Not sure if I overstocked

[Mermaid]

Hi,
I've posted here before, but forgot my correct username/password, so had to create a new account. Anyway, it took a lot longer than I anticipated, but I moved and set up a new 75 gallon tank in my new home for my six loaches. They had been living in a 30 gallon and I moved them along with the rest of the community; 3 polka dot loaches, 5 rosy barbs, 1 opaline gourami, 2 rainbow fish and a female betta into the tank. I also had a male betta in a bowl that I moved in.
I had intended on keeping it a biotopic tank, but had to move 5 corydoras and my pleco in because they were in with goldfish and I didn't want too many tanks around my house. I had inteded on giving my pleco to a fish store until I heard they just send them back to the warehouse and sorry, but my pleco and I are friends and he was freaking out when I handed the bag to the guy and I felt too guilty. Then I went ahead and purchased 2 small female gold gouramis.
So far there's no squablling and while every now and then I see some territorial displays, everyone seems happy, healthy and is getting along. I have a huge filter meant for a 90 gallon tank, but I worry I overstocked. I know goldfish produce a huge amount of waste, so I could never stock like this with them and I know the pleco is like a poop machine, so I'm sure to vaccuum and do water changes, but do I have too many? I realize the loaches will grow and I'll probably have to upgrade again in a few years, but will they be okay for a few?

Recap for 75 gallon tank with a filter for a 90 gallon:
6 clown loaches
3 polka dot loaches
3 gourami
2 rainbow fish
5 rosy barbs
2 betta
5 corydoras
and 1 pleco.

[smooththg69]

well I can tell you is what I was told. that 75 is way too small for clowns you need at least a 6 foot tank.

[Diana]

Overstocking is based on several unrelated points. If your tank is running fine with repect to each of these things, then it is not overstocked.

1) Does the current fish load create so much waste that you are unable to maintain good water quality? Simplest test is to keep the nitrates under 20 ppm if at all possible, and under 10 is better. If the nitrates regularly get higher than this then the tank is at the edge of being overstocked.

2) Does each species have the correct layout to be happy. Most Loaches like sand and some form of cave, arch of driftwood or other overhead cover. Most species thrive in a tank with more than average amount of water movement, they like a large tank to play around in; Gouramis and Bettas are surface fish from calm waters and do not like too much surface movements.

3) Social behavior is OK: This is where I think your tank is in trouble. Anabantoids are territorial surface fish and are not tolerant of other closely related species. 3 Gouramis and 2 Bettas in this tank is WAY too many of these fish. You can try it by creating separate territories for each of these fish, especially the males, and hope, but this is not a mixture that I would even try. I had one Blue Gourami that tried to claim all of a 6' long tank, and managed to kill a female of his species before I could get him out of there.

[Mermaid]

Thanks so much for the response guys!!! First off, a few months back, on this very forum, the "minimum" was supposedly a 4 foot tank. I was gonna do a 90 gallon, but do plan on upgrading in a few years, since my loaches are still juvies.....but it's a cash flow thing and we're actually rehabbing the building we're moving into. I discovered 6' tanks on my own, but cannot do one for another year or two......for me there is "ideal" and reality. Theses are loaches I've had for at least 2-3ears (the first for at least 4 years and one is from my mom's 10 gallon tank-a well known Chicagoland fish store sold her assuring her he would do fine for YEARS in a 10 gallon-in a few months he was in the 30 gallon he grew overnight, and now he's doing the same in the larger tank-he's a big boy!) ALL my fish are healthy (maybe one stunted from before I knew better) and each one is a treasured pet, not just stock so they will make it into a larger tank, but for now a 4 foot tank will have to do.
As far as the betta and the gourami, I agree with what you say. I watched after I released each of the fish into the tank and only the male betta and the male gourami are claiming territory, but currently there seems to be enough room for both. The female gourami are schooling with the rosy barbs (very wierd,) and the female betta is just terrorizing EVERYONE in the tank.
There is lots of driftwood, but I plan to add more hiding spots as it appears the pleco is being a big hog. I also plan to add a powerhead, but was trying to figure out how I can leave a calmer area in combination with the water flow I know the loaches love? I am just being very diligent with water changes as I know any pleco will poop up a tank overnight. Threw my test kit out with our recent move, have to buy another!

[helen nightingale]

the minimum size for a clown tank being 4 foot long sounds like the minimum size for juveniles, and a 6 foot tank is the minimum needed for them as they grow bigger. a 4 foot tank for an adult clown loach would definately be far too small. i cant imagine Emma's beautifull Marge and Stripes being very happy in a 6 foot tank.

[Diana]

A 4' tank will be fine for a few years, but you are seeing some fish grow faster than others, so how long 'a few years' is will vary with the fish.

[Mermaid]

Where do people get tanks bigger than 6'? And do you have to get really huge in gallons if you are really just looking for space? I'm just wondering if down the road I get a bigger one, do I get it built and can it still be the standard height of an average aquarium, but longer? What do most people do?

[helen nightingale]

what country are you in? people can give you better guidelines according to where you live.

i had my 5 foot tank made, so i could get the height and width i wanted. some people have had big tanks made in situ