Tank Space

[dcfeeiv]

what is your general rule of thumb for the amount of fish in a tank.
i try to have for every 1 inch of fish atleast 1 gal of water
anyone do anything else

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

i just judge by how full my tank looks also depends on how my tests come out so long as ammonia is close to zero im ok

 

[newtotropical]

Im with Smufy

 

[StuCarr]

Me too, I have 20" of danios, guppys, and flame tetras in my 30g tank. Looks pretty full in the mid and upper levels, but empty on the bottom. Will soon be upgrading crappy Juwel internal to an oversized external filter, and will be adding around 10 Corydoras of some decription. That will take me up to 40" ish. So in some peoples eyes overstocked, but as long as the filter is up to the job and the cory's don't bump into each other, IMO that good.
Stu

 

[smithrc]

i just judge by how full my tank looks also depends on how my tests come out so long as ammonia is close to zero im ok

agrred...

BUT if there is ANY ammonia present your over stocked and your filtration cant cope...
I needs to be 0 at all times - If its not there is a problem.

Ammonia is teh most toxic of the polutants in your tank and once cycled needs to remain at zero.
Nitrite is the same story - any sign of it after a successful cycle means the filtrations isnt coping.

Nitrate should be the only reading that you will see. (even thats 0 in our tanks with lots of plants).

 

[thegnu]

ditto smithrc

every tank has ammonia and nitrites because its being produced all the while as a product or a byproduct but should never be as high to show on test's

 

[vinylman]

I wouldn't go to more than 3/4 of your tank's stocking capacity. It's much better for the fish. Don't forget they live in their own toilet.