How many "Fish per Gallon" do you have?
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Paul87
Fellow Reefer
6 fish in a 38 gallon.
2- Pair of Ruby Red Dragonets
2- Pair of Ocellaris Clowns
1- Orchid Dottyback
1- Yellow Chrysus Wrasse
The wrasse is the largest by far in he tank at about 3" and I would actually get rid of him if I could catch it. I personally think he will get a little big for my tank even though I haven't had any problems.
1.5789 FPG
2- Pair of Ruby Red Dragonets
2- Pair of Ocellaris Clowns
1- Orchid Dottyback
1- Yellow Chrysus Wrasse
The wrasse is the largest by far in he tank at about 3" and I would actually get rid of him if I could catch it. I personally think he will get a little big for my tank even though I haven't had any problems.
1.5789 FPG
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svSabine
New Member
Paul87- i think the decimal ended up in the wrong spot. 6 in a 38 is .157 not 1.57
I've got 12 in a 180 for a ratio of .067 FPG. The list is as follows:
3 bangai cardinals
2 chromis
2 bartlets anthias
1 sand perch
1 tomato clown
1 yellow tang
1 kole tang
1 hippo tang
I've got 12 in a 180 for a ratio of .067 FPG. The list is as follows:
3 bangai cardinals
2 chromis
2 bartlets anthias
1 sand perch
1 tomato clown
1 yellow tang
1 kole tang
1 hippo tang
ca1ore
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Pointless measures. Whether 'fish per gallon', 'pounds of live rock per gallon', or some other rule-of-thumb, there are so many variable as to make the rule useless.
ca1ore
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OK, but I guess I'm not sure what it tells you, really. If my 'number' is 2, is that good or bad, what do I do as a result. Maybe fish are big, maybe they are small. Maybe I have a higher surface area to volume in my tank; maybe lower. Maybe I have high flow, maybe not. Maybe my fish are swimmers, maybe they are loiterers. Assuming most reef tanks are adequately circulated, oxygen is not likely to be a limitation, so it comes down either to the levels of feeding required, or swimming room. Assuming one uses sensible judgement in therms of not selecting fish that are obviously too large for ones tank, then I think it comes down to feeding and nutrient exports. If you are unable to keep up with added nutrients, and nitrates and phosphates are rising, then you have too many fish. If you can keep up then you do not. That's my 2 cents on the subject
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-Logzor
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ca1ore
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Who said anything about rules?
OK, if not a 'rule-of-thumb', what would you call it?
This entire hobby is just for fun. Doesn't mean though that it mightn't be helpful for somebody new to the hobby to abandon some of these less useful myths.
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-Logzor
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There is no instruction on how to use this data. Unlike someone saying you need x pounds of rock per gallon. I would simply call this a survey for aquarium related data.
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Remember it doesn't take account of factors like size of sump and skimmers etc. They do a much ore accurate freshwater calculator that lest you add what filters you're running.
At 172% stocking you just need run a good skimmer and do decent water changes.
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I have somewhere around 45-50 fish in my 300g. Mostly small ones like anthias, chromis and wrasses. Though I do have 4 large tangs as well. The total system is about 400g including a 70g refugium.
I do a 50g water change every 1-2 weeks and have never had any problems with nitrates or phosphates and my acros love it
I do a 50g water change every 1-2 weeks and have never had any problems with nitrates or phosphates and my acros love it
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-Logzor
2500 Club Member
I have somewhere around 45-50 fish in my 300g. Mostly small ones like anthias, chromis and wrasses. Though I do have 4 large tangs as well. The total system is about 400g including a 70g refugium.
I do a 50g water change every 1-2 weeks and have never had any problems with nitrates or phosphates and my acros love it
That's awesome! Love the idea of the packed reef with lots of fish!
bocomo
Active Member
Horrible metric to use IMO. (2 hippo tangs in a 2 gallon?)
Not much more a fan of inches per gallon. Different types of fish have different volume requirements.
Also not a fan of lbs of live rock per gallon.
I want to end on a positive note though: I am a fan of sunrises and cool drinks on a hot day.
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eliramos
Valuable Member
I'm no expert but I will agree that this rule no longer really applies the fact of the matter is it all depends on the species. Whether it be by room needed for growth, room needed for wandering, enough water volume to sustain the waste produced without causing spikes. What part of the tank they prefer. Like previously stated there are just too many variables now for an answer to this question.
goldy26
Community Member
in my current 60 gallon i've got a .25 ratio. personally i have had difficulty keeping my nitrates and phosphates at 0 (still low, just not 0). i'm in the process of upgrading to a 150 gallon and am going to add some fish to that tank to give me a final ratio of .153. i feel like if you take the maximum potential a fish can grow and use that with the inch/gallon rule, you will be fine. in my 60 i got a little carried away, haha.
