Rule for adding Fish

[OffTopic]

Hello,

So a bit of a question, I am reading conflicting rules on stocking tanks. I know there isn't any all encompassing rule for every case, but from what I read you can either add one fish per gallon or one fish every three gallons. Or is what I am reading wrong? This is devoid of issues such as temperament/specific requirements specific to that particular fish.

 

[Zeal]

Ive read 1 fish per 5g.

And Ill stick to that. I could maybe fit 1/2 into my 40g without any problems . The entire left side of my tank is completely ignored by all my fish

 

[tdileo]

There is no rule of thumb, especially in saltwater. There are too many considerations. In a 40g, you could have 20 firefish and very likely would not have any issues. However if you were to add 20 fish of a different species, mixed up, say 5 clowns, 2 anthias, 3 firefish, 2 fairy wrasses, and so on you would have problems. You have to consider the size of the fish, how much it eats, it’s activity level, etc. The best way to find a good stocking is to post your tank size and a bunch of fish that you like. People on here will help narrow it down for you [emoji4]

 

[mta_morrow]

One inch per gallon of display water is a common place to start.

Fish per gallon is not reasonable as there is such disparity among fish size. For example 1 tang vs a mandarin is not a reasonable comparison.

Start with inch per gallon, chose a variety of fish that occupy different areas of your tank.

Have sand / bottom dwellers, cave and rock work dwellers, and open water fish.

Remember to use adult size when planning your inches per gallon should you decide to start there.

Also, your type of filtration and method of nutrient export will play a HUGE role.

 

[shred5]

No rules for fish per gallon in saltwater..
Saltwater fish are more territorial, so that is one thing you need to look at.
Another ting is swimming room required by a fish. Some large fish require little while a small fish may require allot.
The other thing is load, Depending on your filtration and the fish. Some fish produce allot of waste.
You ever see breeders holding tanks and how many clowns are in a small tank?

There really is no rule, you need to look at the individual needs of the fish.

 

[OffTopic]

Interesting, yeah I figured there wasn’t and all encompassing rule. Hmm, I thought there might be one like generally you can add one inch of fish for one gallon. Though as a lot of you all pointed out, comparing fish is a tough thing to do, put it more simply it’s like comparing a German Shepard to a Beagle. The German Shepherd has vastly different space requirements. So my next question is how can I start to gauge what is a good size/amount for a tank? Sorry this is all new to me

 

[tdileo]

Interesting, yeah I figured there wasn’t and all encompassing rule. Hmm, I thought there might be one like generally you can add one inch of fish for one gallon. Though as a lot of you all pointed out, comparing fish is a tough thing to do, put it more simply it’s like comparing a German Shepard to a Beagle. The German Shepherd has vastly different space requirements. So my next question is how can I start to gauge what is a good size/amount for a tank? Sorry this is all new to me

What size is your tank?

 

[OffTopic]

The one I am envisioning is 75 Gallons, 36X 24x 22”

 

[tdileo]

The one I am envisioning is 75 Gallons, 36X 24x 22”

Fairy wrasses, halichoeres wrasses, cardinalfish, dwarf angels, anthias, basslets, clownfish and other damsels are all good choices for a “community” tanks. Some damsels, including clowns, can become aggressive over time though.

 

[OffTopic]

I was thinking of an almost exclusively clownfish and one gobbie. How many clowns could I add to one 70 gallon tank

 

[kennydoll]

how many clowns in one 70 gallon tank? it depends on what kind, established pairs, anemones, etc.

i had 2 HUGE clarkii clownfish, who were a breeding pair in one tank with a tiny tomato, and a tiny black ice clown. all got along well, except the female clarkii murdered some firefish and nipped at the little clowns at first. once i got her a LTA though, she was satisfied. this was also a 125 gallon tank with many other species.

if you get morphs or the occelarias or something, and they are all the same size for the most parts you might be okay with a whole harem of clowns! it really just depends.

my advice, do not get more than 2 clarkii’s, and get them small because they are vicious toward other fish when bigger, especially the females

 

[Disaca]

Hello,

So a bit of a question, I am reading conflicting rules on stocking tanks. I know there isn't any all encompassing rule for every case, but from what I read you can either add one fish per gallon or one fish every three gallons. Or is what I am reading wrong? This is devoid of issues such as temperament/specific requirements specific to that particular fish.

First, I think fish can relate to volume capacity of your aquarium, like they are fish that do well in nano scale aquariums (like 30 gallon) and fish that do well in larger aquarium, so do search and learn about the fish you want to add.

