Understock or overstock

[stevent]

Would you rather have an understocked tank which requires less maintenance or an overstocked & keep up with the extra maintenance?

 

[guppy226]

I overstock alot on my breeders. But i payed for it too, the power went out for two days and I lost about 1/3 of my stock. Its all up to you!

 

[J double R]

I prefer to understock my tanks, but not to offset maintenance. I just enjoy the look of a heavily planted tank with a natural-looking stock level.

 

[excuzzzeme]

Overall I think under-stocking is healthier but certain species almost need to be over-stocked.

 

[froglover007]

Well it depends what I am doing. Usually overstock but it also depends on the species.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Except for a cichlid tank, I don't see a benefit of overstocking.

 

[Hurley]

I hate a crowded tank. I keep things simple and usually understock my tanks.

 

[MOA]

Well,

It depends on what one considers to be over-/understocked. I usually go with the safety recommendations of my Fishsheets (see link below) and accept that as the baseline for what a proper stocking level is. Also, I have never seen any species that "needed" (if you will allow the paraphrase) to be crowded. Any species that usually seems to need crowding usually just requires a much larger tank--which most people cannot afford and thus compromise the fish's health and go for something smaller. Then again, I have regularly been called an idealist when it comes to tank size suggestions (for example, I do not believe that an Oscar should be placed in a tank less than 84 inches long).

IMO,
MOA

 

[sed03f]

Understocked w/lot of plants, I like to play "where's fishy"

 

[blue2fyre]

Also, I have never seen any species that "needed" (if you will allow the paraphrase) to be crowded. Any species that usually seems to need crowding usually just requires a much larger tank--which most people cannot afford and thus compromise the fish's health and go for something smaller.

I totally disagree. I keep mbuna and they pretty much need to be in a crowded set up. No matter the tank size, if you understock with mbuna you usually end up with deaths. My mbuna tank is very clean and the fish are very healthy. I just over filter and keep up on water changes. It is my most challenging tank and is also my largest

For my other tanks I try to hit just about stocked but usually I'm a little conservative.