Too many blood parrot cichlids for my tank? Opinions?

[anzo1993]

Hello, I have had a 150 gallon going for the last year that I’ve kind of used as an adoption tank for people who don’t want there fish anymore, the tank was filled up pretty quickly I had a friend of a friend about a year ago shut down his aquarium and he had 6 peach parrots and 3 blood parrots in the tank, all within the 3 to 5 inch range, they seem very happy in the 150 gallon but I was just curious is the tank overstocked? I’m running an FX 6 filter on it

 

[RD.]

Depends entirely on your maintenance schedule, and the behaviour of fish as a group.

 

[anzo1993]

Depends entirely on your maintenance schedule, and the behaviour of fish as a group.

I’d say I do about a 30% water change once every 3 weeks or so but eveyone seems happy the fish are healthy, everyone eats well, there’s 2 parrots that I’d say are the dominant but they can’t bite so no real harm done

 

[RD.]

water changes are dependant on water parameters, pretty basic stuff. All other things being equal, clean water = healthy fish.

 

[anzo1993]

water changes are dependant on water parameters, pretty basic stuff. All other things being equal, clean water = healthy fish.

Okay well if that’s the case I’m all good the water is crystal clear and the parameters are all good , just my paranoia then lol

 

[troublesum]

I’d say I do about a 30% water change once every 3 weeks or so but eveyone seems happy the fish are healthy, everyone eats well, there’s 2 parrots that I’d say are the dominant but they can’t bite so no real harm done

I've never kept parrots so unsure of there bio load but 9 5in fish in a 150 sounds doable. Is the 150 long or tall? my only concern is you only do 30% WC every 3 weeks, right now they may seem healthy and happy but Nitrate creep can be a silent killer

 

[anzo1993]

I've never kept parrots so unsure of there bio load but 9 5in fish in a 150 sounds doable. Is the 150 long or tall? my only concern is you only do 30% WC every 3 weeks, right now they may seem healthy and happy but Nitrate creep can be a silent killer

It’s 5ft long x 24 inches wide x 24 inches tall and yeah I should probably do more water changes , I’ll try and up them too twice a month as they grow bigger

 

[RD.]

Once a week would be better…….

 

[duanes]

Water clarity has very little to do with the health of a system.

The river above, and below was full of healthy cichlid and other species, although it is not crytal clear.
https://youtu.be/IWcKVQTXApc
But the test for undetectable nitrate does show a totally healthy system.

To me a 30% water change of once every 3 weeks is paultry for a health of any fish, and agree with RD once per week would be what I consider minimal.

 

[RD.]

My tanks get 85-90% once a week, and are seriously under stocked by most hobbyist standards.