of the damsels. But the mandarins are awesome.

[ggk1988]

Originally posted by Mike7
I bought all of them at once and introduced them at the same time. But I'd like to add another 5 or so. I just don't know if its a good idea. Am I overstocked? Or is it cool to add some more?

Your LFS should not have sold you almost 30 fish at one time. If they did and didn't say anything i would not go back there. As far as how many fish you an have I would keep the Angel and the damsels if you really like them, but the rest i would find a good home for. even 10 is a lot.

[bertoni]

That's way too many fish. I thought you had more like 2-3 fish. I agree that 10 is a lot, probably too much.

[NirvanaFan]

For reference, I've got 6 fish in my 75. All of them are probably considered on the small size (false percs, mandarin, flame angel, firefish)

[Mike7]

Well noted. Thanks for the info.
I like the santa on the logo.

[skeletor121]

Here is a good post to start reading about your tangs:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=739380

Please do not add anymore fish to this tank unless you have a plan to have a huge tank started in the next month or so.

[kau_cinta_ku]

the fish you have now would need at least a 300+ gal. tank to keep them in good health and still even be very hard to keep 4 mandrins.

IMO you should bring back:
3 yellow tangs
all the mandrines as your tank has only been set up for 3 monthes.
all the damsels
4 of the dotty backs
and not sure about the 4 fish you have no names for.

but I agree the LFS should have never sold you all the fish at one time anyway. and you really need to do more research before buying other fish.

can you give us your water parameters in numbers please rather than saying good? and also what test kits you used to check them?

[Mike7]

I had no idea about the tangs. I'm not going to add anymore fish and I'll return the 9 Three Stripe Damselfish. I'll look for a new home for 3 tangs and take a step back.

[Mike7]

I'll get the test info soon.

[Sk8r]

Another point: look at what people are going through who have many fish and a week without power in various disaster-stricken zones.

Your chances of having not just your fish but your whole tank emerge from a power-out are vastly greater if you are under rather than fully stocked.

I could power down my system and probably leave it a day or so without expecting it to crash. It wouldn't be happy---but it would probably live.

WHen dealing with biosystems, under is better than over, in almost all departments.

[Kryptikhan]

Originally posted by Mike7
I'll get the test info soon.

Mike, imho the hobby is about the ride...enjoy it and take a deep breath.

If I could compare it to fine dining......you don't go to a 4 star Italian restaurant, order a five course meal only to devour it in seconds..you enjoy every single bite with a swoosh of wine in between (sorry for you peeps under 21, and shame on you if you are under 21 and you know what I'm talking about lol).

In a freshwater set up, although not advised, you could well possibly add like 3-7 fish at one time safely depending upon your bio load and size of the fish and not have significant impact. It's a fastfood approach to the fish hobby. Salt's more of a fine cuisine with careful study before each bite....enjoy it.

I just love those lfs who are in it for a quick buck and don't realize that loyalty, and proper advice are the true staples to making more sales, and more money. Treating livestock like shoes, is just bad bad karma.

[Mike7]

Yes master.