Overcrowding tank setup?

I have read that you should keep up to a certain amount of fish per the size of your tank? So how many can my 90cm hold?

 

I think

Well it all depends on the size of the fish and the decor in it.

 

Well, lets say minimal rock feature, medium sized drift wood(artificial) and partially planted with a fair amount of open water!

 

And what fish do you have inmind?

 

Mostly tetras, some zebra danios, single red-tail shark, maybe a bronze cory?

 

No right answer.

You could have 20 Rummy Noses but you couldn't put an Oscar in. Depends on the size of the fish, their needs and whether they are schoolers

 

The general rule is 1 inch of fish per US gallon of water. So if you have a standard 3ft (90cm) tank, it is likely a 20 gallon. So you can keep 20 inch of fish, which works out to 51cm. Only 10 fully grown tetras...:evil: doens't seem right, does it? Most people keep much more than that in a 3ft tank. Of course, with better filtration you can "overstock", but you still need to keep up with regular water changes.

On the other hand, this 1 inch per gallon rule cannot be applied to fish that are tall (angels, discus) or fish that produce a lot of waste (discus, plecos) or fish that require enormous swimming space. Furthermore, you can't keep a single 51cm fish in a 3ft either...

 

Well i guess schooling fish, size based on whats available in most LFS.
So id say +/- 2-3cm per fish!
And thanks in advance on comments!

 

I would get at least 10 tetras and 5 or 6 danios,the way i decide when theirs tomany fish is when they can swim 5 seconds without communicating with anothere fish(with tetras if the group swims near a nother group or if they are sort of "pushed" to a certain part of the aquarium.But it all depends on what you want,if you want a bussy tank get many if you want a calm slow tank get less.

 

Also look at what the fish like. IE: A lot of people suggest that cory's be kept in a group of at least 6... Ask around on how many of each fish you should be getting. (Ask other hobbyists, not necessarily pet store owners)

 

I am all ears, open to suggestions!
I see there's quite a few species specialist right here so I await there abundant knowledge! ie from Plants through to Fish!

 

Don't just wait... rather ask.

And when you see someone who you think knows what he or she is talking about... PM them.

Henk great person to get plant advice
Zaf & Vee both plants and fish
Fish fantasy knows her product additives and equipment.

 

Thanks much!

 

Hey Laure

That rule is based on 1960's Gravel Filter Technology , and still quite popular unfortunately. I also could not understand why I had oceans on water and a lonely fish in the middle.


If you want to know what you can add and how much,
www.thinkfish.co.uk have a community tank selector, as well as a good write up about stocking. Give it a try. It does not make adjustments for decorations and plants, but thats wherre common sense prevails.

They also explain things such as why 1 tinfoild barb, athough it takes up the same space as 15 guppies, doesnt fit into a 2 foot tank, etc etc.

 

Because they get flippin huge. Biggest i've seen was about 45cm

 

Yup I know I got 4, the biggest being about 20cm, just using it as an example.

 

Agree here - REMEMBER the 1 inch rule is for the fish when FULLY grown, There is no hard and fast rule - it is a combination of common sense and investigation - when in doubt ask - but realize if you ask 10 people you will get 10 different answers - that is where the common sense comes in !!!

 

Well Said Zafgak! and thanks again to all.
My decision comes to :
4 Zebra Danios
10 Cardinal Tetras
4 Blue Tetras
5 Corydoras (Bronze hopefully)
1 Black Molly
4 Glowlight Tetras
Anyone willing to part with some of the above fishies... please PM me!

 

Hi Aqua - Toss the danios (Not really, but they are such "common" fish
Toss the Molly - keep it species

When you collect the shark - I will donate 6 Blue Tetra's to your tank

 

thanks!