Stocking limits

[durtyd]

Hi folks,

When starting an aquarium I read and was told by several sources that I should stick to the 1" of fish per gallon of water rule. Since I have a 10 gallon (US) tank that pretty well limits the number of fish.

Subsequently, though, I've read that in established tanks, it's okay to add more fish because it's the surface area at the top of the tank that really matters, and that having about 20" of smaller fish is fine in a 10 gallon tank.

Do any of you folks have any insights as to the best rule to stick with?

[Brian Ferriera]

Hi folks,

When starting an aquarium I read and was told by several sources that I should stick to the 1" of fish per gallon of water rule. Since I have a 10 gallon (US) tank that pretty well limits the number of fish.

Subsequently, though, I've read that in established tanks, it's okay to add more fish because it's the surface area at the top of the tank that really matters, and that having about 20" of smaller fish is fine in a 10 gallon tank.

Do any of you folks have any insights as to the best rule to stick with?

If you don't want to do weekly (or more then weekly) water changes its better to stick with the first rule. Its a very easy rule for the newbie to stick with and will help you in the long run. Its will be much easier for you to take things slow and stick to smaller numbers.
Brian

[jm1212]

Hi folks,

When starting an aquarium I read and was told by several sources that I should stick to the 1" of fish per gallon of water rule. Since I have a 10 gallon (US) tank that pretty well limits the number of fish.

Subsequently, though, I've read that in established tanks, it's okay to add more fish because it's the surface area at the top of the tank that really matters, and that having about 20" of smaller fish is fine in a 10 gallon tank.

Do any of you folks have any insights as to the best rule to stick with?
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97203 check out my article. it will help you alot with your stocking.

[Rbishop]

The 1" to gallon rule does not take into account all the factors that must be considered for appropriate stocking.

[liv2padl]

Do any of you folks have any insights as to the best rule to stick with? unfortunately, there is no rule that works. the inch per gallon myth is poppycock. do you know what an oscar is? if so, picture a ten inch oscar ... does it seem waaayyyy to large for a ten gallon tank? there's your inch per gallon 'rule'.

the number and size of the fish you keep in your tank should be based on several factors. it should not be based solely on the chemistry of your water nor on the magic of the inch per gallon myth. it's more than simply a matter of successfully keeping the ammonia and nitrites at zero or the fact that you may have "great filtration". certainly these are important issues, but one of the most important factors is almost always overlooked. the number and size of fish that one maintains in a tank should be predicated on the "biology" and behaviour of those fish.

this means that the interraction of a mixed community tank and/or the behaviour of a single species is the single most important factor to consider. you want the fish you're keeping to have the ability to exhibit "normal" and functional behaviour. normal behaviour is important. abnormal behaviour results in stress. stress leads to disease. disease can lead to death. for example:

1. if species (A) does not get along with species (B), then these fish don't belong in the same tank no matter how few fish you have or how large the tank. "getting along" is based on the visual and behavioural Q's that each fish species is genetically programmed with. this is why African cichlids don't belong in the same tank with Central American cichlids for example. Africans don't "understand" Central American fish speak and this leads to behavioural problems and stress.

2. if species (A) has specific food or water chemistry requirements which are completely different from species (B), then these fish don't belong in the same tank no matter how large it is.

3. if species (A) is aggressive and defends a territory of 2 square feet, then you cannot expect to successfully keep more than one of these fish in a tank which is smaller than 2 square feet. convict cichlids are an excellent example of this ... this little fish aggressively defends territories of about two square feet give or take. if you have a tank which allows only that much room and no more, the convict will defend the entire tank to the detriment of any other fish (no matter how large it is) in that tank.

fish need room to swim without having the rest of the tanks inhabitants "in their face" continuously. when crowded, fish exhibit stress syndromes that result in poor color, improper fin form, insufficient metabolic development, do not exhibit proper musculature, do not develop properly functioning organ systems and most importantly slowly lose their inherant resistance to disease. this results in a significantly shortened lifespan and along the way, lots of diseases for which the poorly conditioned fish is a good target..

think about your local lake or river --- the fish are free to inhabit whatever space suits them biologically. if it gets crowded by their standards, some will disperse and move to other areas where they again have the space they need to exhibit functional behaviour.

it's difficult to allow for that "space" in your tank -- the fish have no escape within the confines of your tank so it's up to you to insure that the fish have that space in the first place. if your tank "looks bare" .. it's probably just right.

.

[Brett]

Poppycock indeed!!

IMO, the inch-per-gallon rule can only apply to fish that are only an inch or less in total length. Besides swimming and schooling requirements, body mass is what's important when stocking a fish tank. Body mass is what affects oxygen need and waste production, and as you double a fish's length its body mass can increase about eight times, meaning a two inch fish is actually eight times larger than a one inch fish.

[jm1212]

the rule i follow-

there is no set rule

[Brian Ferriera]

The 1" to gallon rule does not take into account all the factors that must be considered for appropriate stocking.

No your right common sense should be a factor here a 10 inch Oscar should not be in a 10 gallon for the obverse reason's. I do feel that in most cases the 1 inch rule is adequate for the beginner keep most fish out their . Every one has maid good points here but do you remember what it was like being a beginner in the hobby? If you can imagine what it would be like if you where to forget every thing and start over today. I bet you would be far more overwhelmed now even if you started a little as a couple of years ago. When I think back over the last 20 or so years from the way life has change for this hobby its mind boggling. And these days the thing that should make life easer…. the internet….. in most case's makes life harder because you have so many people throwing different things at you and believe be this can get very discouraging...

durtyd..the big question here that should have been asked from the get go is what type of fish do you want to keep? That in itself can make a huge different.. But please keep this in mind regardless of what I say or for that matter any one is that what you are being told is that person's personal experience what works for one person might not work for you ..I have seen many times over the years that what one person says is wrong and cant be done can in fact be so. That’s not to say their are certain things to keep in mind….. like putting that Oscar in a 10 gallon will probably most certainly cause it to go belly up.
Just my 2 cents
Brian

[Rbishop]

Brian...guess we will agree to disagree. I would have loved to have the info available on the internet today when the first 55 gal went up back in '74.

Seeing conflicting recommendations would cause me to research more until I eliminated the false crap. Having tons of input would be a reason not to single in on a solitary guideline, like 1" per gallon. The differing opinion would be an indication of resolution needed. Not to ignore the input and follow an old guideline that did not take all relavent issues into consideration. Thus I will not be the one to profess a "generic" albeit false guideline to a newbie, for fear of perpetuating the myth.

[Brian Ferriera]

Brian...guess we will agree to disagree. I would have loved to have the info available on the internet today when the first 55 gal went up back in '74.

Seeing conflicting recommendations would cause me to research more until I eliminated the false crap. Having tons of input would be a reason not to single in on a solitary guideline, like 1" per gallon. The differing opinion would be an indication of resolution needed. Not to ignore the input and follow an old guideline that did not take all relavent issues into consideration. Thus I will not be the one to profess a "generic" albeit false guideline to a newbie, for fear of perpetuating the myth.

I completely see your point and trust me I am not in anyway trying to offend you and if I have I apologies. But I have come across allot of people over they year that don't look at it like you do and just get frustrated and give it up right away or go the complete other direction and really screw things up.
Brian

[Rbishop]

Not offended at all. And I agree that some will jump on the answer they want vice the right answer or just not want to devote the time/effort needed to sort it all out.

That's why all of us are here...to learn and help! :cool:

[durtyd]

Wow, thanks for all the input everybody. This helps a great deal!