overcrowding???
45 posts • Page 1 of 5
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greasemonkey24 - Posts: 29
- Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:47 am
overcrowding???
gday gus, after advice. i have a 180gallon tank (5ftx2ftx2ft) with over 80 cichlids do you think it is too many
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natalie265 - Site Admin
- Posts: 746
- Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:48 pm
180 gallons is a huge tank, but that's a lot of fish! My guess is that you are over stocked, but it depends on how big the cichlids are and how much filtration you have.
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Alasse - Posts: 993
- Joined: Sun May 09, 2010 5:35 am
- Location: QLD Australia
A 5x2x2 tank does not come to 180gal either
The tank is a 150 US gal tank, and it would actually be slightly under that as you do not fill the tank completely to the brim.
The tank is a 150 US gal tank, and it would actually be slightly under that as you do not fill the tank completely to the brim.
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greasemonkey24 - Posts: 29
- Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:47 am
ALASSE,
i fill to the brim and it takes just under 680 litres (im in australia) i used a converter to calculate by gallons an not exactly 5x2x2 its custom built by my glazier an its not a US tank either.
NATALIE265
im running 2 cannister filters and also an internal filter to put a slight current in there an keep water movement. my chiclids arent too big just yet roughly (10cm +- 2) i had the all since about 4cm they are doing really well just wasnt sure if its too many
i fill to the brim and it takes just under 680 litres (im in australia) i used a converter to calculate by gallons an not exactly 5x2x2 its custom built by my glazier an its not a US tank either.
NATALIE265
im running 2 cannister filters and also an internal filter to put a slight current in there an keep water movement. my chiclids arent too big just yet roughly (10cm +- 2) i had the all since about 4cm they are doing really well just wasnt sure if its too many
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Alasse - Posts: 993
- Joined: Sun May 09, 2010 5:35 am
- Location: QLD Australia
No it doesnt i'm sorry....i am also Australian
5x2x2
Convert feet to centimeters
152 x 61 x 61= 565592
Divide by 1000
566 litres (rounded up)
It is not possible to get 680litres into a 5x2x2, which is what you stated originally it was. Why call it a 5x2x2 when now you are stating it is not. What dimensions does the tank have??
I never stated it was a US tank lmao. you stated it was 180gal, i stated its not, its 150 US gal (or 566litres)
Going by the photo YOU showed you do NOT fill it anywhere near the brim, so it is not even 150Gal
You are running 2 canisters and you need to add an internal for slight current?? With 2 canisters you should have awesome current unless they are under powered
5x2x2
Convert feet to centimeters
152 x 61 x 61= 565592
Divide by 1000
566 litres (rounded up)
It is not possible to get 680litres into a 5x2x2, which is what you stated originally it was. Why call it a 5x2x2 when now you are stating it is not. What dimensions does the tank have??
I never stated it was a US tank lmao. you stated it was 180gal, i stated its not, its 150 US gal (or 566litres)
Going by the photo YOU showed you do NOT fill it anywhere near the brim, so it is not even 150Gal
You are running 2 canisters and you need to add an internal for slight current?? With 2 canisters you should have awesome current unless they are under powered
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greasemonkey24 - Posts: 29
- Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:47 am
i think my cannisters are under powered they sort of just trickle out. no idea why but. what is the best way to set up cannister filters??? i have a eheim 2215 and an aqua one 1000, i have the suction line 3/4 of the way down an then the return going across the side of my tank
i was in the middle of a water change when taking that photo.
sorry my tank is 156x65x65 i thought it was 5x2x2 but just measured an its alittle bigger, i just measured. thanks for ur advice ALASSE i have taken alot out and now only have 40
i was in the middle of a water change when taking that photo.
sorry my tank is 156x65x65 i thought it was 5x2x2 but just measured an its alittle bigger, i just measured. thanks for ur advice ALASSE i have taken alot out and now only have 40
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greasemonkey24 - Posts: 29
- Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:47 am
ALASSE u sound pretty clued on, how much oxygen should i be putting into a tank like this??? i have a air tube roughly 1/3 the length of my tank in the middle at the back of my tank but not sure if enough or not. ive had this tank alittle over 6mnths and still trying to work out the best way to have it established your suggestions are greatly appreciated
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Alasse - Posts: 993
- Joined: Sun May 09, 2010 5:35 am
- Location: QLD Australia
When was the last time you cleaned your canisters (including all tubing). What media do you have in them.
What height are they having to pump upto to return water to your tank.
Though at a glance definately underfiltered. I am using a AquaOne similar to yours on a 2.5ft tank and it just does that. I would seriously be looking at MUCH larger filtration than you currently have :)
Cichlids are filthy fish and your tank will have problems as they get bigger unless you fix the filtration problem.
As for air, i run an otto internal filter with airline into my 5ft cichlid tank, it manages to blast nice small air bubbles halfway across the tank, more than enough to airate the tank.
My canisters are setup.
5ft intake one end, outlet the other (no spraybar)
4ft intake and outlet are both at one end of the tank, spraybay runs along back of tank
2.5ft intake one end, outlet the other (no spraybar)
All my other tanks run internals only
What height are they having to pump upto to return water to your tank.
Though at a glance definately underfiltered. I am using a AquaOne similar to yours on a 2.5ft tank and it just does that. I would seriously be looking at MUCH larger filtration than you currently have :)
Cichlids are filthy fish and your tank will have problems as they get bigger unless you fix the filtration problem.
As for air, i run an otto internal filter with airline into my 5ft cichlid tank, it manages to blast nice small air bubbles halfway across the tank, more than enough to airate the tank.
My canisters are setup.
5ft intake one end, outlet the other (no spraybar)
4ft intake and outlet are both at one end of the tank, spraybay runs along back of tank
2.5ft intake one end, outlet the other (no spraybar)
All my other tanks run internals only
Last edited by Alasse on Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Okiimiru - Posts: 275
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:19 pm
My definition of overcrowded is based upon behavior.
Do the fish have their own territory, and can they swim around and enjoy their life enacting the behaviors that they would in the wild? Or are they so tightly crowded that all they can do is swim in a little circle before they bump into another fish? Where no fish can hold its own space, but all are jam packed together so much that their natural behaviors are interrupted? Are the fish foraging and breeding successfully? If not, then they are overcrowded in my opinion.
Do the fish have their own territory, and can they swim around and enjoy their life enacting the behaviors that they would in the wild? Or are they so tightly crowded that all they can do is swim in a little circle before they bump into another fish? Where no fish can hold its own space, but all are jam packed together so much that their natural behaviors are interrupted? Are the fish foraging and breeding successfully? If not, then they are overcrowded in my opinion.
