Overstocked tank concerns

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stamps
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Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2024 3:32 am

Overstocked tank concerns

Post by stamps »

I've got a 20 gallon tank with 15 Neon Tetras, 5 Corydoras, and a Betta. The water's been cloudy lately, and I'm worried about overstocking. Anyone dealt with this before?
flaxion
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Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:55 pm

Re: Overstocked tank concerns

Post by flaxion »

Yo, that's a lot of fish for a 20 gallon. Betta's gonna be stressed with all those Tetras zooming around. Gonna need more filtration or cut back on the stock.
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fruitygal
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Re: Overstocked tank concerns

Post by fruitygal »

Cloudy water usually means a bacterial bloom, which happens when the bio load's too high. Test your ammonia and nitrite levels ASAP. If they're high, you'll need to do more frequent water changes.
Greenwave
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:41 pm

Re: Overstocked tank concerns

Post by Greenwave »

flaxion wrote: Tue Jun 24, 2025 9:32 am Yo, that's a lot of fish for a 20 gallon. Betta's gonna be stressed with all those Tetras zooming around. Gonna need more filtration or cut back on the stock.
Agreed. Bettas prefer calmer tankmates. Consider rehoming some Tetras or moving the Betta to a separate tank.
jaysun
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:40 pm

Re: Overstocked tank concerns

Post by jaysun »

Man, I had the same issue last year. My tank was packed, and the water looked like pea soup. Ended up upgrading to a 40 gallon, and now everything's chill.
stamps
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Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2024 3:32 am

Re: Overstocked tank concerns

Post by stamps »

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll test the water and see about rehoming some Tetras. Appreciate the help.
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fruitygal
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Re: Overstocked tank concerns

Post by fruitygal »

Let us know what the test results say. If ammonia's high, you might need to add some beneficial bacteria to speed up the cycle.
flaxion
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Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:55 pm

Re: Overstocked tank concerns

Post by flaxion »

Yep, and if you're gonna keep the Betta, maybe toss in some floating plants. Gives 'em a place to hide and chill.
Greenwave
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:41 pm

Re: Overstocked tank concerns

Post by Greenwave »

fruitygal wrote: Tue Jun 24, 2025 12:14 pm Let us know what the test results say. If ammonia's high, you might need to add some beneficial bacteria to speed up the cycle.
Seachem Stability works wonders for that. Used it in my overstocked tank and saw results in a couple days.
jaysun
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:40 pm

Re: Overstocked tank concerns

Post by jaysun »

Dude, floating plants are a game-changer. Frogbit or Water Lettuce would be perfect for your setup.
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