A noob question from a non noob

[boxman]

Most people use the 1" to 1 gallon rule - does this apply to US or UK gallons?

There are sometimes conflicts between the good advice given on forums as to which measurement applies to which rule.

From my calculations 22.06 UKgal is 26.49 USgal so does that mean I can have 22" or 26" of fish?

(Before anyone comments about my overstocking with the 2x BGK's they're going to be moving into a separate tank when they're 5" each - they're 2.5" now )

Also, it's the main body of the fish that you count rather than the fins, is that correct?

Thanks
Pete

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I think it only applys to UK gallons, but there is so much more to consider when getting a new fish realy and the 1inch per gal rule does not apply to even fish that apparently don't overstock tanks by it for example- its realy just there to give you a starting point in your research in finding new fish in what can fit in your tank roughly realy.

 

[CFC]

Actually the rule is based on US gallons as this is the measurement used most often on aquatic forums.

Fish measurement is taken from behind the eye to the base of the caudal fin (tail).

The one inch per gallon rule is just a very basic guideline which only covers standard small to medium sized community fish such as tetras, small barbs, danios, gouramis and corys. Other fish which may have territorial needs (Cichlids) or be heavy waste producers (plecs) or have larger space requirements need to be stocked differently, though common sense will usually tell you how many is too many.

 

[boxman]

Thanks Tokis (and CFC)

Yea, everyone seems to talk about the 1" rule - it is a good starting point.

I know this is an overused statement but my tank does look quite empty and I was thinking of getting a small shoal of Rummy Nose Tetras (5 or 6) and two or three otos for algae control!

It's a hard one because years ago (before the days of the internet!!) I had an 18"x10"x10" with 6x neons, 2 clown loach, common pl*co, whiptail catfish, a khuli and two kissing gourami - completely overstocked (to say the least ) but apart from the neons they all lived 3-5 years and were perfectly fine.

Obviously I'm not going to go and stress my fish out by having too many in there but I thought it was worth getting an opinion on the matter of adding more in my tank.

Pete

 

[yvez9]

according to that rule, my 20 US gallon is way overstocked

i have
7 glolight tetras (7 inches)
8 cories (16 inches)
1 female betta (2 inches)
1 small ancistrus (2 inches)
1 bigger ancistrus (4 inches)
4 american flagfish (4 inches)
3 otos (6 inches)
1 borneo (2 inches)

7+16+2+2+4+4+6+2=45 inches of fish

yet the fish are all calm, they have all grown well and the cories lay eggs once in a while. all my water specs are fine. i do water changes every 3-4 days cause plecos poo a lot.

I don't see the need to remove fish since everything is A-1 in there, except the algea, but that's another issue i'm working on (and no, it is not due to the qty of fish, i had that problem with 5 fish in there)

 

[ncjharris]

we had the same thing, a 20 gallon tank and about 26 inches of fish, and the fish all seemed fine - have now upgraded to 29 gallons though.

As mentioned, the rule is more of a guideline than a rule, and with a good maintenence regime, over-filtration and a careful eye on the livestock there is no reason why you would need to adhere to it.

 

[Blue Lobster]

2.2 cm of fish to 3785.41 cc

 

[sylvia]

Boxman - most of those fish you mentioned can live several more years than 3-5. As for slightly over-stocking a tank, provided your filtration is adequate and you keep water parameters under control, the only limmitation is actual physical space and the amount of oxygen in the water. What I tend to do, however, is envision what the fish would be like in the wild - I'm sure you can see that most fish would probably have several metres between them in the wild (solitary species), not just a few inches and would travel a fair distance - so I appreciate that fish and tanks are as flexible as they are with stocking and try to under-stock and give my fish their space.

 

[boxman]

Thanks all

Sylvia, the 3-5 year thing was down to my old tank that was running 10 years ago so those little fishies are long gone! Nothing to do with my current stock in the 22gal. I expect these guys to have many years of fishy fun ahead of them!

Anyway, I think I'll go for three otos and leave the tank settle for a while. Just got permission for a 4' bow so I'll be transferring them all accross sometime!

 

[reg2k2]

Fish measurement is taken from behind the eye to the base of the caudal fin (tail).

Actually, a fish is measured from tip of nose to base of tail in fishkeeping...known as Standard Length (SL).

CFC, I think the measuremt you refer to may be related to fish-catching.

 

[pnyklr3]

I always assumed that if you watched the water parameters, did frequent water changes (along with gravel vacs), and perhaps over-filter, that you would be able to keep an overstocked tank alive and well.