Stocking Heavy - Fish

[Hentz]

So from doing research, it's clear we all under feed our tanks. This is due to obvious reasons, algae out breaks and what not. We simple cannot match the food ratio that the ocean is feeding it's corals due to that reason.

That being said, I've seen that fish poop is really good SPS food.
With overly stocking fish and feeding them heavy, are your SPS more healthy?

Currently have a 40 Fusion stocked with:
2x Black Clowns
1x Yellow Watchman Goby
1x Royal Gramma (hides in the rocks all day.)

Am I able to squeeze a fish or two more in there? Just so I can feed heavier and have the fish poop?

I'm running an over-sized skimmer (Eshopps PSK 75)

 

[rovster]

Yeah, I had 12 fish in a 30 gal and SPS looked awesome. I did have to carbon dose to compensate for all the poop. High import high export seems to be the key.

 

[Hentz]

Yeah, I had 12 fish in a 30 gal and SPS looked awesome. I did have to carbon dose to compensate for all the poop. High import high export seems to be the key.

12 Fish?! Wow!!! lol.

Share that list, please!

 

[Kaman8]

I have 16 fish in my 60 gallon tank . Feeding heavy , because of many anthias. Carbon dosing , oversized skimmer. Import heavy , but export also heavy.

 

[rovster]

12 Fish?! Wow!!! lol.

Share that list, please!

2 clowns
3 purple chromis
Possum wrasse
Starry blenny
Pair swissguard basslets
Anthias
2 gobies

All smallish but still a lot of mouths to feed

 

[toothman]

Not to be argumentative but I do not think it is easier to keep a sps tank with more fish. It is better to keep some fish in your tank. With a lot of fish it is harder to keep nutrients down and keep parameters stable, carbon dosing or not, big skimmer or not. With that said I really DO like to see a healthy sps tank with a ton of fish, it just looks great. Personally my tank works best with a lower fish load and some carbon dosing. Nitrate near zero and phosphate less than .03.

I also agree that most acros should be fed more, this can be done by adding something like golden pearls, reef roids. Also soaking them is selcon is extremely effective at bulking up under fed acros.

Also think you could add a couple more fish to a tank your size. A really nice fish for your tank would be a swissguard basslet, possibly 3 greeen chromis.

 

[d-man]

Depends on the color you are looking for imo. If you like the pastel color from your corals, then yes a few fish and ulns is for you. If you like the darker, richer colors then having a higher bio load is better. Keeping nitrate and phosphate in check is good but not super low.
Carbon dosing and high biolad with lots of movement is my preference. But it's not for everyone.

 

[Kaman8]

Every system is different and you need to know how yours is. For me it's working fine and keep my parameters stable. I can keep my phosphate at 0,03 and nitrate is 2,5. Sinds I raised my nitrates from 0,02 to 2,5 my colours are even better and corals are growing faster.

 

[BrentH]

I have a large tank and a lot of fish at least 40 from big Angels and tangs to smaller anthias I also carbon dose and my tank is doing great! I think if I had less fish I would have to add stuff or products

 

[msaba]

With overly stocking fish and feeding them heavy, are your SPS more healthy?/QUOTE]
It depends...
As Kaman8 said every system is different, learning what works in yours takes some trial and error. Looking at systems with similar setups may help guide you in conjunction with slow changes over time coupled with careful observation is key. for example, My 90 g tank is bare bottom, 16 fish, high flow tank with an oversized skimmer. I feed heavy, do 10% water changes weekly, do not use carbon/gfo or other supplements. This combination for me keeps my parameters stable with No3 about 10 and po4 .05 with good sps growth and coloration. As the fish and corals continue to grow, the formula for continued success may change to some degree. I may need to feed more(import) and/or increase water changes or adjust my skimmer(export) for example, observing the corals and monitoring parameters closely to find that optimum balance..
In addition, Lighting and how it interacts with the above is also key--high intensity light coupled with lower nutrients may cause pale corals for example, decreasing the lighting intensity and or the photoperiod without adding fish may strike the right balance for you as well.

knowing more about your current setup/parameters/maintenance routine as well as the pictures of your corals may be helpful for others to guide you as well.


Mark

 

[las]

I agree with high nutrient import and high export while keeping your N and P in the mid range.