Stocking calculation

[Rocky998]

How do you guys calculate under and over stocking? I've heard of aqadvisor which is bad and the inch per gallon which is torture.

 

[fish48]

1-inch per gallon is just a guide also depends on which species of fish and how big they grow

 

[Wills]

What kind of tank are you planning? I use inch per gallon to tot up in my head and then make a judgement from there - so if keeping bigger fish cut the numbers or if it’s loads of small fish probably increase the numbers

 

[Slaphppy7]

Nothing wrong with AqAdvidor, though it's a bit conservative, IMO

It's a guide, not a set-in-stone rule maker...

 

[Byron]

Stocking any aquarium is much more than mere fish size to water volume ratio, though this is often as far as we think it through. This is where any calculation program fails, as so far there are none than can consider the important factors (though AqAdvisor does attempt some).

As an example of why fish/water is not the real issue...10 cardinal tetras can easily be housed in a 10g with floating plants. But 10 Zebra Danio (which are approximately the same size) would need a much larger tank. The more important factors to consider when stocking a given tank are the actual fish species, numbers of each species, combination/compatibility of species, and the environment/aquascape itself which must be suitable for the selected fish species.

 

[Rocky998]

What kind of tank are you planning? I use inch per gallon to tot up in my head and then make a judgement from there - so if keeping bigger fish cut the numbers or if it’s loads of small fish probably increase the numbers

I just got a 20g tank. I was gonna go big and do a 65 but I figured that a 20g is sufficient.

 

[itiwhetu]

As a starting point the 1 inch per gallon works fine. I never include the tail. So it is body size.

 

[Rocky998]

As a starting point the 1 inch per gallon works fine. I never include the tail. So it is body size.

Oh ok. Thank you for your help

 

[NannaLou]

I just got a 20g tank. I was gonna go big and do a 65 but I figured that a 20g is sufficient.

Is sufficient for what..?

 

[Slaphppy7]

As a starting point the 1 inch per gallon works fine. I never include the tail. So it is body size.

So, a 10" fish in a 10G tank...?...or, two 5" fish?
IMO, the inch per gallon "rule" is pure hogwash....

 

[Essjay]

That rule is never quoted in its entirety. The full rule is
"one inch of pencil shaped fish which grow no bigger than 3 inches per gallon"

it doesn't apply to fish which grow over 3 inches or to deep bodied fish like skirt/widow tetras

 

[ClownLurch]

That rule is never quoted in its entirety. The full rule is
"one inch of pencil shaped fish which grow no bigger than 3 inches per gallon"

it doesn't apply to fish which grow over 3 inches or to deep bodied fish like skirt/widow tetras

The voice of sanity prevails yet again.

 

[Slaphppy7]

That rule is never quoted in its entirety. The full rule is
"one inch of pencil shaped fish which grow no bigger than 3 inches per gallon"

it doesn't apply to fish which grow over 3 inches or to deep bodied fish like skirt/widow tetras

That rule is never quoted in its entirety.

Well, that's the problem, then....it's still vague, though...I can keep a 3" fish in a gallon of water....OK!

 

[Rocky998]

Is sufficient for what..?

For just a simple-setup aquarium. I didnt want to over do it I guess... I know the larger the tank the lower the maintenance, but it does cost more for set up. And I'm just fine with the fish I can have in a 20 gallon. All I need now is sand, rocks, driftwood, a few plants, and a filter and heater. Oh, and of course the dechlorinator.

 

[Essjay]

Well, that's the problem, then....it's still vague, though...I can keep a 3" fish in a gallon of water....OK!

Hmmm, it's bit tricky phrasing it.

1 inch of fish per gallon when the fish are pencil shaped and grow no bigger than 3 inches

or

Each gallon can hold 1 inch of fish which are pencil shaped and grow no bigger than 3 inches.


So your 3 inch fish needs 3 gallons.




I agree, it's still not a very good rule