How many fish to maintain a low to medium bioload?

[leepink23]

I have a 150 gallon aquarium that is fallow for 3 weeks now r/t ick break out in the main tank, during this period I have the fish being quarantined in copper. My question is with a protein skimmer, algae turf scrubber, weekly 10% water exchanges with RODI and vinegar dosing what should my optimal fish level be? I had in my 150 the following fish: 1 Magnificient Foxface, 1 yellow tang, 1 blue hippo tang, 1 yellow eye ( didnt survive), 5 chromis (2 didnt survive), 3 clownfish, 1 coral beauty, 1 pink spotted goby, 1 neon goby (didnt survive), 1 banggai cardinal. I plan to sale the foxface and the pink spotted goby so I will be left with. 1 yellow tang, 1 blue hippo tang, 3 chromis, 3 clown fish, 1 coral beauty. Should I sale more fish to get to a lower bioload or would this be the optimal amount of fish? Also should I add raw shrimp over the last 5 weeks of the fallow to keep up the beneficial bacteria? My levels were prior to moving the fish: Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 14, Phospate .08. Currently Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, Phospate 0. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[leepink23]

I didn't mention that I was having a problem with hair algae before moving the fish.

 

[davocean]

I would say your new list is low to medium stock for that size tank generally speaking, and if it were my tank I'd probably keep more/and or other fish too, but perhaps you are recognizing that heavy bioload can bring on risk of stress and potential health compromises.

I would add to this that it may be a good time to pull one clown, typically as they mature they will pair up and the 3rd wheel often gets rejected and could be harmed, I would only keep one pair in that size tank.

 

[leepink23]

I would say your new list is low to medium stock for that size tank generally speaking, and if it were my tank I'd probably keep more/and or other fish too, but perhaps you are recognizing that heavy bioload can bring on risk of stress and potential health compromises.

I would add to this that it may be a good time to pull one clown, typically as they mature they will pair up and the 3rd wheel often gets rejected and could be harmed, I would only keep one pair in that size tank.

Thanks! 1 clown is a Picasso the other 2 are pink skunk, I have considered selling the 2 pink skunk clowns.

 

[davocean]

Well I really like both of those as clowns go, but I do personally have a preference for picasso's, either would be good, but I would take this time to make a choice, and if you plan to have an anemone you may want to check natural host matches, perhaps that will help you in making that choice.

 

[leepink23]

Probably sale the skunks, I love the picasso, I wanted to add a chocolate tang so maybe I would add it and remove the 2 skunks.

 

[leepink23]

Well I really like both of those as clowns go, but I do personally have a preference for picasso's, either would be good, but I would take this time to make a choice, and if you plan to have an anemone you may want to check natural host matches, perhaps that will help you in making that choice.

Would I be able to pair the picasso with a black ice?

 

[davocean]

Would I be able to pair the picasso with a black ice?

Yes you could, the black ice is an ocellaris and the picasso a percula, but many people do mix the two.

 

[Bluecbs]

Or if you really wanna reduce the stress level further, sell the tangs, replace them with butterflies ( im guessing you dont have corals....)

 

[leepink23]

Or if you really wanna reduce the stress level further, sell the tangs, replace them with butterflies ( im guessing you dont have corals....)

I have some coral and plan to add more, considering some sps. I do think the butterfly are beautiful fish!