Saltwater Fish Math

[sf31p]

In a saltwater tank, I know that 1 square inch of fish can equal 3 – 5 Gallons of saltwater depending on the activity level of the type fish contained in the tank. My tank isn’t finished being stocked, but I have already done the fish math for what I plan to safely stock in the tank later on. (Using the maximum possible size of each fish as the baseline for inches)
I’m curious as to how you would do a “square inch to gallon” conversion for invertebrates such as Shrimp, Crabs, Coco Worms/Feather Dusters, and Corals? I know they make less waste than fish and would most likely use less than 3 gallons of saltwater per inch, but I know some of the inverts still need their waste filtrated.
Thanks

 

[jeanheckle]

I've not generally counted my inverts in my equations. Typically the inverts are cleaning the fish waste and keeping the bottom clean.

 

[sf31p]

Thanks

 

[natclanwy]

Inverts usually are not counted as part of your bioload, and that method is of figuring out how many fish can be stocked is not very accurate. You need to look at the feeding habits of the fish you want to keep plus their activity level. If are planning on keeping aggressive fish that are messy eaters you won't be able to keep anywhere near as many as that calculation will allow. The filtration and the amount of water changes you are planning will play a big factor in how heavy of a bioload you will be able to successfully maintain.

 

[bizzmoneyb]

it all depends on the size of the tank and what fish you're looking to keep.
i myself go by about 1 fish per 10 gallons with my tanks, unless we are talking about big or territorial fish.
what size tank do you have? im sure you'll get plenty of suggestions on how many snails, crabs etc if we know the size of your tank.

 

[sf31p]

The new tanks I have are actually listed in Liters, but these are their size in US Gallons (give or take two gallons).
I have a 55+ gallon tank with a 40+ Gallon underflow and a 250+ Gallon tank with a 100+ Gallon underflow.
For the 250 Gal tank, I plan on getting Tangs. I’ve been doing research and I might get a Blue/Yellow Hippo Tang and maybe a few other Tangs that are compatible. Yellow Tangs are definitely out. Red Sea Purple Tangs are supper cheap here about $15, but they are mean too, so they’re probably not getting added to the tank either. I like the Sailfin Desjardinii Tang though.
I'm good with picking out peaceful fish that eat all types of things except inverts. I still need to do more research on different Tangs and fish supplies are limited, irregular, and weird here, so I need to adjust to that as well.
I mainly keep peaceful fish. I also like inverts and movement. I like aggressive fish, but you can only put a few of them in a tank and then they always eat inverts, so I usually don’t keep aggressive fish tanks.
I plan on possibly using the 55+ and w/40+ for a quarantine tank for fish being added to/healed from the 250 gal tank.
As for inverts I plan to add,
Clams: Weird Cleaner Type Clams they have over here.
Crabs: Emerald Crabs, Hermit/Electric Hermits, and I may risk putting in a Boxing crab.
Feather Dusters: Regular, Colored Dwarf, and Coco Worm.
Shrimp: Brine Shrimp, Cleaner Shrimp and Blood/Fire Shrimp.
Snails: Nassarius and Astrea (Cerith snails if available).
Sponges: Blue, Ball, and Frilly.
Starfish: Serpent Starfish.
Urchin: Royal Blue Tuxedo
Various Plants
I'll add corals later. Water flow is good, but my lighting isn't "great". It is adaquate for low light and moderate light corals. I don't like "high" lighting, because the tank top is usually open for a "high" lighting system. I know an open lid gives more surface area for gas/amonia to be released, but I also have a tendency to have kamikaze fish (even if they aren’t natural kamikaze type fish). The water tests good...I just have a bad luck thing with jumping fish. (I also get bit by almost every dog I pet, including my Grandmas Labrador. Who ever get bit by a labrador?). I've gone to a friends house and fish jump out off his tank when I sit on his couch, but they don't jump when I'm not around. It's really weird.

 

[mboswell1982]

Originally Posted by sf31p
http:///forum/post/2836624
(I also get bit by almost every dog I pet, including my Grandmas Labrador. Who ever get bit by a labrador?).
if you wanna know the truth, labs score very high on the tests they do to see which dog breed is more likely to bite people, dachschunds and dalmations score the highest, labs actually score higher than any of the bully breeds, including pits, american bulldogs, mastiffs, and what not

 

[anonome]

Originally Posted by mboswell1982
http:///forum/post/2836724
if you wanna know the truth, labs score very high on the tests they do to see which dog breed is more likely to bite people, dachschunds and dalmations score the highest, labs actually score higher than any of the bully breeds, including pits, american bulldogs, mastiffs, and what not