Controlled overstock cichlids

[wesleydnunder]

I never said I was an expert. If you want to believe that then by all means, believe what you will. Most of us here aren't and I know for sure I'm not. And for the overstock issue, there are tons of people, most of which you and I probably don't know, that have tons of fish in one tank that really isn't "safe" but they are able to handle the problem. You should try out Google and YouTube! They're awesome! Come back after you see what searching "overstocked aquariums" gives you. I'm only using the 10gal as a holding tank, but compared to these crazy people, they actually keep their fish in the small tank! I'm just giving the OP insight on what overstocked tanks "usually" look like.

I did mention,


If some guy over in Japan or some LFS can stock their tanks with a lot of fish, I don't see why can't anyone else?

:aua:

Mark

[mistahoo]

It is a friendly forum. No one is preying on people trying to learn. The OP was told by at least two experienced members that his 26 gal was inadequate for the stocking he has. That wasn't what he wanted to hear. He was given misinformation, which was corrected.



Look around. Most of the older members have left or very seldom come around. I've talked to many of them. They left because they got tired of the constant misinformation the overnight experts rear up on their hind legs and bleat out. No one is saying don't help. Just get your facts straight before you post. In this thread, the OP got the answer he wanted to read. Doesn't mean it was the right one for his fish.

Mark

I never said I was an expert. If you want to believe that then by all means, believe what you will. Most of us here aren't and I know for sure I'm not. And for the overstock issue, there are tons of people, most of which you and I probably don't know, that have tons of fish in one tank that really isn't "safe" but they are able to handle the problem. You should try out Google and YouTube! They're awesome! Come back after you see what searching "overstocked aquariums" gives you. I'm only using the 10gal as a holding tank, but compared to these crazy people, they actually keep their fish in the small tank! I'm just giving the OP insight on what overstocked tanks "usually" look like.

I did mention,

OP, if you want to see more overstocked tanks before you decide to start one, check out the videos on YouTube. A lot of them are under- maintained and pretty booboo. You're gonna need to give the tank more attention than if you were to do a normal setup

If some guy over in Japan or some LFS can stock their tanks with a lot of fish, I don't see why can't anyone else?

[makatak123]

well, this is getting out of hand...

[wesleydnunder]

What an awesome friendly forum this is! Thought this place was a gathering of people with common interest and hobbies not a place to prey on the people who are learning.

It is a friendly forum. No one is preying on people trying to learn. The OP was told by at least two experienced members that his 26 gal was inadequate for the stocking he has. That wasn't what he wanted to hear. He was given misinformation, which was corrected.

I know I'm derailing but lately, I've noticed that quite a few "older" members have been attacking or degrading several of the "newer" members. Did everyone become E-thugs or something?

Look around. Most of the older members have left or very seldom come around. I've talked to many of them. They left because they got tired of the constant misinformation the overnight experts rear up on their hind legs and bleat out. No one is saying don't help. Just get your facts straight before you post. In this thread, the OP got the answer he wanted to read. Doesn't mean it was the right one for his fish.

I've been keeping fish longer than most of you have been alive. A couple decades ago, I had patience for ignorance. Now I guess I'm something of a curmudgeon, and have very little patience for the glorification of dumbing down.

I was a Mod here and asked Traci to drop my Mod status. Work has gotten heavier and I wasn't sure I'd be able to devote the time to site it needs from Mods. That was one reason... the other was, I saw the writing on the wall with many new members and I knew it'd be a matter of time before threads like this one cropped up. Knowing myself and what my reaction to a bunch of the posted crap would be, I didn't want anything coming back on Traci for my posts.

I'm sure I'll be banned soon for saying what needs to be said without saying "pretty please" first, so likely you won't have to put up with my thuggishness much longer. I just find it a little sad that supadave was the only other one with the sack to speak up.

Mark

[mistahoo]

I know I'm derailing but lately, I've noticed that quite a few "older" members have been attacking or degrading several of the "newer" members. Did everyone become E-thugs or something?

[mistahoo]

What an awesome friendly forum this is! Thought this place was a gathering of people with common interest and hobbies not a place to prey on the people who are learning.

+1

[Dien16]

What an awesome friendly forum this is! Thought this place was a gathering of people with common interest and hobbies not a place to prey on the people who are learning.

[wesleydnunder]

Whoa... My apologies Mr. Expert. I just offered what I knew and have seen

Which wouldn't fill a thimble.

Mark

[mistahoo]

Because you don't know what you're talkin' about, I have the problem? Typical...

Mark

Whoa... My apologies Mr. Expert. I just offered what I knew and have seen

[Johnsbra123]

Seems like this thread is 'overstocked'. I just had to crack a joke! I'm going to keep them till they get around 4", then I will sell them to some one and keep the lab pair. I have 2 labs, 2 albino, 2 orange, 3 Mbuna.

[wesleydnunder]

Whoa seems like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed

Because you don't know what you're talkin' about, I have the problem? Typical...

Mark

[wesleydnunder]

theres no need for name calling. just because someone is new to HFB doesn't mean they are new to the hobby. overstockng is common with cichlids to cut down on aggression by not allowing for territories to be established. it can be done as long as you keep up on water changes and filtration.

Calling someone a newb isn't necessarily a derogatory. In this case it's a fact. I've been keeping fish since 1968 and there are people around this site with a year or less under their belts in this hobby who are self-styled experts and "gurus". Please.
8 labs in a 26 gal is eventually gonna turn out bad for the fish; and after all, isn't that why we're in this? To keep our fish as happy and healthy and keep their conditions optimum for them?
Eventually these fish are gonna become sexually active. Ever kept labs that are sexually active adult? If the subs can't get away from the alpha he will kill them. He may kill the females as well. Yes, with enough filtration and water changes you can keep these fish alive. But they need room and hiding places to get away from each other; to SWIM for pete's sake. Would you put a dog in a kennel carrier for its whole life? It can live but what is its quality of life?

You're right, to disperse aggression, it's sometimes recommended to stock a Malawian tank heavily. However, there's a big difference between doing so with multiple species in a large tank and keeping one species in something that is gonna wind up lookin' like a cage match.

Mark

[mistahoo]

This is my overstocked 10gal holding tank and I had no problems with ammonia. I do 100% water changes every 2-3 days though

[allysangels]

petco does free water tests... just change religiously youll be fine

[mistahoo]

Op.....you stated that you have a 70 gallon filter on your tank and your water is crystal clear . Just understand that "crystal clear" water does not mean that you have healthy water . Your water can be crystal clear and still have ammonia and or high nitrates . My advice to you if you plan to overstock your tank is to invest in some test strips and prepare yourself to be dedicated and anal about performing water changes . If you ask me.....8 labs in a 26 gallon tank is already overstocked .

I agree with the bit about ammonia and water changes but you don't really need test strips. I think it's a waste of money. If I notice something is wrong with the fish, I normally just do a water change and add dechlrinator.