Fish : Volume Ratio?

[xeniaforever]

I heard you're supposed to have 1 gallon per inch of fish many, many years ago, but is it true? Especially in a reef tank...

 

[marrone]

I think this rule is more a of how much a load you can have in your tank, bascially what the bacteria in your system can handle. Since we're running things protein skimmers, refugs and have sumps most system can handle a greater load than the 1" per fish per gallon.

 

[Timbo]

I think this rule is more a of how much a load you can have in your tank, bascially what the bacteria in your system can handle. Since we're running things protein skimmers, refugs and have sumps most system can handle a greater load than the 1" per fish per gallon.

I agree. There is no formula to tell you how many fish you can “have” in your tank. If your system is set up to process nutrients quickly, either biologically or mechanically or both….sky is the limit. Plus, feeding is an entire different factor.

 

[bigyankfan]

I don't follow the 1" per gallon rule - your fish will let you know if you have too many. Fish that had co-existed peacefully until that last fish was added are now chasing each other and acting aggressively. Fish are territorial - if they feel their territory is being infringed upon they will chase other fish out of their space.

 

[Timfish]

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Like 12 1" damsels are anywhere close to the bioload of 1 12" tang. This is an excellent example of dogma trumping common sense. Been trying to point out the absurdity of that rule of thumb since I was keeping freshwater in the early '80s and using neon tetras and oscars as examples.