Rule for number of schools a tank can safely hold?

[Jighead]

Picking fish for stocking my new 10 and 20 gal aquariums is driving me crazy, as their are several different species of tetra's i like. Yet i still cant decide, and would like more than one species.

Is there a rule for how many schools of tetras that you can have in 20 and 10 gal tanks? I imagine that the limit is 1 in the 10 gal, and 2 in the 20 gal.

All of the schooling fish at or under 2 inches in length, at i would stock them in groups of 5 or 6.

Is it to much for the bio load to have 2 small schools in a 10 gal or 3 in a 20 gal?


Thanks - Jighead

 

[YuccaPatrol]

I think you would be fine with your stocking plan.

However, my experience is that larger schools of a single species are MUCH more interesting to watch. 5 or 6 fish will sometimes stick together, but it really takes 10 or more to make a cohesive school. Ideally, we'd have even larger schools if we have the space for them.

 

[Jighead]

Here's my stocking plan:

10 gal-

6 glowlight tetras
6 black neon tetras
4 or 5 peppered corys



20 gal-

5 Scissortail Rasboras
5 Bleeding Heart Tetras
5 zebra danios
1 pictus catfish
4 green corys

Filtration for both tanks will be biowheels. The 10 gallons biowheel is recommended for 20 gallon tanks and the 20 gallons is reccomended for 30 gallon tanks. So i should have more than enough filtration.

Any suggestions?

Should i increase/decrease number of fish anywhere?

I appreciate all the help that has been given to me on this forum. I havent had tanks in years and now have three.

Thanks - Jighead

 

[shaunakadub]

Some may say that you should probly cut down the number of fish in the 10gallon, but if your strict with cleaning, like myself, I think you'd be fine with that selection.

 

[ljse]

I agree with yuccapatrol about the larger schools looking better.

 

[earwick]

The ten might be pushing it a little bit but im not sure

 

[Jighead]

Could i increase the number of corys in either tank, as the corys use a different part of the aquarium than my other fish do?

Thanks - Jighead