Inch's Vs Gallons

[Chubbywubs]

I don't quite get this Inch's and gallons relationship that people keep posting about. For example if i wish to buy a 198 Gallon tank, according to some i can have 198 inch's worth of fish..? Surely this is stupid? It doesnt take into consideration anything other than the water. For all they know i could have half the tank filled with coral/plants and ornaments which would reduce the size of the area inside the tank..?


Surely common sense should come into play rather than this so called inch's to gallons guide?

 

[poopsydrew]

I don't quite get this Inch's and gallons relationship that people keep posting about. For example if i wish to buy a 198 Gallon tank, according to some i can have 198 inch's worth of fish..? Surely this is stupid? It doesnt take into consideration anything other than the water. For all they know i could have half the tank filled with coral/plants and ornaments which would reduce the size of the area inside the tank..?


Surely common sense should come into play rather than this so called inch's to gallons guide?

Its just a guide for small skinny fish. OF course there are all kinds of other factors, that is a good rule for beginners though. If you have a 198 gallon tank you shouldnt have to ask that question anyway.

Drew

 

[backley420]

It's the max. you can have your own rule. you don't have to have an inch of fish per gallon, better not to. if you have a 10g tank and a10 inch fish, aint gonna go down like that.

 

[poopsydrew]

It's the max. you can have your own rule. you don't have to have an inch of fish per gallon, better not to. if you have a 10g tank and a10 inch fish, aint gonna go down like that.

No its not the max its a simple guide for newbies. Plenty of members here including myself stock 2 or 3 inches per gallon. It just depends.

Drew

 

[backley420]

ya I know..

 

[Chubbywubs]

I don't have a 198 tank, thats why im asking. Its just i've never heard of this rule before until i came here, and for someone like me being a novice, its quite confusing, as the rule seems to indicate i can have more fish than i currently have, but when i see the current fish i have i personally think 4 is just fine. i have a 14/15 gallon tank (coldwater) and just under 10 inchs worth of fish. I think its quite a misleading guide for people like myself and may lead to some people heavily over stocking there fish tanks.

 

[backley420]

Certain tanks you need to overstock so the agression will be dispersed and not centered on one or two fish.

 

[Chubbywubs]

I would have thought allowing the fish to have more room and more hiding places would have been better. I guess this is why im still learning

 

[andywg]

As mentioned, it is just a guide, and not a rule. Every one of my FW tanks is running at about 2" per gallon.

 

[Chubbywubs]

Ok cool thank you. Just another sort of stupid question, but is there such a thing as an understocked tank? Because i know some fish like to live in groups. Would this be as bad as an over stocked tank? or am i just being stupid?

 

[andywg]

Ok cool thank you. Just another sort of stupid question, but is there such a thing as an understocked tank? Because i know some fish like to live in groups. Would this be as bad as an over stocked tank? or am i just being stupid?

It's a different style of problem. If a tank is "understocked" (as in keeping shoaling fish in too few a number) then you will have the fish being somewhat stressed and unable to display their usual behaviour.

If the tank is "overstocked" then you will likely either have room issues (too many fish for the physical space) or waste issues (rapid accumulation of ntiates and/or a filter unable to keep up with ammonia production).

 

[Chubbywubs]

Ok cool thank you.

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Just wanted to point out that there are a few other things to consider:

1. Fish activity level. Some very tiny fish need larger tanks because they are so active! A two inch fish of one species might be fine in a 10 gallon, while a different 2 in species might need a 20-30 gallon tank. Tank height to length ratio is also a factor in this. A longer tank (usually called a "long" or "breeder") usually allows for more territory space, and more swim room than the "tall" tanks that are more commonly sold.

2. Filtration and owner maint. If your tank is very well filtered, and you have a good maint. schedule (i.e. you do regular water changes, gravel vac well, test the water params frequently, etc) then you can generally have more fish than a tank which is not so rigorously looked after.

Exceeding the "inch per gallon" rule is fine Once you feel like you have the experience to know how to do so safely. Many experienced fish keepers Prefer to have an "understocked" tank, while others prefer ones that are a little "overstocked". Regardless of which of these you prefer...it's still important to do research on every individual fish you put in your tank to make sure it will be a compatible choice.

 

[rsands]

also if you have all your fish as top tank living fish then your going to have a problem...i would say i have a heavy stocking of fish in my tank...but i am way over filtered so it can easily cope with it. plus about 6/7 of my fish are bottom layer fish...they eat of the bottom so they dont disturb my middle and upper swimming fish

 

[Chubbywubs]

Oh ok cool i didnt know about the different sort of depths. I just assumed they go were ever lol. I knew plecos were bottom feeders though so i guess i just over looked it.