Stockage...

[mcdanielnc89]

once i put my fish in my 20G HIGH tank i cannot get no more correct? her eis what i have...

3Neon Tetras = 1.5"
1Bloodfin Tetras = 2"
1Sunset Platys = 2.5"
2Red Wagtail Platys = 2.5"
2Guppies = 2.5"(females) males get 1.5"
1Ghost Shrimp = 3"

21 in. total.

 

[jess6905]

if i were you id trade in any/all female livebearers, and get more males or just keep the ones you have and get more bloodfin tetras. i say this because your females will eventually give birth and you will be over run with platy and guppy fry in no time. unless you are trying to breed them and have another tank for the fry. at the very least get 2 more of the bloodfin tetras because they like to be in groups. to my understanding shrimp dont produce so much waste that they need to be counted in your stock list if its only one but i could be wrong.

 

[mcdanielnc89]

What I don't get is WHY is the rule of thumb for FWF and not SWF..... Makes no since t me... Specially when it makes your tnak look bare...

 

[jess6905]

sometimes it does and other times it doesnt oddly enough, but it is more of a guide line than a rule cause going over by afew inches/fish wont destroy everything. so dont let it get to you if you have enough filtration then i say get atleast 2-3 more bloodfins and maybe 2 more neons. you could get more if you got rid of any female platies/guppies though.

 

[mcdanielnc89]

LOL, Well I have a 5 gallon that is 15 inches over the rule of thumb but it has a 15 gal. filter in it. LOL.... stays pretty dern clean!

 

[stang1]

What do you have in your 5G tank?

 

[mcdanielnc89]

lol.
The current tank inhabitants I have listed above... I'm moving them to my 20 gal. After it cycles...

 

[stang1]

I know a tank does look bear sometimes with only a few fish but you have to make allowances for adult size, swimming space required etc.
I agree with Jess about upping the numbers on your tetras as they do prefer to be in groups of 5+.

 

[mcdanielnc89]

I understand i have to have roomf or them in the tank when reaching thier adult size.. but don't think that if it's still vare afterwards I wouldn't add some mroe fish.. LOL.. Why have fish if you have a bare tank? LOL..

 

[stang1]

It's about the welfare of the fish, not whether a tank looks bare or not. If you choose active fish for your tank then it won't look quite so empty.
When using the guideline, yes, it is only a rough idea but you still have to think of the fishes wellbeing. Cramming a tank full of fish to stop it from looking bare is not necessarily doing the best for them.

 

[mcdanielnc89]

Umm, I didn't mean i was going to cramm teh tnak full of fish.. but man.. the fish I have now in my 5 gal. now are up to 21 inches... That's the stockage for my 20 gal. tank... That will make my 20 gal. look empty.. And my fish are perfectly fine... no illnesses no nothing.. thier in great condition and have been since I've gotten them.... SO, why does the 1: per gal. rule of thumb take place for fw id it doesn't matter for sw? whats the difference?

 

[stang1]

As far as I know, you can't stock as many fish in a SW as you can a FW. We only have 6 fish, 2 shrimp and some snails in our 48G marine tank and don't really plan on adding anymore.
Even though your fish seem fine now, long term they will more than likely suffer. Not only that, you can't appreciate the true beauty of these fish if they've little space to swim around in.

 

[augustaranger]

From the stocking list: Does 1 ghost shrimp equal 3 inches? Such a small body, I would have thought 1 inch per ghost shrimp.

 

[mcdanielnc89]

it says the ghost shrimp get up to 3 inches but it doesn't really hurt the bio load..

 

[lilfishie]

i would return either of the tetra speicies then up the other to 6, don't think you have to count shrimp because of there very small bioload