amount of fish

[bowser220]

I have a 72 gallon fish only tank. I have 1 clown, 1 angel, 1 yellow tang, 3 damsels. I also have 3 brittle starfish, one orange star fish, one cleaner shimp, 3 crabs, and 3 snails. How many more fish can I add to the tank? The tank is three months old.

 

[fishboy 86]

The rule of thumb is 1in of fish per gallon(full grown) you dont count the inverts though in the stocking levels just don't go overboard with inverts.

 

[ryan]

Ive never heard one inch per gallon. I've read and been told 1/2 a inch per gallon. You said your tank is only a couple of months old so remember when adding fish that they are most likely going to be growing quite a bit. Snails and stuff you should be able to add a lot more. Ive heard some people with hermit crabs and smaller snails going one per gallon.

 

[bowser220]

Does any one have a reference that shows the size of certain fish when full grown?

 

[ryan]

You have to research that for each fish you are getting. If you name exactly what you have in your tank I should be able to give you a ballpark estimate on their adult sizes.

 

[bowser220]

yellow tang, pygmy bluefin angel, peccuda clown (nemo),all blue damsel, black with white striped damsel, bluish purple damsel with yellow fin. Are damsels aggressive?

 

[ryan]

Yellow Tang- 8", Pygmy bluefin angel I dont know if its in the Dwarf catagory then 4 to 5 inches most likely. Peccula Clown 4", blue damsel 3", Stripped Damsel 3", Yellow tailed Damsel 3". Damsels are mostly semi-aggressive.

 

[bowser220]

Is the yellow tang a bad idea with these other fishes? Can I continue to feed just flakes to these guys or what is the best?

 

[ryan]

I dont see why you cant keep them together. The yellow tang is a highly territorrial fish. He will hold his own. Fish need a variety of food to stay healthy and thrive. Flake food is usually good as a staple (mainly used) food, but its good to feed them a variety. Maybe some freeze dried food, frozen food, veggies (romain lettuce, seaweed sheets). Theres a ton of different foods on the market just experement to find what your fish like. I dont know a ton about tangs, but I believe the yellow tang eat algea primarily.

 

[cnlight]

A yellow tangs diet is primarly veggie, so you should provide a seaweed sheet to them either band it to a rock or on a veggie clip. The damsels are aggressive fish and should be kept with caution. I wouldn't add anymore fish, just because of the damsels.
Flake food is good, but please keep a varied diet for your fish. Frozen foods like mysis shrimp and brine are good, just don't over feed.

 

[snailheave]

i've heard 1" per 5 gallon. but by that rule my tank would've exploded a long time ago.
add slowly and do a 5% water change every week and see how the nitrates reading is indicating. you'll soon get a hang of this and know what's the right bio-load for the level of maintenance you can handle.