How Many Fish?

comocrayfish5 · Nov 30, 2011

I'm just wondering what tank rules you people do!

i choose the last three for both categories.
you can vote for more than one!!

CezzaXV · Nov 30, 2011

I'm very much aware that my tank is overstocked by official rules, but it works. Cories on the bottom, tetras in the middle and guppies at the surface, so they tend not to infringe on each other's space. I do think it depends very much on the fish you have.

Tolak · Nov 30, 2011

Rules?

comocrayfish5 · Nov 30, 2011

Tolak said:
Rules?

like the general rule of one inch of fish per gallon- do you follow hat rule or follow one of the rules above?

fluttermoth · Nov 30, 2011

Tolak said:
Rules?

lol, exactly!

There are no rules, only guidelines!

There are just too many variations to be taken into account; the bulkiness of the fish (a one inch neon tetra is not the same as a one inch tiger barb), the activity level (a zebra danio needs a larger tank than a celestial pearl danio), the base level of nitrate in the tap water (if you have very low nitrate you can afford to stock a little more heavily than if it's high), the shoaling requirements (you'd be better off stocking with a dozen neons than 5, even if it puts you over the inch per gallon 'rule')

etc, etc...

creeker · Nov 30, 2011

comocrayfish5 said:
I'm just wondering what tank rules you people do!
i choose the last three for both categories.
you can vote for more than one!!

Bottom three in each poll for me also. I tend to overcrowd as well, but like cezza, I layer them so it doesn't appear busy or crowded. I keep my tanks well planted, and I don't notice any increase in nitrates between weekly water changes. I keep it so that if the power goes out for a day, I won't have any problems.