Fish Stocking

sMEGhEAD · 05-30-2005, 02:59 AM

This may seem like a dumb question to the experienced reef keepers.

When it's quoted 1" of fish to 5G, is this when the fish is at it's full size? What if you have a tank full of juveniles that are only 1/10th of the adult?

my question is based on this....2 Sailfin Tangs would amount to 200G bioload. surely no one would only have 2 fish in a tank that size!. especially if they were only 1" when they were purchased.
i guess i'm just a little confused.

wanareef · 05-30-2005, 09:22 AM

IMO- it would should be full size - no chance of over stocking

Lowman · 05-30-2005, 11:03 AM

it really all depends on your filtration and water changes. You could put 40 fish in a 100 gallon, but you'd be doing many water changes. Add fish gradually and watch how you system reacts. Keep checking your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates when adding new fish. You'll know when you've reached you limit.

Kevin1000 · 05-30-2005, 11:29 PM

When it's quoted 1" of fish to 5G, is this when the fish is at it's full size? What if you have a tank full of juveniles

Like any general rule it does not apply to all situations and you need to use some common sense ... I suspect that the reason they use "adult sized" is that upgrading to a large tank is an expensive proposition and one that many new aquarist underestimate ... also some fish grow very large in a relatively short period of time ... a quarter size tang can grow to six inches plus in 3 yrs.

Krux · 05-31-2005, 12:59 AM

anecdotally, one would not want 2 sailfins in a 200 gallon tank due to the fighting

sMEGhEAD · 05-31-2005, 01:38 AM

Thanx for the feedback
i was actually considering 3 tangs
prob the already owned Sailfin + Powder brown tang + Yellow Tang

Krux · 05-31-2005, 01:42 AM

mixing species shouldnt be a problem as long as you can supply all of them with plenty to eat... if you found at least one that was more of an omnivore, like a regal tang for instance it may be easier, but your list seems doable. i know james has a number of tangs in his tank that are all happy together.

Illusion · 05-31-2005, 01:52 AM

Yeah I have a Regal, Yellow, Orange Shoulder, and a powder brown... There was some Fighting between the Powder brown, and yellow and the Orange should and yellow.. If done again the Yellow would be the last one that I would add... I have found that when adding new tangs try to make sure the others are on the opposite side of the tank when you add them... I have quite a few fish in my 224 as you have seen... I could do without the Chromis and adding more lyretail anthias but Chromis are cheaper than Anthias by a good margin lol... Also both my pairs of Clowns seem to get along pretty well so far also... Per inch rule is a general IMO... Not very many people actually obey it either...

James

sMEGhEAD · 05-31-2005, 02:03 AM

My wife loved your Chromis. We'll take them if you want to rid yourself of them