Inch Per Gallon Vs Surface Area?

[lisa2701]

hi everyone,

Please forgive me if this is a silly question. I know that most people go by the 1 inch of fish per gallon,but I have just read that you can also calculate it based on surface area...how accurate is it to work it out based on surface area.

I have just purchased a 10g tank (not big I know but its double of what I had intended, I haven't even got it yet, I am waiting to hear of when I can go and collect it) now, based on the 1inch per gallon I could have 10 inches of fish ... based on surface area (assuming I have done my calculation correctly) i could have 17 inches of 'slender' fish or 10 inches of full bodies fish.

Now I assume slender fish are things like endlers, tetras etc? What do guppies fall under? Slender or full bodies fish?

I haven't fully done my homework as to if these are compatible or not but I am hoping to keep Endlers (male), guppies (male) and Ottos which I believe stay tiny? Maybe some shrimp if stock allows.

I am very new to all of this and just trying to wrap my head around it all.

 

[fluttermoth]

I use surface area as my 'rule of thumb'.

Guppies would be slender bodied; things like tiger barbs and black phantoms would be deep bodied.

Your chosen fish would be compatible, but do bear in mind that otos can be quite delicate and don't do well in newly set up tanks, even if they're properly cycled.

 

[lisa2701]

Oh brilliant, thats good news then seeing as guppies and endlers are what I hope to keep, all male of course as I don't want breeding. I am glad you mentioned the ottos being sensitive as I hadn't picked up on that while reading about them, so thats fine I can wait until the tank is more established to get them. How long would you reckon is best waiting for them?

I have just discovered that a friend of mines has two tanks, so I am thinking to ask if they'd donate a bit of their filter media to get me a kick start! Failing that i have read that a fish store near by sells filter media to help people cycle their tanks so i might look at that.

 

[fluttermoth]

I would wait at least six moths for otos.

Mature media would help a lot, if you can get some

 

[lisa2701]

6 months ish it is then, thanks that will give me plenty of time to get things up and running and learn as much as I can about fish keeping and the different species.

Could anyone confirm my calculations (I used an on-line calculator that did it for me). The tank I am getting is H 43 x W 39 x D 33 cm. which is 16.9 x 15.4 x 13 inch I believe. This is it here (although I haven't got it from pets at home) http/www.petsathome.com/shop/fish-box-40cm-tank-by-interpet-(available-in-store-only)-36859

 

[TwoTankAmin]

The inch per gallon rule is a myth and of no real use what-so-ever. There is more to it than fish length. Some small fish can live happily in a smaller space- a male betta splendens for example. You can keep one in a 5.5 easily but try putting 2 males into a 10 gal tank and you will have issues.

Considerations such as swimming speed, temperament, dietary needs etc. all come into play in stocking considerations. It can almost never be reduced to inch per gallon or fish per surface area rules of thumb.

 

[Bugdozer]

Filtration needs to be taken into account. Can your filter take out ammonia from the water faster than the fish can wee it out? Or does it struggle to cope? Irrespective of surface area, this has an impact.

 

[lisa2701]

I see what you are both saying. All sounds a bit daunting for someone like myself with such little knowledge. I am not 100% sure what filter is coming with it (haven't collected it yet) but I can always upgrade if it's not very good.

As previously mentioned its guppies and endlers (both male only) that I plan on keepin but I would like to add some ottos once the tank is established and stable enough for them.

The blessing I have is it's a second hand tank (cycled) and the fish have been in it until tonight and I pick the tank up tomorrow at lunch time so I have asked the person not to clean the filter so that I have a heads start with cycling. I have gone and bought ammonia so I can set it up and check for myself that it copes with ammonia before I put fish anywhere near it.