Second, it really matters the number and time of fish you add, meaning if you add same species fish at the same time and after corals have settled, then it propably is fine. If you add them one and after a time you add another, they propably will fight to kind of dominate the aquarium BUT IF YOU ADD A GOOD NUMBER OF them at the same time THEY DO a flock!!! (majestic).

Third and most important, do not insert the fish to your tank the moment you buy it, you want to let the fish for a few days in a refugium idialy to kind of settle and check it for parasites or any abnormal activity, if everything is fine after a few days(it can take a week at least) you can safely insert it to your precious aquarium.

(few fishes in my knowledge do simbiosis, like goby and a specific shrimp).

Good luck with your aquarium

 

[salty joe]

The inch per gallon rule is pretty useless, fresh or saltwater IMO.
A typical 5 inch fish weighs a lot more and will eat and poop a lot more than 5 typical 1 inch fish.

 

[Kmsutows]

I would reference liveaquaria's comparability chart and just keep asking questions. Come up with a fish list before you add any this way we can help what order to add them. Typically, groups of ocellaris clowns do not do well long term unless the tank of filled with anemones. I'd stick to a pair.

 

[40B Knasty]

The rule of thumb is 1 inch of the max size of the fish per gallon. Not what they are purchased at. So if you have a 70g. You can get get 70" of fish if you have an adequate amount of live rock, biological media, and nutrients export for your tank.
Meaning if you had 70lbs of Tonga branch as live rock and the porosity/surface area is only at 280. With bioballs for your biological filtration at 180 for surface area. That's about enough surface area for beneficial bacteria for a 20g tank. So you would want about 20" of fish at their max size for a 70g tank.
Now if you have 70lbs of live rock with a porosity/surface area of 780 with a plate of Marine Pure as your biological filtration with 2,300 for porosity/surface area. You can do 70" of fish at their max size.
So you can see the reason why people don't believe in the rule of thumb. It is how you set yourself up. It is either for success or failure. There really is no in between.
This also doesn't mean you can go and throw a 15" fish in, because you have adequate live rock and filtration for a 70g.
From a 20g-75g there is a fish recommendation for those tanks and 120g+. Between 75g and 120g you want to do your research. There is not many fish between that range. It is just more room for the 20-75g fish type.

 

[OffTopic]

The rule of thumb is 1 inch of the max size of the fish per gallon. Not what they are purchased at. So if you have a 70g. You can get get 70" of fish if you have an adequate amount of live rock, biological media, and nutrients export for your tank.
Meaning if you had 70lbs of Tonga branch as live rock and the porosity/surface area is only at 280. With bioballs for your biological filtration at 180 for surface area. That's about enough surface area for beneficial bacteria for a 20g tank. So you would want about 20" of fish at their max size for a 70g tank.
Now if you have 70lbs of live rock with a porosity/surface area of 780 with a plate of Marine Pure as your biological filtration with 2,300 for porosity/surface area. You can do 70" of fish at their max size.
So you can see the reason why people don't believe in the rule of thumb. It is how you set yourself up. It is either for success or failure. There really is no in between.
This also doesn't mean you can go and throw a 15" fish in, because you have adequate live rock and filtration for a 70g.
From a 20g-75g there is a fish recommendation for those tanks and 120g+. Between 75g and 120g you want to do your research. There is not many fish between that range. It is just more room for the 20-75g fish type.

Yeah thank you for the help, I hope some of this will become a bit less foreign to me but I doubt it

 

[40B Knasty]

Yeah thank you for the help, I hope some of this will become a bit less foreign to me but I doubt it

Hey that's what all of us are here for, help! Whether we are taking or giving it. Trust me we all have our fair share of lack of knowledge in an area. Doesn't mean we are stupid. Just haven't learned that part of the hobby yet. You learn things from experience, right! Best thing to do is find the best at what you can afford and has good reviews(there will always be that one or 2 that hates it). Come up with a game plan. Throw it on R2R. See what people say, because there is no such thing as bad question.
I have a 65g that is minimized, but maximized with beneficial bacteria. I have a HOB FLUVAL C4, HOB REEF OCTOPUS BH1000, and HOB Seaclone protein skimmer converted into a mini cheato reactor. 6 fish green dragonet, dwarf flame angel, blue spotted jawfish, grammica lined dartfish, carberryi anthias and 4 spotted wrasse. Zoas mainly, AUS gold torches, frogspawns, montipora, war coral, candy cane, and echinata. Had every disease and algae. Things just happen and are still happening. What gets me through is being on here and doing brainstorming.