Fish and Aquarium Size

[member 99594]

I am currently working on my stocking list and the kids are starting to point out fish they would like. And before I make promises I want to get this list right.

I know there is quiet a bit of debate on this and I want to make sure I am stocking correctly.

I see many people that have many types of fish that are suggested bigger tanks than they are housed. However, I do know that aquariums come in all sorts of dimensions.

Question: Fish that are rated for 125 gallons or 150 gallons, is it the width and length of the tank that is most important?

Eg. if you have a tank with a foot print of 48x24 can you house fish up to 150?

I am looking for an all around discussion on this to learn more about all types of fish and environments they require. Mostly the most common hobby fish.

Cheers!!

 

[Waters]

I am currently working on my stocking list and the kids are starting to point out fish they would like. And before I make promises I want to get this list right.

I know there is quiet a bit of debate on this and I want to make sure I am stocking correctly.

I see many people that have many types of fish that are suggested bigger tanks than they are housed. However, I do know that aquariums come in all sorts of dimensions.

Question: Fish that are rated for 125 gallons or 150 gallons, is it the width and length of the tank that is most important?

Eg. if you have a tank with a foot print of 48x24 can you house fish up to 150?

I am looking for an all around discussion on this to learn more about all types of fish and environments they require. Mostly the most common hobby fish.

Cheers!!

It really depends on the fish and the aquascape....active swimmers like Tangs need the extra length while "longer" fish often need the depth.

 

[sfin52]

it really depends on the fish. Tangs need length.

 

[member 99594]

What about triggerfish and angelfish?

 

[sfin52]

most angels I think would be fine and the same with triggers.

 

[BestMomEver]

Consider videos/documentaries you have seen of different reefs. Some fish are open water dwellers and some are specific reef dwellers and some are in the middle. So clownfish stay relatively close to their anemone and defend their area very well. They are typical reef dwellers. Some larger angels fall in the middle. They stay at the reef but will swim long distances up and back the reef in search of food. Tangs, butterflies, etc are open water fish. Yes, they stay on the reef but large schools of them are seen swimming from one area to the other or one reef to another.

So, it really depends on the fish you want and customize your tank to fit. Free ocean dwellers like tangs need long stretches of open water to move around as do butterflies. We had a 500 gallon that was 8 feet long and our tangs swam up and back all day. The angels would weave in and out of the aquascape. Clowns can live in a smaller tank but if you choose an anemone, be careful of the species. BTAs stay relatively small and carpets can get huge.

The minimum tank size quoted online is based on a typical tank footprint. You can get a 93 gallon cube and a 100 gallon (standard) and even though the tanks are nearly the same in gallons, you can keep angels and small tangs in the 100 but not in the cube. There is simply not enough length in the cube for open swimmers to move.


Hope this helps!