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Is my aquarium overstocked2007-11-24 23:37:25

It is a 60 litres (15 gallons) one.

It has:

* 5 neon tetras

* 7 guppies

* 4 glass catfish

* 2 kissing gouramis

* 1 pleco (small)

* 1 platy (very young, was a fry 2 months ago)

* 1 redline torpedo barb.

The nitrite level was always zero, the water is matured with filter bacteria and everything was ok. But recently I get nitrite levels going very high after a 2 days 30% water change.I even change the active carbon foam in less than 4 weeks.I use a gravel cleaner, and for some reason the bottom gets full of poo sometimes, out of nowhere! Is the fish/litres ratio too bad?

It is 4 months already so it is not a new one.and I didnt have any nitrite problems till recently. Also the fish have been added gradualy and I havent added any recently.

Answers:

As others have told you, you are desperately overstocked. I like how the one person gave you potential sizes for the fish, too (saved me the time to look up everything to make sure).

Word to the wise, you want to be looking at nitrates, not nitrites. Nitrites should always be at zero if your cycle is working properly (it's the second part of the nitrogen cycle); the same goes for ammonia. Nitrates, on the other hand, are the last stage of the nitrogen cycle and are always present in a healthy tank. Nitrates should measure at no more than 40ppm, though less than 20ppm in more ideal.

You should, in a healthily stocked tank, only have to do between 20-40% water changes every week. With this tank and with all the fish, I'd suggest a 20% change every three days or so until you get a larger tank (you will need a larger tank - it simply isn't optional if you wish to keep all of these fish).