Am I overstocking the tank?

Question

29 gallon:
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7 tiger barbs
7-8 corydoras catfish
1 gold gourami (if it gets along with barbs)

Am I overstocking?

Answer 1

you're overstocked, especially with those corycats. they're killers on your bioload... the 1 inch of fish per gallon rule is so horrible. it would be so cruel to throw a 10" fish an a 10gallon tank.

Answer 2

Depends on their size and your filtration system. If you plan on purchasing a larger "grow out" tank and they are currently small fish, this may be suitable for the time being. Even then 29 gallons can be inadequate for 15 smaller fish. Try to purchase a filtration system for a 50 gallon tank, put it in your 29 gallon, then siphon the water often with a gravel siphon. It may also be a good idea to monitor the ammonia levels. The catfish will grow to about 2.8" in captivity, tiger barbs about 5-7 centimeters long, and the gourami can grow up to 15 cm. It seems you may be overstocking. Or at least need to seriously consider a larger tank soon for them to grow into if they are currently young and small. Also, when considering surface area, remember some fish do not utilize the upper area of the water, while others do nothing but hover there. Not all of the surface area is suitable for some fish, they may feel crowded.

Answer 3

No, your not overstocking. You're right at the limit. Corydoras max size at 3" per fish (24"), Tiger Barbs at 2.5" per fish (17.5")and the Gourami at 6", that's a total of 47.5". That's okay. The 1" per gallon rule makes no sense at all! Someone previously stated putting a 10" fish in a 10 gallon. How about a 20" fish in a 20 gallon. It makes no sense. It's not the gallons for stocking, it's the surface area of the tank. The larger the surface area, the more fish you can stock. Surface area plays a role in the oxygen exchange with the water to help nitrification in biological filtration. Think of a tank that's 4' tall, 2' wide and 2' long versus 4' long, 2' tall and 2' wide. There's a much greater surface area for your fish to thrive and nitrification to take place on the 4' long, 2' tall, and 2' wide.
tank.

Answer 4

It's tight, but it's not really badly overstocked.
The major problem is with the tiger barbs. Tiger barbs are THE nippy fish! They also enjoy lower regions of the tank, and might get into conflict with the docile corys.
Also, gold gouramis are pretty big, 4"... maybe too big for a 30 gallon.

How about some shellies? They are little shelldwelling african cichlids, and if you can find Neolamprologus Leleupi, well, just LOOK at the colour!
http://www.tntcichlids.com/PICS/croped/Neolamprologus%20Leleupi.jpg
If you like yellow gold ;)


Or if you want to stick with a community, go with the 6-8 cories, a gold gourami, and maybe a small school of tetras instead of the barbs. There are lots of gorgeous and uncommon tetras out there, that would be smaller and more placid that barbs.

Answer 5

no because i have a 10 gallon and i have 6 fish. Buy a fish tank a week before getting fish. Buy white light w/ blue rock never put neon in a fish. Buy fake plant and 2 oxygen thing but 4 your case 4 oxygen8erI dont know the of oxygen corydoras catfish u r talkin about

Answer 6

As a general rule, its stock 1inch of fish per Gallon. Take in mind that your fish grow so right now you may be fine, but in 6 months they may all be too big to be together. As long as you have a very strong filter, correct ph balance and tank levels you should be fine. Keep in mind also that you will have to change the water once a week to remove all the amonnia that many fish will excreet.

Answer 7

You shouldn't be. If you were to add any more fish i would only add 1 or 2 more. The rule is 1 inch of fish for every 1 gallon.

Answer 8

My advice is to get a larger tank.

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

You're on the limits...