cartman101
Active Member
Every gallon of water per inch?
Whats the magic rule????
- Thread starter cartman101
- Start date
cartman101
Active Member
O........................:nervous:
lionfish12
Active Member
:yes:
chandler04
Active Member
Magic rule is swimming space+ natural needs+ size of fish+ waste production+ territorial needs and of course... RESEARCH!! Add it all up, and that is the rule. Think this... an eel, it can go into a 55 gallon, but it can be 3-4 four feet long. Thats like 1X1.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Yeah, there's no way you can go by the 1 inch of fish per 5 gallons of water. It just does not work in saltwater. I know that is supposed to be the rule of thumb, but it just isn't enough. Like stated, you need to consider the length of the fish, thickness, the amount of room it needs to swim, the amount of space it needs in a tank, waste production, etc.
Bottom line to it is to research the species you are looking at before you buy it.
Bottom line to it is to research the species you are looking at before you buy it.
migston
Member
Who came up with this standard anyway? For what type of filtration? For what species? It seems incredibly general. I mean you've got fish like clowns which can grow to maybe 3-4 inches but you can house a pair of them comfortably in a 20 gallon tank. Going by the inch rule, 30 gallons would be minimum.
Conversely I have a 60 gallon tank. By using the rule, I can house 12 inches of fish. Does that mean I can have a 12 inch Tang? No way.
How bout this? Is the bioload of a 12 inch fish comparable to say 12 neon gobies? No way.
That rule is stupid.
Conversely I have a 60 gallon tank. By using the rule, I can house 12 inches of fish. Does that mean I can have a 12 inch Tang? No way.
How bout this? Is the bioload of a 12 inch fish comparable to say 12 neon gobies? No way.
That rule is stupid.
greatfullreefer
Active Member
Originally posted by migston
That rule is stupid.
I disagree, it it a good place for newbies to start it gives them a rough guide without confusing the heck out of them. It lets them know that saltwater is far less forgiving than freshwater and you cant just add fish all day long. If a newbie asks the question how many fish can i have and you told him well you have to measure the fishes length width and height, divide by the tanks capacity then weigh its poop if it is less than x and is a full moon then you can have x amount of fish. If it is mid day and it weighs x you can have x amount of fish, unless it is overcast or snowing. You then divide to the nearest denominator......LOL you get my point. It is a good place for newbies to start and does not scare them off.
nflnutswif
Member
Again, I bow down to the "Greatful" When I was a real newbie! (Still learning mind you), that rule let me understand not to crowd! It's just a simple guideline. . . underline SIMPLE!
just my opinion!:yes:
just my opinion!:yes:
bang guy
Moderator
IMO the typical successful mixed tank fits fine in the 1" per 5 gallon guideline. I think it's a good starting point. Just remember to use the expected adult size of the fish and not the current size.
Yes, you can house a pair of Percula in a 10 gallon. But not a new hobbiest. A new hobbiest should not be attempting that kind of density.
Yes, you can house a pair of Percula in a 10 gallon. But not a new hobbiest. A new hobbiest should not be attempting that kind of density.
bang guy
Moderator
So tell me a better way to explain to a new hobbiest that freshwater densities will not work with saltwater? You need 1 or 2 lines that are easily understandable. If you go into a detailed discussion you're going to be misunderstood or ignored and their tank may fail as a result.
I'm all over your "research" answer. I agree that the needs of every animal needs to be researched. But how do you research population density? Where would I go?
So, treat me as an eager new hobbiest that wants to fill a 55 gallon tank.
I'm all over your "research" answer. I agree that the needs of every animal needs to be researched. But how do you research population density? Where would I go?
So, treat me as an eager new hobbiest that wants to fill a 55 gallon tank.
