What is to MANY fish?? Stocking questions.

lilzeus99

lilzeus99

Member
I have been doing some reading of different books, and the one that seems to be the most accurate to what I have been reading and browsing the forums here, says that for stocking purposes it is usuall okay to take the:
gallons / 2 = the total number of inches of fish you can stock
Does anyone believe in this method? Obviousely there is acceptions like one big fish may produce more wast and cause a bigger bioload on the tank than a few smaller.
Any comments? I would like to have quite a few fish in my 45 gallon tank I'm setting up in my office at work, but keeping smaller fish to make up for more quantity of fish.
Thanks....this site has been very helpful so far. Keep it coming.
Shane
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
I would recommend coming up with a "stock list" and posting it on these boards.
The inches per gallon is an old and outdated standard.
Please be more specific as to what "quite a few" means. In general a 45g probably can take 4-6 fish.
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
dont go by any gallon per inch of fish rule they are BS, every type of fish has its own requirements, research the fish you want find out its tank size requirements, capacity to stock totally depends on the amount of load a fish will put on a tank, 3 inch algae blenny will be less bioload than a 3 inch lion fish due to dietary differences.
sorry there is no "golden rule" for that.
 
lilzeus99

lilzeus99

Member
I have my stocking list lined out, I will find it and post it in a little while. I may be all out of wack on what I thought I could and couldnt do.
Be back in a bit.
Thanks guys
shane
 
lilzeus99

lilzeus99

Member
Okay, here is what I was thinking to start out with:
3-5 green chromis
clean up crew early in the stocking stages
2 false percs
1 sixline wrasse
1 flame angel
1 royal gamma
1 firefish goby (maybe a purple)
I also really like the tangs, but I don't think I have enough tank even for a small tang, and I also really like the banggai (sp) cards as other subs or options.
I also plan on doing:
50lbs or so of live rock
40lbs of substrate 50/50 live sand and CC
The tank dimensions are 36x12x24
Marineland Emporor 400 filter
Eventually a skimmer once Its starts to get about halfway stocked
Was looking at a 600gph power head to keep things stirred up
All right, let me hear your thoughts, and keep in mind I'm new to the hobby and trying to learn what will and won't work.
Thanks for your help
shane
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
That is a lot of fish for a 45 gallon tank. You are going to have to cut some of them out. Are there certain ones that you like more than others? I would go with the Gramma or firefish, the sixline and the clowns if it were me. The angel is nice too but you may have to skip something else.
 
morval

morval

Member
skip the chromis there awful. supposed to be good "schooling" fish but the eventually get mean and beat each other to death. no tang ! and i agree with the firefish OR gramma
 
oceansidefish

oceansidefish

Active Member
I would also say no to a flame angel in a 45g JMO. Also I would say no to the GC school. The percs, wrasse, gamma and fire fish would be plenty IMO.
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
I'd pass on the chromis school. in that size tank just too much infighting amongst themselves and cant really enjoy real schooling. also 1" chromis if they live long enough become 3" chromis. you could do the flame angel but I'd do a smaller species and they (most dwarf angels) can have a tude problem especially if they arent the last fish added.
the inch per gallon rules mean absolutely nothing. they dont take account for aggression, normal occupancy habits from fish to fish. its just a very general bioload capacity rule of thumb for a fish only tank. example: a school of four lyretail anthias (8" of fish) can just barely coexist in a 125g 6ft tank without killing each other (they need at least that much for retreatability when neccessary) while you could probably put about 15 peaceful gobies (15" + of fish) in the same tank with no problems at all. small psuedochromis needs virtually no room by itself. In a community tank you need the atlanta aquarium to keep them from harrassing peaceful like size fish (okay exaggeration but a 4ft tank usually wont do it). rule doesn't work for reef tanks either where coral health supercedes fish.
 
lilzeus99

lilzeus99

Member
I have no real attachment to the chromis...just read that they are best for starting a tank out....
If I took the chromis out do you feel that is a good stocking list? Or does anyone have any other suggestions on some fish I should look at? I am open for ideas, just want to make sure they will all get along for there best chance at good health.
Thanks for the input, keep it coming.
shane
 
oceansidefish

oceansidefish

Active Member
I think you are good, if you keep the flame make sure you add it last. A pistol shrimp and goby would also make a great addition. They are really really interesting to watch, just need a 2-3" sand bed
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by niskyvaulter
http:///forum/post/2641406
i also think you should take the chromis out, then you're good
IMO, a flame will be fine in a 45; with plenty of LR. He should be the last fish introduced too. You sound like a lfs may have told you to use the chromis as a "cycle starter". This is totally wrong; a dead, fresh shrimp works just as well. If I read you wrong, sorry! As to your stocking list; if you omit the chromis, I think its great. A diverse group of pretty, hardy, and interesting fish.
 
prime311

prime311

Active Member
Whats the point to adding the flame last? Just curious cuz I'm probly going to get one of those, is it just the aggression?
 
lilzeus99

lilzeus99

Member
I don't understand the adding a uncooked raw shrimp. I know it decomposes to boost the cycle, am I correct? Also I have not gotten a clear answer on when you put it in, and for how long before you need to take it out.
Thanks a million
shane
 
prime311

prime311

Active Member
Put it in right after you add water and stuff. Test Ammonia daily and take it out after your ammonia reaches .5.
 
valgae

valgae

Member
check out thetropicaltank dot com site. look under library then reference section. it has a nice stocking chart. other nice info as well.
 
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