Stocking Levels On Thinkfish.co.uk?

[wilchil64]

I've just put in the measurements of my Juwel Rio 180 and it says on thinkfish.co.uk that my guide stocking level is 248.46 cm. That seems like an awful lot to me ....

I've added in the fish I have and the fish I hope to get and have come to 99 cm of fish, according to my calcs. that is about 39 inches and I thought I could have about 40 inches of fish in my tank?

I currently have:

3 rosy barbs
1 leopard frog plec
1 paradise fish
1 angelfish

I am adding in a week 4 black widow tetras (fairly large, LFS got them back from someone getting rid of his tank, they are great, so will keep them in that group, if I find another 1 or 2 of similar size will get them to complete the shoal).

Would also like to add 3 denison/torpedo barbs and a bottom feeder - I like the look of flagtailed catfish, but think I'll end up overstocking then - or corys or otocinclus - which are best for eating algae? I don't want to add a Bristlenose, as I have one in the other tank - since adding him I've had no algae at all and I feed him algae wafers, cucumber, bloodworm, peas as well, of course.

So is the stocking level on the website correct?

Thanks.

 

[minxfishy]

I dont think much personally of thinkfish's calculations, they way over estimate IMO the amount of fish you can have, plus I dont think they take into account the size of the fish for the size of the tank.

 

[smegforbrains]

Hmmmmm.


According to them, my 100 litre tank can hold 140cm of fish based on my having an oversized filter. Or 200cm if I put in an oversized external canister


I agree that is possible, but it would not be fair to have the fish cramped up like that.


What is your tanks litreage? What filter have you got?

 

[wilchil64]

[
What is your tanks litreage? What filter have you got?
[/quote]

The tank has 180 litres and the filter is an internal Juwel filter that came with the tank.

 

[jnms]

Personally I think the thinkfish.co.uk stocking levels are fine, so long as you use some common sense.

Here is the note for the stocking level calculator on thinkfish.co.uk

NOTE: The figure suggested is based on correct maintenance, water quality monitoring, and feeding regimes and is based on small to medium sized fish. Unusual or large fish which may produce more waste will require more space. For instance an aquarium of around 150x45x45cm, which has a stocking level of between 300-600cm would house a pair of large oscars and a large catfish (about 120cm of stocking space) and no more. On the other hand, a shoal of 200 small Neons (stocking level 800cm) would have plenty of room in the same aquarium.

 

[wilchil64]

Personally I think the thinkfish.co.uk stocking levels are fine, so long as you use some common sense.

Here is the note for the stocking level calculator on thinkfish.co.uk

NOTE: The figure suggested is based on correct maintenance, water quality monitoring, and feeding regimes and is based on small to medium sized fish. Unusual or large fish which may produce more waste will require more space. For instance an aquarium of around 150x45x45cm, which has a stocking level of between 300-600cm would house a pair of large oscars and a large catfish (about 120cm of stocking space) and no more. On the other hand, a shoal of 200 small Neons (stocking level 800cm) would have plenty of room in the same aquarium.

Thanks, I read through that. Obviously you have to take these things into account and I do.

However, I entered the fish I have and would like to have and it still tells me the same stocking level. So I have to take the different types of fish into account but it doesn't?

I understand the above, but can't see the point in entering the individual sorts of fish if you can't depend on the stocking level they give you anyway ... or is it only me?

So in my 180 litre tank that is 100 cm x 40 cm x 50 cm how many cms/inches of fish can I keep? It'll just be a community tank, no oscars or large cat fish!

Thanks for the help.

 

[jnms]

I am assuming your tank has a width of 40cm. That would mean you have a surface area of 4000cm. I use the calculation of 1cm of fish per 16cm squared surface.

That means 4000/16 = 250cm of fish

This seems to match the ThinkFish calculations. So you could double you stock at least, with room to spare - though keep in mind the size of a fully grown fish of your chosen type.

I have also seen in a number of places that you can use 10cm squared surface per 1cm of fish if you have enough filtration, this would give you: 4000/10 = 400cm of fish. But if you were to use this you would need to take care and watch things carefully.

I have a 200ltr tank and plan on going up to around 300cm of fish.

 

[smegforbrains]

Personally, I would look no more than 200cm of mature fish using the standard Juwel filter.


However, if you were to at some point upgrade to an external canister like an Eheim, then I would consider upping the stock to 250cm max.

 

[Davo86]

I would personally stick to the inch per gallon rule for the first 6-8 months
and then extend this upto 1.5 inches per gallon afterwards if desired.
(note fish above 4 inches can't really be included in this method and I would be allocating an Angelfish about 10G for example)

That gives you 40 inches (101cm) for the first 6 months and then about 72inches (182cm) afterwards

 

[Jazzzz]

I would personally stick to the inch per gallon rule for the first 6-8 months
and then extend this upto 1.5 inches per gallon afterwards if desired.
(note fish above 4 inches can't really be included in this method and I would be allocating an Angelfish about 10G for example)

That gives you 40 inches (101cm) for the first 6 months and then about 72inches (182cm) afterwards

method i find works well

 

[jnms]

I would personally stick to the inch per gallon rule for the first 6-8 months
and then extend this upto 1.5 inches per gallon afterwards if desired.
(note fish above 4 inches can't really be included in this method and I would be allocating an Angelfish about 10G for example)

That gives you 40 inches (101cm) for the first 6 months and then about 72inches (182cm) afterwards

The 1inch / 1.5inch rule is an old rule from the days of undergravel filters. Now, if you use the ThinkFish calculator and select 'Undergravel' for the filtration type on wilchil64's tank. guess what; it suggests a stocking level of 180cm!!

I think this gives even more validity to the accuracy of the ThinkFish calculator...

 

[wilchil64]

I would personally stick to the inch per gallon rule for the first 6-8 months
and then extend this upto 1.5 inches per gallon afterwards if desired.
(note fish above 4 inches can't really be included in this method and I would be allocating an Angelfish about 10G for example)

That gives you 40 inches (101cm) for the first 6 months and then about 72inches (182cm) afterwards

The 1inch / 1.5inch rule is an old rule from the days of undergravel filters. Now, if you use the ThinkFish calculator and select 'Undergravel' for the filtration type on wilchil64's tank. guess what; it suggests a stocking level of 180cm!!

I think this gives even more validity to the accuracy of the ThinkFish calculator...

So does that mean that with a Juwel internal filter I can stock the tank with 250 cm?

 

[Robot_Rooster]

you always say stiff like "i can fit a common plec in my 10 gallon tank according to them(thinkfish)" but if you actually read there stocking guides they say that to look at their tank suitability and tank size recommendations, if you are going to put a common plec in a 10 gallon then you are an idiot. the thikfish guide is there for how much waste can be produced according to the fish so you will know when there is too much waste.

if that made sense

 

[wilchil64]

you always say stiff like "i can fit a common plec in my 10 gallon tank according to them(thinkfish)" but if you actually read there stocking guides they say that to look at their tank suitability and tank size recommendations, if you are going to put a common plec in a 10 gallon then you are an idiot. the thikfish guide is there for how much waste can be produced according to the fish so you will know when there is too much waste.

if that made sense

???
I'm not planning on putting a common plec in my tank nor did I say I can fit one in! But hey, thanks!

 

[Robot_Rooster]

they were example tbh too many people are criticizing thinkfish when they don't even read their guidelines

it wasn't meant to be a rant at the OP