What happens if too many fish in tank

Many fish grow larger after they are purchased, and some fish are territorial and become aggressive when crowded with other fish. Always err on the side of having fewer fish in your aquarium rather than too many. It's normal to worry about your fish going hungry, but you can cause more harm by feeding too much. A new aquarium should be fed once a day , and all food should be consumed within two minutes. Uneaten food can pollute the water and cause ammonia and nitrite levels to rise.

Buying a filter that is too small. You can't really over-filter an aquarium, but it's fairly easy to under-filter one. Most aquarium filters are rated according to how many gallons the aquarium holds.

This rating system works well for the most part, however, heavily populated aquariums, or those with large predatory fish or fish that generate large amounts of waste should be fitted with oversized or multiple filters. For best results, purchase a filter that is rated for an aquarium a little larger than the one you own.

Seeking advice from too many sources. It's important to research equipment and livestock purchases before making them but asking the same question of a number of different "experts" can sometimes result in confusion because everyone has a different opinion or method for success. When you're new to aquarium keeping, it's hard to know what techniques will work best for you.

Stick with one reliable source of information at first, and follow their advice until you feel confident enough to try things on your own. Compromising quality for price. No one wants to overpay for anything, but the saying "You get what you pay for" often applies in the aquarium world and with your initial fish tank set up.

Reliable, quality equipment may cost a little more, but your fishes' lives depend on it. Impulse buying. Always research new fish before purchasing them to make sure they are compatible with existing inhabitants and will not outgrow your aquarium.

Some fish have special water chemistry needs such as lower pH or alkalinity, which your tap water may not provide. Also, if fish you are considering buying are specialized feeders, make sure you are able to provide the proper food for them. Leaving the aquarium light on all the time. Like all animals, fish need a resting period, and it should be the same period every day. Should a Fish Tank Be Covered? From the type of food it can eat to how often you should clean your tank. For many people, one of Without Harming Good Bacteria One of the finer nuances of keeping an aquarium successfully is getting to know about the beneficial bacteria that colonize the various parts of the aquarium including the gravel.

These bacteria are Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Submit Comment. The more fish you have, the better filtration system you should have.

If you have a lot of fish, cleaning your tank the old-fashioned way is best. Add small amounts of fresh water and make sure you vacuum up the fish waste. Some Additional Important Tips. Having too many fish is costly to maintain. If the tank has too many fish in it, there is a greater chance that the fish will get overly aggressive and that some may even be killed in the process.

If there are too many fish in a tank, they will not have enough room to swim, which is important to their behavior and their ability to thrive. This means your tank may need water changes more often than once a week. If you have too many nutrients in the tank, it could cause algae to form. Another way to avoid ammonia poisoning is to feed fish small quantities of food, and then remove any food not consumed within five minutes. Also, clean the tank weekly, taking care to remove dead plants or other debris.

Perform a partial water change at least every other week more often in small, heavily-stocked tanks. And test the water for ammonia at least twice a month to detect problems before they become serious. Aquarium Water Quality: Nitrogen Cycle.

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For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. Article Sources.