Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked?

wasterkrak · 06-30-2008, 03:35 PM

I have 45 gallon saltwater tank-45lbs live rock
protein skimmer- ViaAqua Skimmer II deluxe (filter/uv sterilzer)
hydor koralia power head

LIVESTOCK
two (2) ocellaris clownfish- 1.5 inches each
three (3) chromis - 1-1.5 inches each right now
one (1) flame angel - 1.5 inches
(1) fire shrimp
and a variety of small snails and hermit crabs

Please let me know if i'm overstocked (or soon to be overstocked when fish reach adult size)?

vdituri · 06-30-2008, 03:38 PM

You are right around the edge of "recommended" fish stocking.
All tanks are different. With agressive cleaning and plenty of cleanup crew tanks can be perfectly fine.

Do you have any problems maintaining water parameters or any problems with algae?

SeahorseBT · 06-30-2008, 03:55 PM

It sounds ok to me, a good indicator is what your nitrates are at, if they are at 0 then you might be able to get away with 1 or 2 more small fish.

lcstorc · 06-30-2008, 03:57 PM

Looks like a good group to me.
As the fish mature so will the tank. With proper maintenance you should be fine.

wasterkrak · 06-30-2008, 04:03 PM

I have no problems maintaining water parameters, but have what i might consider a normal amount of algae which i attribute to leaving the lights on the tank for too long (7am-7pm).. i do a 20% water change every three weeks and cahnge the filter media every month. I had no problems with nitrates, but the flame angel was just added recently, still waiting to see how much the addition affects my bio-load.

Thanks for all the replies..really appreciate the quick response.

BigAl07 · 06-30-2008, 04:04 PM

You'll want to stay AHEAD of your tank. You're very close on the "optimal" fish per gallon. I like to see more frequent water changes. If you see algae now you'll want to be more diligent as it will get ahead of you in a hurry.

Happy Reefing

wasterkrak · 06-30-2008, 04:25 PM

BigAl....what would you recommend as far as the amount and frequency of water changes. Also if you could advise as to other maintanance recommendations that I might want to look into in order to "stay AHEAD" of my other than water changes, changing filter media, and algae scraping...thanks again

PEMfish · 06-30-2008, 04:30 PM

Your fine for now, but may see problems down the road...

BigAl07 · 06-30-2008, 04:41 PM

All I can do is try and tell you how I do it..

A) I like a "lighter than usual" stocking load... just makes it "easier" to maintain.

B) I like 20%(+/-) water changes a week. Every other week if I'm lazy but I like to change at least 20% at a time. One main reason is Nitrate reduction is directly proportional to water change %..... the more the better (within reason)

C) I like to change filter media (sponges, floss, pads etc) at the very LEAST once a week.

D) Invest in your own RO/DI unit for source water if you haven't

E) I test weekly unless I see a problem starting then I test daily.

Hope this helps

wasterkrak · 06-30-2008, 05:37 PM

Thank you to everyone with your quick responses...I really appreciate it.
Happy reefing

06-30-2008, 03:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
wasterkrak Tunicate Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 View Gallery Karma Komment	Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked? I have 45 gallon saltwater tank-45lbs live rock protein skimmer- ViaAqua Skimmer II deluxe (filter/uv sterilzer) hydor koralia power head LIVESTOCK two (2) ocellaris clownfish- 1.5 inches each three (3) chromis - 1-1.5 inches each right now one (1) flame angel - 1.5 inches (1) fire shrimp and a variety of small snails and hermit crabs Please let me know if i'm overstocked (or soon to be overstocked when fish reach adult size)?

06-30-2008, 03:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 5,772 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked? You are right around the edge of "recommended" fish stocking. All tanks are different. With agressive cleaning and plenty of cleanup crew tanks can be perfectly fine. Do you have any problems maintaining water parameters or any problems with algae? __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

06-30-2008, 03:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
SeahorseBT Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Libertyville, IL Posts: 1,059 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked? It sounds ok to me, a good indicator is what your nitrates are at, if they are at 0 then you might be able to get away with 1 or 2 more small fish. __________________ -Blake http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...chronicle.html -My 46 gallon Seahorse Tank http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...chronicle.html -My 34 gallon mixed reef.

06-30-2008, 03:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,925 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked? Looks like a good group to me. As the fish mature so will the tank. With proper maintenance you should be fine. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

06-30-2008, 04:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
wasterkrak Tunicate Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked? I have no problems maintaining water parameters, but have what i might consider a normal amount of algae which i attribute to leaving the lights on the tank for too long (7am-7pm).. i do a 20% water change every three weeks and cahnge the filter media every month. I had no problems with nitrates, but the flame angel was just added recently, still waiting to see how much the addition affects my bio-load. Thanks for all the replies..really appreciate the quick response.

06-30-2008, 04:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 12,797 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked? You'll want to stay AHEAD of your tank. You're very close on the "optimal" fish per gallon. I like to see more frequent water changes. If you see algae now you'll want to be more diligent as it will get ahead of you in a hurry. Happy Reefing __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. >((((º> Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...(-NO3=WC%) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!! Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Now in STORAGE and Dry-Docked BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

06-30-2008, 04:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
wasterkrak Tunicate Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked? BigAl....what would you recommend as far as the amount and frequency of water changes. Also if you could advise as to other maintanance recommendations that I might want to look into in order to "stay AHEAD" of my other than water changes, changing filter media, and algae scraping...thanks again

06-30-2008, 04:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
PEMfish Golden Moray Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kane Co. Il. Posts: 2,459 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked? Your fine for now, but may see problems down the road... __________________ Paul `EM My new 48" reef tank; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-opciones.html My new planted; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-planted.html# Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. I'll make the whole damn world jealous if given the money to do so. Don't make mistakes and learn from them, read and learn how to avoid mistakes. a)Fix the damn problem b)live with it -But absolutely no b*tching

06-30-2008, 04:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 12,797 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked? All I can do is try and tell you how I do it.. A) I like a "lighter than usual" stocking load... just makes it "easier" to maintain. B) I like 20%(+/-) water changes a week. Every other week if I'm lazy but I like to change at least 20% at a time. One main reason is Nitrate reduction is directly proportional to water change %..... the more the better (within reason) C) I like to change filter media (sponges, floss, pads etc) at the very LEAST once a week. D) Invest in your own RO/DI unit for source water if you haven't E) I test weekly unless I see a problem starting then I test daily. Hope this helps __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. >((((º> Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...(-NO3=WC%) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!! Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Now in STORAGE and Dry-Docked BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

06-30-2008, 05:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
wasterkrak Tunicate Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is my 45 gallon saltwater tank overstocked? Thank you to everyone with your quick responses...I really appreciate it. Happy reefing

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