Gallon Confusion

[willowstwin]

Hi all

just a quick newbie question...

I'm using the calculator to see how many gallons a new tank I'm looking at would be from litres. However, there are 2 choices, Imperial or US. Which one do I use? I know most people give stocking help in relation to gallons rather than litres

Thanks
Willow

 

[Miles_hot]

usually USG

 

[willowstwin]

hmmm that makes my current tank a 12 gallon, not a 10... means I can get another couple of tetras now without worrying

 

[StandbySetting]

Use Litres, standard for volume and saves confusion.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Use Litres, standard for volume and saves confusion.

+1

 

[willowstwin]

but everyone always talks about "X Gallon tank stocking help" and going on 1" of fish per gallon... thats a different thing depending on imperial or usg

 

[StandbySetting]

I prefer the 1Cm of fish per 1 Litre of water personally, but the 1 Inch per Gallon translates to 2.5Cm of fish per 3.6 Litres.

 

[minnnt]

Use Litres, standard for volume and saves confusion.

+1

+2!

And i don't use any rule really regarding stocking as it is completely different depending on what fish you're looking at. The same rule wouldn't apply to Oscars as it would with Neon Tetra's so better to try and judge it for yourself. Ask on here for advice and use a bit of trial and error. Far better in my experience... But thats just my opinion.

 

[Miles_hot]

I prefer the 1Cm of fish per 1 Litre of water personally, but the 1 Inch per Gallon translates to 2.5Cm of fish per 3.6 Litres.

That's a heck of a disparity - I'd never noticed that before!

 

[willowstwin]

I prefer the 1Cm of fish per 1 Litre of water personally, but the 1 Inch per Gallon translates to 2.5Cm of fish per 3.6 Litres.

Surely gallons is better then? as it prevents overstocking? 2.5cm of fish in 2.5litres vs 2.5cm in 3.6litres... the latter sounds better to me. Ofc I understand tank dimensions play a part.. you could have 2 same litre tanks, one long and one tall and each will house different fish.

 

[StandbySetting]

Not really, overstocking is an objective subject, If I apply both guides on my 70 Litre tank:

Inch per gallon:

18 Ember Tetra's - 14 Inches
6 Panda Corydora's - 12 Inches
Bristlenose Pleco - 6 Inches

32 Inches in total in a tank of volume 18 USG

1Cm per Litre:

Ember Tetra's 36Cm
Panda Cory's 30Cm
Bristlenose 15Cm

81Cm on a 70 Litre tank, now I know that I can comfortably get another few fish in there, my water parameters are fine, the guides just don't work but are a good recommendation for beginners. By definition of both of these guides I am over stocked, but I know in my head that I am not.

Take 2 fish that have pretty much exactly the same body shape, one is 2Cm big, the other is 4cm big, the one that is 4Cm big has a mass that is theoretically 8 times greater than the 2Cm fish, therefore the waste produced isn't directly relative to length of the fish, the waste produced is exponential relative to the fish's length, this is why the guides don't work very well.

 

[Tizer]

both rules are c.rap, common sense is the better option, but unfortunately not all people are gifted with much of it so the two rules mentioned were created as a rough guide.

Stand back, look at your tank, are the fish going to grow much more, if yes, imagine them larger, does tank look over stocked? yes? dont buy more, no? go treat yourself. BOOM.

 

[Miles_hot]

Tizer
I think that sort of "feel" for the tank is something which only comes with experience. A chap at work swears he doesn't need a water test kit as the only times he's used it they only confirm what he "felt" at least a day before the tests showed issues by looking at the behavour of the whole tank (marine). No way would I be able to do that - he's been keeping marine for years so has experience or both "normal" and "problem" situations and a congitive framework to allow him to sift one from the other + what to do about it before it starts to impact the fish.
Likewise given I've taken proper notice of less than 10 finsh tanks in my life I have no real idea what a good one looks like!
At the moment the rules are a nice framwork and this forum lets me push them a little, safe in the knowledge that I have probably got lots of headroom for another purchase etc
Miles

 

[willowstwin]

well.. I look at my tank and I feel I could get some bottom dwelling fish (although compatibility with amano shrimp worries me), but I'm not sure about type. When I get my bigger tank things will be better, but until then, if I could I would like a couple more in there.

Panda corys should be kept in groups right? would they attack shrimp? if I could get away with a couple of those in my current tank I'd be over the moon because I think they're adorable! if not, then if it's possible in the 120litre I plan to get then YAY!

 

[This Old Spouse]

well.. I look at my tank and I feel I could get some bottom dwelling fish (although compatibility with amano shrimp worries me), but I'm not sure about type. When I get my bigger tank things will be better, but until then, if I could I would like a couple more in there.

Panda corys should be kept in groups right? would they attack shrimp? if I could get away with a couple of those in my current tank I'd be over the moon because I think they're adorable! if not, then if it's possible in the 120litre I plan to get then YAY!

Corys ... attack ... ANYTHING??? Nope.