Maximum Biomass for Aquarium

[Sam MN]

Hi,

I am designing a high school research project where I will testing the effects of warming temperatures on ecosystem productivity for coastal marine ecosystems.

I am creating two identical 20 gallon tanks where I will have realistic tropical ecosystems. I will be ordering most of my supplies and organisms from Carolina Biological Supply.

I have not found great guidance on the maximum number of biological specimens that one tank can sustain well.

The species I plan on including for EACH 20-gal tank are:
Marine Fish Set, Living (11 fish) - https://www.carolina.com/marine-and-saltwater-fish/marine-fish-set-living/162646.pr
Living Rock Community Set - https://www.carolina.com/marine-and...-community-set/162908.pr?question=living+rock
Small Algae Control Set - https://www.carolina.com/marine-and...-control-set/162660.pr?question=algae+control

Does anyone think this is too much to include in each tank? Since I will have a biological filter and an artificial filter, the tank will be cleaned well.

Thank you for your help!

 

[glb]

Hi,

I am designing a high school research project where I will testing the effects of warming temperatures on ecosystem productivity for coastal marine ecosystems.

I am creating two identical 20 gallon tanks where I will have realistic tropical ecosystems. I will be ordering most of my supplies and organisms from Carolina Biological Supply.

I have not found great guidance on the maximum number of biological specimens that one tank can sustain well.

The species I plan on including for EACH 20-gal tank are:
Marine Fish Set, Living (11 fish) - https://www.carolina.com/marine-and-saltwater-fish/marine-fish-set-living/162646.pr
Living Rock Community Set - https://www.carolina.com/marine-and...-community-set/162908.pr?question=living+rock
Small Algae Control Set - https://www.carolina.com/marine-and...-control-set/162660.pr?question=algae+control

Does anyone think this is too much to include in each tank? Since I will have a biological filter and an artificial filter, the tank will be cleaned well.

Thank you for your help!

Typically the rule is 1” of fish for every gallon of water. But you do have to take into account how big that 1” of fish is. For example, a neon goby is about an inch, but it would produce far less waste than say a 1”clownfish, which is a much bigger fish. I’d also be careful putting that many fish in such a small tank. You need to calculate the maximum length a fish could grow when you get them. You also need to think about temperament and make sure none of the fish are aggressive. liveaquaria.com has a great compatibility chart for this, and it also tells you in each fish’s description their temperament and how easy they are to take care of. I had a 12 gallon for a while and only kept two fish in it. For a 20-g, I’m thinking 4-5 max. Hope this helps!

 

[Dan_P]

Possibly a bit off topic, not knowing exactly what you want to achieve...if you are running an experiment, you seem to be adding unnecessary creatures (too many variables) to your system. You could decrease your budget and simplify your microcosm with fewer creatures, otherwise, trying to demostrate a temperature effect may prove very difficult.

Demonstrating productivity changes with temperature might be more directly demonstarted with macro algae alone. You can measure and weigh the growing algae to estimate growth rate.

 

[glb]

Possibly a bit off topic, not knowing exactly what you want to achieve...if you are running an experiment, you seem to be adding unnecessary creatures (too many variables) to your system. You could decrease your budget and simplify your microcosm with fewer creatures, otherwise, trying to demostrate a temperature effect may prove very difficult.

Demonstrating productivity changes with temperature might be more directly demonstarted with macro algae alone. You can measure and weigh the growing algae to estimate growth rate.

I agree. Your tank is small for saltwater, and you don’t need many crabs, snails, shrimp, etc. Sometimes the packages like the ones you listed give you way too much for the size tank you need. For example, if you put in too many snails, crabs, etc. for cleaning up waste, chances are they will eventually run out of food and start eating each other! Ask all your questions here. We want you to succeed!

 

[glb]

Hi,

I am designing a high school research project where I will testing the effects of warming temperatures on ecosystem productivity for coastal marine ecosystems.

I am creating two identical 20 gallon tanks where I will have realistic tropical ecosystems. I will be ordering most of my supplies and organisms from Carolina Biological Supply.

I have not found great guidance on the maximum number of biological specimens that one tank can sustain well.

The species I plan on including for EACH 20-gal tank are:
Marine Fish Set, Living (11 fish) - https://www.carolina.com/marine-and-saltwater-fish/marine-fish-set-living/162646.pr
Living Rock Community Set - https://www.carolina.com/marine-and...-community-set/162908.pr?question=living+rock
Small Algae Control Set - https://www.carolina.com/marine-and...-control-set/162660.pr?question=algae+control

Does anyone think this is too much to include in each tank? Since I will have a biological filter and an artificial filter, the tank will be cleaned well.

Thank you for your help!

What kinds of biofilter and mechanical filter are you planning? Do you have experience with saltwater tanks? There’s tons of info here if you have questions about cycling, etc.