How many fish for a tank???

[herpencounter]

How do you know how many fish for your tank is enough?

There is that a better way!

 

[Anonymous]

A poor rule to live by, and a rough estimating tool some of the time at best.
A 12" grouper represents much, MUCH more bioload than say a 12" moray eel. Furthermore, other factors come into play such as the amount of swimming space required for a fish of given size. A 6" Lion fish requires much less real estate than a 6" surgeon fish. A 2" Sixline wrasse will utilize every cubic inch of a 150 gallon tank, while a 2" angler fish will not use half of a 20 gallon.
What it comes down to is knowledge of the requirements of each individual family or species of fish, rather than some arbitrary gallonage rule.

Jim

 

[herpencounter]

I knew this was going to come up...
If some one can delete the poll please do.

 

[Anonymous]

:?:

 

[herpencounter]

The bio load, swim room... etc.

 

[mr_X]

:roll: you were just giving advice about this very question on the NRF?

 

[shavo]

I was the only voter, i just went with the least lol

inch per gallons not the reverse

 

[trido]

I dont. I bought my fish slowly and got a feel for the amount of room they all needed to get along, watched my algea, cyano, skimmer, etc..

 

[herpencounter]

:roll: you were just giving advice about this very question on the NRF?

:?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

 

[Len]

:roll: you were just giving advice about this very question on the NRF?

I saw him just give his opinion, and one that I agree with in principle.

I try not to add more then 1 or 2 fish per 10 gallons, but of course, this depends on so many variables such as fish size, behavior, territorial agression, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

The bio load, swim room... etc.

And?

 

[herpencounter]

And what?

 

[Anonymous]

I knew this was going to come up...
If some one can delete this please do.

:?:

 

[bleedingthought]

This thread got really confusing really fast. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Yes it did. :?

 

[Anonymous]

This thread got really confusing really fast. :lol: :lol: :lol:

:lol: Yes, I agree.

I think the inch rule is barely a thumbnail to what you can house properly.

Too much depends on species, tank shape/sizes, filtration, and husbandry.

Someone with good husbandry skills, and proper filtration will be able to keep up wth more bio load than someone who is a part time reefer.

Exceptions for species like tangs wo need more than just good husbandry, but also need adequate swimming room.

 

[Anonymous]

I keep the rule of 1" per 10ga for a more balanced bio load.

I don't think this pertains to tangs though. They have a way higher bio load.

 

[Anonymous]

How do you know how many fish for your tank is enough?

There is that a better way!

Your pole still says Gallons/inch. :wink:

Any way you cut it, there is no hard and fast answer. There are too many variables. It comes down to knowledge and experience, period.

 

[Anonymous]

I keep the rule of 1" per 10ga for a more balanced bio load.

I don't think this pertains to tangs though. They have a way higher bio load.

Yet you can't keep a 10" grouper in a 10 gallon can you? Or a 20 gallon, or a 30 gallon...Nor can you keep two 5" groupers.


This is why this rule is complete bunk.

 

[Anonymous]

I keep the rule of 1" per 10ga for a more balanced bio load.

I don't think this pertains to tangs though. They have a way higher bio load.

Yet you can't keep a 10" grouper in a 10 gallon can you? Or a 20 gallon, or a 30 gallon...Nor can you keep two 5" groupers.


This is why this rule is complete bunk.

That would be 1" per gallon not 1" per 10 gal. I would even go as far as looking up how large they get an go with that figure for your 1" per 10 ga rule.