An Inch of Fish to a Gallon of Water

[Rue]

Okay! This comes up repeatedly...

First of all, this is not a 'rule', rather it's a 'rule of thumb'.

A rule of thumb is meant to be a guideline. In this case it's meant to give beginners an idea of how many fish they can have in a tank without overstocking the tank.

Used this way, I find it a valuable guideline. A beginner with a 10g then knows not to exceed 10 small fish. Or if he wants one 2" fish...he knows he should only get 8 1" fish.

Of course this does not equate to larger fish! Logic dictates that you cannot keep a 10" Oscar or Goldfish in a 10g tank...the fish has no room to move!

Many things need to be taken into consideration when stocking a tank.

1. Room for fish to move. They need to 'go' somewhere. Although they can survive with little room, it's a sad existance. Give them as much room as you can afford.

2. Good water volume = good water parametres. The larger the volume the more room for mistakes and the less work cleaning on your part.

3. Filtration. If you have adequate or more than adequate filtration you may be able to have more fish. This affects water quality...the fish still need room to 'go' somewhere. No point in overstocking your tank if the fish have no room to move.

Who has more to add?

[Drumachine09]

Large and frequent waterchanges, expecially if you might be a tad over stocked.

This should be a sticky.

[Fishguy2727]

There is one rock solid rule when it comes to stocking, 'it depends'. It depends on:
Tank size
Tank shape
Filtration
Filter maintenance
Water changes (frequency and size)
Fish size
Fish shape
Fish behavior

One inch per gallon is at best a guideline, but even then has so many exceptions that it really isn't even that. The best thing to do when deciding stocking is to ask someone more experienced than you.

[gm72]

Good information Fishguy, but asking someone who is more experienced than you is also part of the problem. People think the LFS people know their stuff, and many unfortunately don't. I think more accurately people should get a variety of opinions from different sources and pick up on the common threads, which ultimately is probably the correct information.

[Fishguy2727]

As long as it's not one of those forums where one person has managed to get the others to think he knows what he is doing and everyone just agrees with him. I can't stand the bad info on some of these forums.

Multiple opinions and knowing your own tank are best. If you manage to find one person who has proven to be correct again and again, keep in touch with that person.

[Lady Hobbs]

Good thread! I've read that "1 inch per fish" all over the net and in my opinion, the information stinks. Fishguy brings up very good points that are not considered and need to be.

Angels, for instance, need about 10 gallons each and oscars need at least a 55 gallon for themselves. I think that "rule" is only for small fish that won't grow much.

[bscman]

Okay! This comes up repeatedly...

First of all, this is not a 'rule', rather it's a 'rule of thumb'.

A rule of thumb is meant to be a guideline.

Anyone know how the term "Rule of Thumb" came about?

In the early 1900's it was a law that men could beat their wives with sticks, as long as the stick was no larger in diameter than their thumb.

Makes ya think twice about using the phrase, doesn't it?

[Rue]

...lol...how times have changed (or not)...

...anyone tries that on me...they're gonna get the full force my Tai chi training! So watch out!

[Drumachine09]

...lol...how times have changed (or not)...

...anyone tries that on me...they're gonna get the full force my Tai chi training! So watch out!

Isnt tai chi like yoga? lol

[2manyfish]

Drumachine09


Quote:
Originally Posted by Rue
...lol...how times have changed (or not)...

...anyone tries that on me...they're gonna get the full force my Tai chi training! So watch out!


Isnt tai chi like yoga? lol



It'll be a slow motion whippin' :wink2:



The whole "one inch of fish per one gallon of water" was meant only for small slender bodied fish. So it would work but only if you intend to keep neons or white clouds.
And of course this all changes if you are talking about saltwater fish!!

[tattooedgrahamcracker]

Anyone know how the term "Rule of Thumb" came about?

In the early 1900's it was a law that men could beat their wives with sticks, as long as the stick was no larger in diameter than their thumb.

Makes ya think twice about using the phrase, doesn't it?
i believe that it was started in europe and ireland

a fellow boondoch saints watcher?

[Drumachine09]

a fellow boondock saints watcher?



"ahhh $#$%@ you. Im sweating my $@(#! arse of carrying your $%@@!% rope. Must weigh 30 pounds!"

[RobbieG]

"ahhh $#$%@ you. Im sweating my $@(#! arse of carrying your $%@@!% rope. Must weigh 30 pounds!"


Where's my cat?

[Algenco]

If I remember correctly the "inch per gallon" rule was originally applied to unfiltered tanks without aeration

[Drumachine09]

Where's my cat?


Is it dead?

lol. By far, on of my most favorite movies. We should start a movie thread to tide us over during the slow times on fish realated stuff.

[Darkness]

4) The original "rule of thumb" was a British law stating that a man could not beat his wife with a stick that was thicker than his thumb


The correct answer is false. While, sadly, it was once permissible for a man to beat his wife under certain circumstances, no such "rule of thumb" can be found on the books.

A more likely origin of this phrase stems from the old practice of using the last joint of the thumb as a measuring device approximating one inch in length. Just as the phrase "rule of thumb" refers to a way to make a quick estimate, one could literally use the thumb as a ruler to make a rough measurement.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[tattooedgrahamcracker]

definately the rope and cat scenes are my fav.:hmm3grin2orange:

[Fishguy2727]

You usually need a lot less than one inch per gallon for a successful unfiltered/unaerated tank.

[NWMountainTroll]

You can also keep more than one inch of fish per gallon... :27:

[gm72]

...in a well filtered and aerated tank. Fishguy's response was directly commented toward an unfiltrated and unaerated tank. Let's also be clear that in order to "overstock" any given tank it is critical to have adequate filtration and aeration in the tank as well as strict adherence to the tank maintenance that goes along with such.

That being said, a healthy and cleanly overstocked tank is really cool! :thumb:

[Fishguy2727]

I think that's the whole thing though, filtration and water changes have a lot to do with stocking levels. One full grown oscar in a 75 that only has a Penguin 350 on it and a 25% water change every two months is overstocked, but a 75 with three fulll grown oscars in it with a Fluval FX5 and twice a week 75% water changes in it is not overstocked in my opinion (fully stocked maybe). I think it has even more to do with filtration and water change schedule than it does with the actual size of the tank.

[gm72]

I think this is a semantic discussion, actually. Overstocked vs. poor maintenance practices. We are thinking the same thing, and you are right. Maintenance does indeed contribute to stocking levels that are acceptable to ensuring happy and healthy fish.