Hi, when figuring out how many fish to put in a tank, do you include decorations/plants? I have a 20 gallon w/5 neon tetras (small) 2 cories (chubby); 2 ottos (never see them) and 4 guppies. I lost a guppy this weekend due to fin rot. I have 3 live plants, 2 fake, a large rock w/gravel and sand substrate.
Do Decorations Count?
- Thread starter renie
- Start date
In a sense yes. They displace water volume making your 20 less than 20. You should also consider your substrate. Figure what your real water volume (approx.) is and go from there.
Abraham
Abraham
patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
Real water volume is sometimes too different from rated tank capacity.
Fisrt, decor, substrate and fish occupy space. Second, normally you don't fill your tank to the very edge of the glass wall.
getting a exact water volume is difficult when the tank has been already set. When the tank is being set, it's easy if after you have located the decor and subtrate, you fill it using bottles of water of a known volume (1 gal, i.e.) so you will really know how much water there is (not counting fish, of course).
As a rule, I substract 5% of the rated tank capacity when the water level is almost at the top.
Fisrt, decor, substrate and fish occupy space. Second, normally you don't fill your tank to the very edge of the glass wall.
getting a exact water volume is difficult when the tank has been already set. When the tank is being set, it's easy if after you have located the decor and subtrate, you fill it using bottles of water of a known volume (1 gal, i.e.) so you will really know how much water there is (not counting fish, of course).
As a rule, I substract 5% of the rated tank capacity when the water level is almost at the top.
I get what your asking but and the short answer for this questionis "Yes". Here is an article that I have found about Aquarium arithmatic. http://www.****************/information/aquarium_arithmetic.htm#1
It explains how decorations displace water and decrease the amount of water volume in your tank.
It explains how decorations displace water and decrease the amount of water volume in your tank.
For a 75g, 48x18x20
Take the height, 20", minus the height of the substrate, 5.5" = 14.5"
Multiply: 48x18x14.5 = 12,528
Multiply that answer by 15% to get displacement for decorations et al
12528 / .15 = 1879.2
Minus 1879.2 from 12528 = 10648.8
Divide THAT answer by 231: 10,648.8/231 = 46.0987 actual gallons
And yes, my Flourite is 5.5" deep
Here's a link that's pretty cool:
http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/areajava.html
Roan
Take the height, 20", minus the height of the substrate, 5.5" = 14.5"
Multiply: 48x18x14.5 = 12,528
Multiply that answer by 15% to get displacement for decorations et al
12528 / .15 = 1879.2
Minus 1879.2 from 12528 = 10648.8
Divide THAT answer by 231: 10,648.8/231 = 46.0987 actual gallons
And yes, my Flourite is 5.5" deep
Here's a link that's pretty cool:
http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/areajava.html
Roan
Roan not to be fussy but your calculations will be wrong if you measure the outside dimensions on the tank usually by half an inch depending on the thickness of the glass
to determine the true capacity of a tank use the inside dimensions -Anne
to determine the true capacity of a tank use the inside dimensions -Anne
Yes decorations count. In one sense (probably the least important to me if they are the typical decorations) for the water they displace.
More importantly, to me, is for the environment they provide to the fish. They make up an important element of the habitat. Many times they are intrinsic to the health and vitality of your fish. Decor should be planned to replicate the natural habitat and behavior of the fish.
The gallons per fish is not dependent upon the number of inches of fish. Gallons are more important when considering the body mass, space required (territorial imperative), and the waste produced by the fish.
More importantly, to me, is for the environment they provide to the fish. They make up an important element of the habitat. Many times they are intrinsic to the health and vitality of your fish. Decor should be planned to replicate the natural habitat and behavior of the fish.
The gallons per fish is not dependent upon the number of inches of fish. Gallons are more important when considering the body mass, space required (territorial imperative), and the waste produced by the fish.
Oh, you're quite right. I think I have too much in there for displacement as well.beblondie said:
HEY! You just answered a question I had -- my aquarium software uses outside dimensions and no displacement. It probably does that for just the reason that you mentioned -- you will lose at least ½" and that can figure in as displacement itself.
What do you think?
Roan
Sully said:
Sully, yes I see your point. My cories stay at the bottom, my guppies on the top and my tetras in the back about halfway. There are lots of plants and hiding areas for all of them. As a matter of fact, I have to look really hard and long to find my ottos. I probably have too many fish, you think? (5 neon tetras; 2 cories, 2 ottos; 3 guppies).