Stocking calculation

[Rocky998]

I wouldn't keep a pearl gourami in a tnak less than 36 inches long - how long is a 20H?

24Lx12Wx16H

 

[Essjay]

That's not long enough, I'm afraid. I have pearls in my 42 inch long tank, and they are big fish. If you want gouramis, honeys are more suited to the tank size, or just maybe dwarfs if you can find any disease free ones (usually only locally bred dwarfs can be guaranteed disease free)

 

[Rocky998]

That's not long enough, I'm afraid. I have pearls in my 42 inch long tank, and they are big fish. If you want gouramis, honeys are more suited to the tank size, or just maybe dwarfs if you can find any disease free ones (usually only locally bred dwarfs can be guaranteed disease free)

Ok thanks.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Late to the party, but back when it was all fields around here...

The 1" per gallon had been dismissed and there was more of an emphasis on the surface area of tank.

Anyhow, moving on, it was felt by many that such a calculation was misleading, simply because of why it was asked for. We all know that when we first started the hobby, we wanted as many fish in our tank and we wanted them NOW! The stocking calculator that gave you the most fish would be the chosen one and the tank would then be stocked with at least that number.
Then there'd be the addition of filtration, oxygenation, blah-blah and aquarists then filled their tanks to the brim.
(It's a bit like motorists viewing the speed limit as a target, rather than a limit).

Fortunately, today, there's a wonderful selection of easy to use testing kits and, as fish are added, I know I can closely monitor the 'water parameters'. If things start to go awry, then perhaps I've too many fish. If everything's hunky dory for a while, then maybe, just maybe, I might add some more. Even then, on adding fish, I'm more likely to increase the number of a species I already have, rather than get some Billy No-Mates of different species, so my tetra shoal might get some more members.

 

[itiwhetu]

I would love to know if you applied the 1inch per gallon rule to your tanks that you have had running for a while how close you would be to following that rule. I know when I have done the calculation backwards I was never far away.

 

[I Like Rare Fish]

Overstocking depends on the fish. I have a Delhezi Bichir in my 55g. They grow up to 13 inches. I also have 4 large Congo tetras. That adds up to 25 inches. This stock means wc once a week of 90%. It depends on the fish

 

[itiwhetu]

Overstocking depends on the fish. I have a Delhezi Bichir in my 55g. They grow up to 13 inches. I also have 4 large Congo tetras. That adds up to 25 inches. This stock means wc once a week of 90%. It depends on the fish

Like I said before there are always extremes, most aquarists don't have a Bichir. Take him out and your stocking would be quite different.

 

[Byron]

I have as an example a 40g tank, which when considering the sand and wood is closer to 35 actual gallons or perhaps less. There are currently 56 inches of fish in this tank, and it is not even close to being overstocked; I could easily add another 10-15 inches of fish. That is because the species and their requirements are what matter. Of course, one can come to the point where the tank would be overstocked, to the detriment of the fish, but numbers alone cannot be the only consideration, which is why all the "rules" and calculators fail.

 

[I Like Rare Fish]

Like I said before there are always extremes, most aquarists don't have a Bichir. Take him out and your stocking would be quite different.

If I took the bichir our, I would do every 2 weeks 50%, but that’s because I am a wc addict.

 

[itiwhetu]

I think it is a shame that when there is a simple rule of thumb that has been around for about 100 years, that people just completely disregard it. The rule is designed for new aquarists to give them an indication of how many fish they may be able to keep in a tank. For that purpose the inch rule is completely adequate.