55g - Overstocked cory tank? Opinions?

Condejesuit · Post by **Condejesuit** » 19 Nov 2007, 06:05

I have 55g tank with cories and pl*cos. Tank has been set up for over 4 months. Background. Temperature 78.4 and water parameters good (Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, & Nitrite 0.5). 30% pwc done weekly alongside gravel vacuuming. Water filtration is provided by Aqua clear 70 and Marineland penguin 350. Tank is mostly barebottom. 25% of bottom is covered with gravel. 2 airstones. Only plant is large amazon sword.

Here are my boys and girls:

4 Bandit cories
6 Panda cories
3 Sterbai cories
2 Swartz cories
8 Juli cories
6 Nanus cories
4 Peppered cories
6 Habrosus cories
3 Oto's
3 Leopard Oto's
2 Clown Pleco's

Do you think I am overstocked? Any opinions, suggestions or criticisms welcome.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 19 Nov 2007, 10:17

Zero nitrate sounds unlikely - you should get a "reading" for nitrate in an established tank. If you don't, then there's something wrong - either with the test you are using, or the cycling of the tank. Nitrite of 0.5 indicates that the tank is cycling - either because it's newly set up, or because it's had a "filter crash" [or possibly insufficient filtering].

As such, I don't think the amount of fish is technically overstocked, but it's certainly not what I'd call a "lightly stocked tank". If it's a new tank, then it's definitely on the high stocking levels, becuase you need to build up the stock slowly.

--
Mats

Richard B · Post by **Richard B** » 19 Nov 2007, 13:41

Welcome to Planet Catfish

Stocking any tank should primarily be concerned with surface area & adequate space for the adult fish. This 2nd point shouldn't be a concern for you as Corys are a small fish (as are otos). Most standard tanks are longer than they are deeper so there should be adequate surface area & therefore substrate space. Mats' comments aside the nitrate/nitrite does seem odd!

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 19 Nov 2007, 17:06

It is quite a variety but it doesn't seem that over crowded to me. When I raise 100 Corydoras sterbai to salable size of ~1-inch in a 20 long, 12 X 12 X 30-inches; that's crowded.
Of course this requires daily water changes of about 75% each day.

Condejesuit · Post by **Condejesuit** » 19 Nov 2007, 21:45

Thanks Mats, Richard and Larry for the replies. Feel much better that I haven't gone too overboard.

Mats, good catch, sorry reversed the readings on nitrates and nitrites.

Condejesuit · Post by **Condejesuit** » 19 Nov 2007, 21:47

Hi Larry, what type of filtration did you use for your sterbai tank. With 75% daily water changes would you need one? Just curious.