Is my tank over stocked?

[Noobreefer413]

Hello everyone please bare with me I'm still new but i have a 30 gallon sea clear tank its approximately 3'x12"x16" filled with live rock and coral, i have 5 talbot damsels ( max size 2in), a banded moray eel (max size 24in) and a valentini puffer (max size 4 in). Is this too much???

 

[Alex114]

Yes you are way overstocked with that eel. That is not a beginner fish and it will not do well in a tank that small. You might be able to do the damsels and the puffer but I would advise you get rid of a damsel as well. If you really want to keep that eel do some research on them and get a bigger tank. They need more room to swim around

 

[Noobreefer413]

Thanks for the reply, so how do i go about catching the eel without tearing apart my tank? I never noticed him swimming much he always stays in his cave only poking his head out when i feed him.

 

[albano]

When you list "˜max size', is that the size that they now are?"

 

[Sk8r]

The only possible way to catch the eel MIGHT be using baited wine carafe as a trap, standing ready with net to close the top, but since eels are often night feeders, your best bet is just unbuild the rockwork, remembering what went where.

 

[Noobreefer413]

No i listed max size to give you guys a better idea, the eel is probably a little over a foot long I've had him for a year and some change now. The damsels are about max size. I managed to rehome the valentini last night but I'm assuming even then the tank is still overstocked. Getting the eel out will be the challenge lol