JRunyon21

I currently have a 5 gallon tank with 5 neon tetras in it. This 5 gallon tank also has a 1.5 gallon freshwater sump. I know it sounds funny but I wanted to try a small scale SUMP before I went on making a big one for my future larger tanks. That bring my total gallons to 6.5. There is a lot of room to swim for these guys. The tank is also slightly planted(anacharis, java fern). Is 5 neons already pushin it or could I go with one more neon tetra. I am just trying to make the school a little bigger b/c I know they do well when there are more of them.

Any help is appreciated.

lalynya

The way it was explained to me is 1 gal og water = 1" of fish..sound to me from those guidelines you have the correct amount of fish

Lucy

It's not the amount of room they have to swim, it's the bio load they create.
I don't understand sumps, but if you have 6.5g, you're already overstocked, sorry.
5 neons = 7.5" of fish
Keep your eye on your water parameters and keep up your water changes.
Good luck

Angela_96

I wouldn't ad anymore fish at all, I agree w/ the above post that you are maxed out w/ your inches per gallon.

JRunyon21

Thanks for the input. My neons are DEFF not 1.5 inches. I've never actually even seen a neon that big. Hope mine get that big that would be an awesome neon. I should of been more descriptive of the size of fish I have. The biggest one I have might be and inch. The other guys were bought as babies for $.30 and they arn't bigger than 3/4" now. Still you guys are probably right b/c they are gonna grow.

My ammonia and Nitrites are pegged at 0. Have been for some time.
My Nitrates take about a week to get to 20ppm. Then I do a water 25% change.

I just wanted them to have one more friend to swim with. I guess overstocking is worse than them not having an extra pal.

Thanks again.

Lucy

The do grow and fast sometimes. When calculting fish, always go by their adult size.
Although they do prefer more of their own kind, stable water quality has to be taken into consideration.

Time for a bigger tank.

Barbrella

Neons can get quite big in the right conditions.

I have 6 big giant neons in my 20 gal. They are well over an inch long, and quite bulky!

Attached Images

Neon May 13.jpg (50.9 KB, 6 views)

Amnagrla

whoa!!!! big fish! :-)

Lucy

Nice picture! Mine never hold still long enough to catch them.

lalynya

Man you guys are lucky..I have no luck with neons..kinda why I got hooked on the white clouds..for me thwy are just easier to take care of

angelfish220

I dont really like neons, if I ever need a small schooling fish I get Danios.