Nitrate levels too high! Overcrowded? Over fed? Help please!!

TANK: 50 gallon tank (about 25"x26"x18"), HOB filter, one bubbler decoration and one bubble stone, temperature pretty steady around 77°F and fluctuates occasionally ~1°, 25%WC weekly

FISH/PLANTS: 6 glowlight tetras, 4 red wag platys, 2 tuxedo/black tetras, 2 young common plecos (with plans for a much larger longer tank for one to move into down the road), 2 adult angelfish, 1 blue gourami, 1 kissing gourami, a small white fish I have yet to identify (see picture), and two marimo moss balls. (And several artificial plants)



My API liquid test kit showed 7.4/0/0/60 today!! (Nitrate readings have NEVER been this high!!) Am I overcrowded? Or probably over feeding?

I also just noticed two little fry in my tank while typing this and taking the picture of the white fish. Getting them out right now to save them from the big guys!

 

You do have stocking issues, and it's entirely possible you're overfeeding.

Increase your water changes to lower nitrates. If you want some stocking advice, let us know and we can help!

 

That's a strange sized tank but unfortunately you don't have a large enough footprint for many of those fish. The gouramis and angelfish need a wider tank and all tetras need at least 6 of their own kind. The plecos are huge waste makers and two Commons in that size tank will spike your nitrates. I'd consider rehoming all of the gourami and at least 1 angel as well as the 2 tux tetras and one pleco. Or upgrade to a tank with a longer footprint.

My guess between the over crowding, plecos, and over feeding you are seeing this nitrate spike. How often are you doing water changes and how much

Edit: ninjad by texas

 

I think that's a white skirt tetra. Other than that, I agree with everything said above.

 

Weekly 25% WC, thanks for the advice! And yes, it's a weird size tank! My uncle gave it to me as he was no longer able to keep it. The only new additions to the tank from when he had it were the plecos (and like I said, plans to move one out before it grew to big, but I guess I should do that way sooner than later) and the marimo balls. The other fish have lived together for well over two years without any issue. My levels recently spiked after two months of a well cycled tank

 

Each of your Pleco will need at least 120 gallons to grow properly, I really suggest just rehoming them.

 

So to appropriately home all of these fish I need at least two more much larger tanks? And quite a few more tetras once appropriately housed to have at least 6 of each?

And thank you all for your input! I want to make sure my fish are all comfortable and healthy and obviously I'm not doing the greatest of jobs with my current situation :/ I really appreciate your feedback!

 

the common plecos are probably the problem! They are huge waste makers.

Good luck!

 

I would consider rehoming the plecos and switching then out for bristlenose plecos instead. They stay smaller. Then upgrade to a standard 55 gallon for starters

 

Your recent fry could also be a factor on higher nitrates .
50% wc weekly is better.
I agree on the stocking issues.

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If you don't want to get a different tank, we can help you stock this one more appropriately