Plants v Fish Ratio

[Bradders]

Hi All,

Looking at some of the beautiful aquariums in this forum, I wondered if anyone has had success with a lot of plants and a lot of fish.

I have read that plants and fish (both in high numbers) can cause a conflict due to the plants' needs versus the fish's needs. And therefore, you either have to choose a lot of plants and only some fish, or lots of fish and only some plants.

Is this the experience that you have had?

 

[LightingBamboozled]

I've always been a "Fish First" tank keeper. My current tank is around 111% Stocked according to aqadvisor. And I'd say it's reasonably heavily planted. That being said I do make sacrifices on plant care for the sake of fish. I run my CO2 at a lower PPM than I would without fish. I run nitrate limited fertilisation. If a plant doesn't work I'm less willing to make big changes in order to accomodate a plant and so tend to stick with easy plants.

 

[Bradders]

Looks great @LightingBamboozled !

How are you finding the spray bars rather than using nozzles?
Also, what filtration are you running on your tank?

 

[John q]

And therefore, you either have to choose a lot of plants and only some fish, or lots of fish and only some plants.

Similar to the tank above I have lots of plants and the last time I checked the tank was fully stocked with fish.
The often quoted "You can't have lots of fish in a planted tank" seems to stem from the idea that A) lots of fish creates a bio load unfavourable to planted tanks, and B) high fish levels require good oxygenation levels, which is somehow detrimental if one wants to maintain reasonable levels of Co2 in a planted tank.

Thankfully we know that regular tank maintenance and frequent water changes can combat any problems that could arise from point A, we also know that both un planted tanks and planted tanks require good levels of oxygenation to thrive, ie flow, surface agitation and/or aeration, doing this doesn't need to be detrimental to maintaining "good" levels of co2 in a planted tank (either high tech or low tech), on the contrary doing this is actually beneficial and I'd say a basic requirement of any planted tank, so not sure why some folks claim good oxygenation and good levels of Co2 aren't compatible.

Will never win a ada scape competition and mainly contains easy going plants, but should dispel the myth that you can't have lots of plants and lots of fish in the same tank.

 

[Bradders]

Another lovely aquarium @John q ! So amazing to see what people have achieved.

Now I understand that I have achieved a "tank with fish, with random plonking of plants". 🙂 Which, of course, is why I have joined this forum!

The stocking question is a tough one, as I guess that is where you draw the line between light, moderate and heavy stocking. There are so many people with so many opinions; you have to go through the process yourself and see where you settle. On my small 100-litre tank, I am 20% overstocked, according to AQAdvisor, but the filtration can run twice the load without blinking an eye. If you have plants, there is less space for fish, so assume AQAdvisor is more of a rough guide than anything scientific. (They also don't consider Oase filters worth adding to the drop-down list!)

My next step is to use this forum and people's great experience to look at the basics and start building up my aquarium to have a nicer aquascape. I have been too random in my approach, and although enjoying some marginal success I need to learn more to create something a little more beautiful!

 

[fredi]

Having kept tropheus for years, in vastly overstocked (according to some) conditions, I have not had problems, large weekly water changes (50% or more), will prevent build up of nitrates and phosphates, and help to maintain pH and hardness, the fish will tell you if they are ok, it’s worth keeping an eye on kh as it will drop if your water changes are not frequent/large enough

 

[LightingBamboozled]

Looks great @LightingBamboozled !

How are you finding the spray bars rather than using nozzles?
Also, what filtration are you running on your tank?

I like the spray bars. it gives good circulation and surface movement. I run two Tetra ex1200 plus's. My tank is a little crooked in its build so you can't use the hardware that came with the filters for going in and out of the tank because it won't fit past the braces.

 

[Bradders]

My tank is a little crooked in its build so you can't use the hardware that came with the filters for going in and out of the tank because it won't fit past the braces.

Don't talk to me about bracing bars. Bain of my life! I have two filters on my aquarium, and it took an age to shoehorn them around the bracing bars!

I have Oase Biomasters, and at my head height, I only get up to 500-600L/ph out of the filter at best. This is fine, but you always wish you could adjust upwards a little. I keep swapping between nozzles and spray bars to see which one is more effective, But it's hard to tell, to be honest.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Will never win a ada scape competition and mainly contains easy going plants, but should dispel the myth that you can't have lots of plants and lots of fish in the same tank.

Nice post and perfect tank. If people <"look at aquaponics"> it makes this point.

I have read that plants and fish (both in high numbers) can cause a conflict due to the plants' needs versus the fish's needs. And therefore, you either have to choose a lot of plants and only some fish, or lots of fish and only some plants.

I had to have a re-think about this in <"light of some stocking revelations"> from <"Stocking of an Aquarium">.

cheers Darrel

 

[MichaelJ]

Hi All,

Looking at some of the beautiful aquariums in this forum, I wondered if anyone has had success with a lot of plants and a lot of fish.

I have read that plants and fish (both in high numbers) can cause a conflict due to the plants' needs versus the fish's needs. And therefore, you either have to choose a lot of plants and only some fish, or lots of fish and only some plants.

Is this the experience that you have had?

My only concern with a high stocking level (or inappropriate large fish) in a densely planted tank, is that the fish will be short of swimming space which leads to subdued behavior. In any event, there are no good rules of thumb other than to scale your maintenance regime appropriately.

Cheers,
Michael