Doesn't surface area have anything to do with it?

[Macracantha]

Everyone seems to like 1" per gal rule for stocking their tanks but surely surface area is the important factor...........Your opinion???

 

[keane]

Surface area is a huge factor to take into account. I agree.

 

[Fishist]

I've always wondered about this too. We all talk about tank size in gallons, but never about surface area. So many tanks these days are very tall with little depth. This should be taken into consideration when calculating stock levels.

 

[SirMinion]

The one inch per gallon is absolute nonsense imo..- a 12 inch fish in a 12 gallon tank? 20 dwarf puffers in 20 gallons? I think not.

Stocking levels are limited by a number of factors including (but not limited to)

• Surface area to water volume ratio
• water temperature
• filtration efficiency
• surface agitation
• planting & decor
• fish adult size
• fish feeding habits
• fish waste production
• fish temperament
• territorial space needs
• how active the fish are

 

[CFC]

The inch per gallon "rule" is just a guideline for newbies to prevent massive over stocking of new and often small tanks.

 

[nc_nutcase]

I believe the 'one inch of fish per gal' is a wonderful rule of thumb... for the new person... when dealing with smaller community fish.

If you cannot explain to me why this rule shouldn't apply in your case, then chances are it does, or ya need to read more about the fish you are keeping.

I've said and read many times that the tanks dimensions are more important than it's overall gallonage. At the same time when I ask: 'What size tank do you have?' And I'm told: 'A 55 Gal.' I know the dimensions from this answer.

The nature of the fish you are stocking even has more to do with stocking levels than the dimensions. They used to make a 40 High which was a 20 Long but twice as tall. You couldn't put many bottom dwellers but could pack in the shoaling fish.

There are a ton of factors, but when you work in a pet shop... and someone comes up and says... how can I tell when my aquarium is full? You could bore them to death with your 45 minute speech which they won't learn anything from except not to ask you questions... or you can say 'with smaller community fish there is a one inch of fish per gallon rule of thumb,. This way they go home and slightly under stock their tank. If they have the incentive to research enough to find out they can actually exceed this, but have to be smart about it, they will prolly do the required maintenance to do so. If they just trust that one piece of advice and follow it, they prolly aren't going to do the required maintenance to fully stock the tank.

 

[Fishist]

At the same time when I ask: 'What size tank do you have?' And I'm told: 'A 55 Gal.' I know the dimensions from this answer.

How can you possibly know the true dimensions from this?

 

[LoachLover]

Surface area is very important, the more surface, the more fish you are able to keep. However you have to have height for swimming area.

 

[nc_nutcase]

How can you possibly know the true dimensions from this?

because I have one.........

There are a bunch of 'standard' aquariums. If you have a custom 55 that has different dimension chances are... when asked... you'd mention that....

Many of my theories will not work if the person I'm working with doesn't apply a bit of common sense........

 

[Macracantha]

How can you possibly know the true dimensions from this?

because I have one.........

There are a bunch of 'standard' aquariums. If you have a custom 55 that has different dimension chances are... when asked... you'd mention that....

I totally disagree with the idea of 'standard'.......there are many tanks out there in the forty to eighty gallon range with very, very different dimensions!!!

You are so right Fishist.........good common sense!!!

 

[Fishist]

How can you possibly know the true dimensions from this?

because I have one.........

There are a bunch of 'standard' aquariums. If you have a custom 55 that has different dimension chances are... when asked... you'd mention that....

Many of my theories will not work if the person I'm working with doesn't apply a bit of common sense........

Assuming that individuals on this forum have common sense when asking for advise about this hobby is being a little naive and somewhat pompous. People are here for advise and education, such as myself, and would hope that facts are collated in order to establish a true resolution.

 

[nc_nutcase]

well we could split hairs and even call each other names... or ... we can see each others perspective and appreciate what we se as beneficial... and accept not everyone thinks alike.

Go to All-Glass or any other company and find out how many mass produced 55 Gal tanks there are... that's why I used this as an example... sheeeesh

 

[OohFeeshy]

I agree that you can normally work out rough surface area/dimensions from tank gallonage. I use the inch per gallon rule, although obviously I know you can't use it for most. TBH, I have no idea what the surface area rule is (well I do) and don't use it. Although I may soon as I feel myself being drawn into catfish....