Overstocked? Can I add more. . .

[MoshJosh]

I have a 29 gallon display with a 6 gallon sump and 5 gallon "sidecar tank", total volume is 40 gallons (I am coining the term "sidecar tank" no stealing it!!!)

Think I am over stocked as is but had to downsize my 10 gallon and I don't want to keep my pair of occillaris in a 5 gallon. . .

Current stock:
Mimic filefish X1
Pygmy waspfish X2
Cleaner goby X1
Red soapfish X1 (not much into on this fish, may outgrow the tank but is pretty small ATM)
Coral banded shrimp X1
Pepermint shrimp X1
Sexy shrimp X2 (in the sidecar)
CUC of hermits, assorted snails, and emeralds.

Am I too full already? If not would 2 clowns push me over the edge.

 

[hexcolor reef]

I have a 29 gallon display with a 6 gallon sump and 5 gallon "sidecar tank", total volume is 40 gallons (I am coining the term "sidecar tank" no stealing it!!!)

Think I am over stocked as is but had to downsize my 10 gallon and I don't want to keep my pair of occillaris in a 5 gallon. . .

Current stock:
Mimic filefish X1
Pygmy waspfish X2
Cleaner goby X1
Red soapfish X1 (not much into on this fish, may outgrow the tank but is pretty small ATM)
Coral banded shrimp X1
Pepermint shrimp X1
Sexy shrimp X2 (in the sidecar)
CUC of hermits, assorted snails, and emeralds.

Am I too full already? If not would 2 clowns push me over the edge.

What’s your current ammonia levels?
If it’s zero next thing to check is biofiltration can it handle larger bioload

Ie; how much rockwork, bio balls or bio ceramics in sump/tank/sidecar tank

Do you do frequent maintenance with adding more bacteria once every month or so

 

[MoshJosh]

What’s your current ammonia levels?
If it’s zero next thing to check is biofiltration can it handle larger bioload

Ie; how much rockwork, bio balls or bio ceramics in sump/tank/sidecar tank

Do you do frequent maintenance with adding more bacteria once every month or so

No ammonia. Not sure how many pounds of rock I have. . . enough? haha My sump has a giant rock and a bag of media in it. Weekly water change where I clean the bottom (bare bottom tanks). Growing a bunch of macro algae in the sump as well.

I run a skimmer but. . . its more for aeration at this point cause I accidentally overflow it pretty frequently.

 

[hexcolor reef]

No ammonia. Not sure how many pounds of rock I have. . . enough? haha My sump has a giant rock and a bag of media in it. Weekly water change where I clean the bottom (bare bottom tanks). Growing a bunch of macro algae in the sump as well.

I run a skimmer but. . . its more for aeration at this point cause I accidentally overflow it pretty frequently.

You should be ok to add the clown fish. Just check your ammonia levels after two days. You’ll know immediately if your bio load isn’t sufficient. If you see a spike then Add matrix by Seachem or bio pads with more bacteria you should be good to go

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

If you have good filtration and a lot of rockwork, I think it can work. With 2 clowns, it will make 7 fish in the 29 gallon, thats pretty tight, but still possible.

I definately would not put 2 clowns in a 5 gallon, thats not cool.

 

[fish farmer]

I have a 29 gallon display with a 6 gallon sump and 5 gallon "sidecar tank", total volume is 40 gallons (I am coining the term "sidecar tank" no stealing it!!!)

Think I am over stocked as is but had to downsize my 10 gallon and I don't want to keep my pair of occillaris in a 5 gallon. . .

Current stock:
Mimic filefish X1
Pygmy waspfish X2
Cleaner goby X1
Red soapfish X1 (not much into on this fish, may outgrow the tank but is pretty small ATM)
Coral banded shrimp X1
Pepermint shrimp X1
Sexy shrimp X2 (in the sidecar)
CUC of hermits, assorted snails, and emeralds.

Am I too full already? If not would 2 clowns push me over the edge.

I think you are overstocked regardless of how well your filtration is.

Some of those fish I read to be reef safe with caution. Give your current fish space to grow. From what I read on red soapfish, they get to 14 inches and the filefish and 2 waspfish get to 3".

Of course if you have plans to rehome in a couple years then it may work.

 

[MoshJosh]

I think you are overstocked regardless of how well your filtration is.

Some of those fish I read to be reef safe with caution. Give your current fish space to grow. From what I read on red soapfish, they get to 14 inches and the filefish and 2 waspfish get to 3".

Of course if you have plans to rehome in a couple years then it may work.

I believe soapfish is Suttonia suttoni which should get up to 4” (but info is limited). I will definitely rehome if he outgrows the tank.

My families plans are sort of up in the air ATM if we move I’ll probably rehome everything, if not I will upgrade to a larger tank.

Thanks everyone for the input!

Given how small the fish are right now I think putting them all in the bigger tank is probably the best bet, at least temporarily. Will keep an eye on all of them and rehome them if I need to!