1" Per Gallon?

[TheShrimpGirl]

I keep seeing this 1"per gallon rule thrown around in a lot of places. To me this seems a little bit off.

By this mindset I can keep a 10" cichlid in a 10 gallon tank and it will not be crowded. Or 10 1" guppies which is really a lot for this size of tank. By the tine you get into the big gallons, like 100gals that 100" of fish. 10 large cichlids or other big guys or 100 little fish.

Pretty crazy or am I just over thinking it?

What is your take on this 1" per gallon thing?

 

[Livewire88]

This method is a bit outdated, like you said you cant compare 10 x one inch fish with one ten inch fish!! lol

 

[thereverendturtle]

It's a good rule of thumb for beginners, but only when considering small fish ie; neons, harlequin rasboras, etc... A ten inch Oscar has something like 100 times the mass of a 1" Oscar, so obviously the one inch per gallon rule wouldn't apply. It's a very tricky guide line.

 

[DrRob]

It falls down when you consider different depths a body types. For an extreme example, a 12 inch eel and a 12 inch deep bodied cichlid are impossible to compare, rays are also an extreme example. Bringing things closer to normal fish things like the loaches tend to mess up the stats by being thin bodied, but most importantly it makes no allowance for the temperament of the fish.

 

[Essjay]

Most people who quote the 1 inch per gall 'rule' leave out half of it. The full 'rule' is 1 inch of fish that grows no bigger than 3 inches per gall.
Even then, it's not a particularly good rule. I see its main use as stopping newcomers very badly overstocking until they've learned to do their research on what will go in their tanks.

 

[Livewire88]

If in doubt just ask on here, you will always get good advice on stocking levels.

 

[fluttermoth]

Most people who quote the 1 inch per gall 'rule' leave out half of it. The full 'rule' is 1 inch of fish that grows no bigger than 3 inches per gall.

That is a very important part; I hope I always remember to get that bit in!

Even then, it's not a particularly good rule. I see its main use as stopping newcomers very badly overstocking until they've learned to do their research on what will go in their tanks.

I actually think it's a very useful guidleline in those circumstances; it does help newbies get some feeling for how many fish they can have in a certain size tank.

 

[adrianborg]

There is a website ##150###.com which looks really good - you input your aquarium model or dimensions, filters, and planned stock and it calculates whether you're over-stocked as well as pointing out any incompatibilities between the fish you plan to keep. I'm not expert enough to vouch for its accuracy though, maybe another member?

There is a website ##150###.com which looks really good - you input your aquarium model or dimensions, filters, and planned stock and it calculates whether you're over-stocked as well as pointing out any incompatibilities between the fish you plan to keep. I'm not expert enough to vouch for its accuracy though, maybe another member?

... For some reason the website name's been deleted. It's ##150###

There is a website ##150###.com which looks really good - you input your aquarium model or dimensions, filters, and planned stock and it calculates whether you're over-stocked as well as pointing out any incompatibilities between the fish you plan to keep. I'm not expert enough to vouch for its accuracy though, maybe another member?

There is a website ##150###.com which looks really good - you input your aquarium model or dimensions, filters, and planned stock and it calculates whether you're over-stocked as well as pointing out any incompatibilities between the fish you plan to keep. I'm not expert enough to vouch for its accuracy though, maybe another member?

... For some reason the website name's been deleted. It's ##150###

** This filter is here for a reason **

 

[Blitz]

It really doens't work for every fish. I'd say no, because it's a no-no to keep a cichlid in a ten gallon. Ten gallons is pretty small to keep a cichlid in... I've seen them in it too.

 

[JohnDyer]

That site is blocked on this forum because it is considered very inaccurate. It's calculations are based on volume and GPH, which doesn't take into account too many other factors. There are plenty of intelligent members here who will give better advice that a calculator.

 

[Ruskull]

That site is blocked on this forum because it is considered very inaccurate. It's calculations are based on volume and GPH, which doesn't take into account too many other factors. There are plenty of intelligent members here who will give better advice that a calculator.

While it's true that the calculator doesn't give a very accurate reading because it's imperfect,realistically it's much better than nothing at all isn't it?

The main failings are that it doesn't consider the sex of the fish, or if your tank is planted. I've also seen some compatibility opinions that I don't agree with but still, far better than nothing at all . Even if you only use it to enter the tank size, filtration & stock. You aren't obligated to take their advice.