tank capacity for 55 gal.

Question
QUESTION: currently have 6 rosy barbs 6 germanblue rams 3 cory cats 1twig catfish and one clown pleco. emperor 400 with airstone.have no plans to add fish but do not wish to have too many?

ANSWER: Hi Ieland,
Sounds like your tank is stocked perfectly well. ;-)

Your aquarium is fine. Not overstocked at all.

Best wishes and happy fishkeeping!
Karen~

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: karen, thanks for speedy reply to previous question.here is another. have plants rooted in 55gal  and am getting conflicting advice as to air stone allowed to operate 24 hrs. should i turn it off at night?am currently adding prescribed amount of iron during weekly 25 percent water changes.also must i vaccum gravel at each water change or would once every other change be o.k.?

Answer
Hi Ieland, you're welcome...

It all depends on if you are adding Co2 or if you have a heavily planted tank. If you use CO2. Then an airstone would be bad to have as it would get rid of your co2. But sometimes its good to have an airstone run at night when the plants in a heavily planted tank would be breathing and using oxygen instead of producing it like they do during the day.

But if the tank isn't heavily planted then you should be fine either way. I just wouldn't use an airstone. The outflow from a filter is usually enough as well as the plants.


As for gravel vacuuming. It's best to do it at every water change. Lightly go around the plants without disturbing them.

Best wishes and I hope this helps!
Karen~