The Stocking Rule

[samyboy]

i know alot of people go by the 1 gallon for 1 inch of fish rule for tropical fish.

its just occored to me is this UK or US gallons?

 

[Stone Warior]

Dont lisen to that rule, its the biggest BS iv ever heard. 3 inches per gallon is better, IDK if its US or UK

 

[dwarfgourami]

It is usually taken as US gallons. Naturally, it is only a rough rule of thumb- and only applies to smallbodied fish anyway. I would not personally stock as heavily as 3 inches per gallon; it puts a fairly heavy strain on your average filter, and leaves little leeway in case of disaster. Also, I like my fish to have plenty of room to move about and (if needed) establish their own territories.

 

[samyboy]

all should be fine with me then im using 1 inch to 1 gallon with UK gallons (and im trying to work with adult sizes so that im prepaired)

 

[Stone Warior]

It is usually taken as US gallons. Naturally, it is only a rough rule of thumb- and only applies to smallbodied fish anyway. I would not personally stock as heavily as 3 inches per gallon; it puts a fairly heavy strain on your average filter, and leaves little leeway in case of disaster. Also, I like my fish to have plenty of room to move about and (if needed) establish their own territories.

If you get an Awesome quality filter like AuqaClear filters its fine, If you think about it 3 inches per gallon is not that much you can do 2 inches per gallon also. if you have a disaster simply put the fishes in bags...

 

[demonmagus]

well you should also look at their behaviour, a good example is 11 1 inch neons, and 1 11 inch plec

 

[andywg]

If you get an Awesome quality filter like AuqaClear filters its fine, If you think about it 3 inches per gallon is not that much you can do 2 inches per gallon also. if you have a disaster simply put the fishes in bags...

3 inches per gallon will be a fairly heavy bioload. You would need some serious waterchanges with that. I know because I have around 2" per gallon on my 6x2x2 and have to do at least 2 30% water changes a week to keep the nitrates happily under the 100ppm mark.

The inch per gallon is not aimed at ammonia or nitrite processing ability (as a better filter would allow) but with the nitrate production levels. It is a rule that can bebent, but one must be aware of the increased maintenance required once you really start smashing it.

 

[samyboy]

still cycling so im leaving the stock as it is for a week or so doing 25% water changes 4/5 times a week and washing the filter out (in tank water) nearly every night