Suggestion for Moderators

[gm72]

This is just an idea to help new aquarists from failing.

We all know the "1 inch of fish per gallon of water" rule. We also know however, that this rule is not always accurate. For example, Oscars and Goldfish require significantly more gallons of water per inch, while it has been my experience that neon tetras can be stocked safely over 1" per gallon. What if we were to generate a sticky that listed fish along with their generalized stocking rule? Of course, the sticky would have to include the statement that it all depends on filtration.

Example: Oscar=55 gallons per fish, etc.

Just a thought. Feel free to delete if this is a dumb idea.

[Lady Hobbs]

In the sticky "tips for newbies part two:" I mention this rule that I call the stupidest rule ever. The hair stands up on my back every time I see it in print.

It applies to only small fish, as you mentioned, and does not apply at all to larger fish species. Like you, I find it very misleading and taking newbies down the wrong path. Some fish can't have any fish with them.

You will never hear me mention this rule to anyone. Drives me nuts and I'm glad you opened it up for discussion. Kudo's

As far as listing them to stocking rule, there are sooo many fish to even mention and who can even go by the quidelines set up for growth? Loaches, for instance, will mention in one site they will become 14 inches long and another says more like 6 and I see that with many species. Bala Sharks being another.

[gm72]

Good points indeed. So however, I still wonder if there is anything we can do to help new aquarists. I just get so tired of hearing and reading things like "Gee, I had 12 tetras yesterday and now they are all gone. Do you think it has something to do with the pirhana I added last night?" Or "I don't understand why my water is cloudy. I have 40 goldfish in my 20 gallon and I do 10% water changes every month!"

Anyway, I just wonder if there is a way to establish some general parameters. The only example that comes to mind is that most (but of course not all) tetras are relatively clean and can be stocked safely, with adequate filtration, using the 1"/gallon guideline. But also, by throwing out that number I can see how it could mislead new aquarists into believing that it can apply to all fish.

So now what? Is there any way to help newbies with this/these issues? Not precisely sure how we would do this.

[Drumachine09]

Back when i was a newbie, i thought the one inch per gallon rule was right, and i had just a weeeee little ten gallon. i saw the oscars and they were only four inches. I thought about getting two of them. The only thing that discouraged me was the price. Im glad i didnt. I know way better now. Everry time someone mentions the 1 inch per gallon rule, i oh-so-gently remind them that that rule is a hunk of crap.

[cocoa_pleco]

i remember for my 33g i wanted a full adult pleco, since it was about 18". luckily, the lfs people stopped me.

[Lady Hobbs]

gm, what can help them the most is threads like you started right here. If only 10 people read the thread and get it and then pass it on to 10 more, possibly soon the "stupid rule" will be corrected. And we can continue to correct people every time we see it and hopefully not spread the rule ourselves on this forum.

Maybe back when it was first started, someone wrote "about 1 inch per small fish" and with interpretations down the line, the "small" was omitted and written to include all fish. Perhaps this rule was started by someone dumber than a doorknob in the Walmarts fish section? lolol

I will sticky your post. You have brought up a very valid problem and this will keep the thread on top and it won't get buried.

[gm72]

Wow, I started a sticky. I am honored. Seriously, I am.

I do think that instead of giving advice of number of fish per tank we should make an effort to instead ask what kind of tank the person wants to have and take it from there.

[Faith_at_Large]

How about just a few starter guidelines. There are already suggested fish for newbies, and warnings on fish that require more attention - on some websites.

It would be cool to see basic aquarium for dummies set up stocking suggestions to get people started. For example, give a tank size, and a few recommended fish that would work in that size of tank. Then do the same for a few different tanks sizes. Of course with the caveat that they can't load any given tank with the full suggested stocking all at once. Perhaps even include a stocking plan for how many fish and which fish to add when - for example, I learned that two Zebra Danios are not always good by themselves and it is not recommended to add one Danio at a time to an existing school, three or more are recommended to help them fit in.

Some commercial kits are aiming at this very idea. I noticed that my lps carries the Geosystem tank systems and they have a large catalogue of community set-ups that work with each system, you pick what type of aquarium you want, what size and boom complete package with all the planning done for you. Of course, this isn't for everyone and make take some of the fun out, but for many of us newbies, it offers a great way to get started without making as many stupid mistakes. Then once we have a better idea of what aquarium keeping is like, then we can experiment and build on what we have.

When I started preparing my ten gallon tank, I googled 10 gallon tank set-ups and didn't find much in terms of suggested stocking, only lots of information on fish compatibility that didn't always translate back to the size tank I was working with. I had to read a lot to sort out what fish I could put in my tank and what other fish would go along with them - and some conflicting information from my various lps clerks and websites. I don't have the tank that I originally wanted, but it works and looks very nice.

[fishbiz]

I think you could also list a member's tank beside his/her name in the member list, then give it a "difficulty" rating or something. This way a newbie might be able to replicate another member's tank and know that it can be successful.

I was going to make Faith's suggestion, but she beat me to it. I really like the idea of having the "stocked" tank listing by size and type (community, species, biotype, etc). Of course, newbies like me learn about the AC after we've started our tank and are in need of help.

I just read David E. Boruchowitz's, A Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums, and he gives stocking suggestions at the end of his book. It is really kind of neat to see all the different possibilities. He also does a good job of explaining how the 1 inch of fish per gallon is misleading.

[gm72]

You know, I was thinking this morning (Saturday mornings=cleaning time). What if we compiled a list of dirty fish/clean fish to help people along? Example: tetras are pretty clean whereas oscars and goldfish are dirty. Does anyone think that would help?

[Lady Hobbs]

You guys have some very good ideas. This would be a good project for you if you wanted to get into it and we could post it here as a sticky for others to read. You never know but what William might be interested and use it in his NewsLetter.

Articles by members is a good thing. I'd be happy to help you tho and "somewhere" I have a list of good and bad fish for newbies. Come to think of it, I believe it's already a sticky here somewhere so take that information and add to it if you'd like.

[gm72]

I think it would be a great idea to organize some of these ideas, just not sure where exactly to start. Perhaps with your wisdom you can guide us? BTW as an aside, your handle "hobbs," is that as in Calvin and Hobbs?