Can a Filter Save This Overcrowded Aquarium?
Is it possible to keep a nearly overcrowded aquarium for a long time? Will filtration solve the problems? Or are other problems bound to arise.
The limits of aquarium filters, or don't make the mistake of seeing your canister filter as a magic cure against all tank problems.
Consider a 90 gallon tank with these fishes and their corresponding sizes:
- 12 Fire eels
- 9 Jack Dempsey
- 5 Convict's
- 6 Firemouth
- 6 Severum
- 7 Rainbow Eartheater
- 10 Gold Nugget Pleco
- 9 Tiger barbs and
- 12 Rainbow Cichlids
I plan a daily 10 Gallon water change, a FilStar P4 external canister filter a Hagen Fluval FX5 and a Eheim 2203 canister. Which means I should have no filtration problems.
No problems so far for the last two and a half years, no signs of aggression from the Jack so far and the little community is getting enough food and looks great with its diverse colors.
However, the tank might be to some degree insufficient for this many a stock. Convicts come breeding time are downright nasty fishes and can be quite a challenge to the Jack once it starts to show telltale aggression. Other fishes might not have enough space to flee from.
A tank this size can expose too many targets to the Jack Dempsey and might cause panic and even free bingeing – largely by the Jack.
The Acara would be most likely to go first, next is the Severum, and then the Firemouth. The Loaches will hardly be targeted because of their being bottom feeders. Pose less danger to the Jack and will greatly be ignored.
Bottom line is, before the Jack realizes it’s a Jack and start preying on the other fishes, either get a much larger tank twice the current size or put the South American fishes in another tank so they can continue to live in peace.