My well matured 5' 400 litre heavily planted tank with a external fluval FX5 filter, currently holds 6 discus 75 cardinals, 15 otos, 20 amino shrimp, 4 albino corys, 2 golden rams and 8 comman hatchets.

I think that this is a fully but not over stocked set up but some say it's too many fish. Given that shrimp generally aren't included in stocking calculations, as they clean more than they add and apart from the discus all other fish are small and slim bodied (not to mention they also cover different levels of the aquarium)do you guys think it's an over stocked setup? Also do you think the fish choice is well balanced......

Thanks in advance

I reckon it's fine. You would have to keep the water changes large and frequent (i.e 30% every week without fail). The FX5 is a beast of a filter too.

As far as the stocking calculators, it is in theory overstocked but those things aren't written in stone and the cardinals would produce little waste.

I'd say the huge shoal of cardinals looks savage.

Yeah they look great at feeding time, they go mental for beefheart and fly around ripping it apart!

would love to see some pics ......

My digi camara is out of action at the moment but I'll post some on ASAP

do you think this is overstocked?

Lots of room there for a few more angels and tetras haha!!! My god its like a fish Munster hurling final or something,packed out to the last!

or this 1..

Is that pic doctored? Thats terrible if thats a shop selling these. Ive seen overcrowded on occasion,and that is worse than alot. Altho I recently saw a male guppy tank that must of had close to a few hundred of them in it,I couldnt see one from the other,it was like I was on a trip of something with all the colours twisting and turning!!!

these pictures are of a holding tank (presale) and just before feeding time... so you cant see the man with the big handful of beefheart in his hand..

also knowing the breeder, these tanks are part of a 1000 tank system