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I got a new book on aquariums and fish for Christmas and it mentioned that the total surface area of the tank is just as important to determining the stocking as the 1in of fish to 1 gallon of water rule. It recommended 12in squared of surface area per 1 in of adult fish. Has anyone heard this before? I know that I'm not the best at math, but when I figured it out, by that formula I could only have 4 inches of adult fish in my 55 gallon tank. Somehow that just doesn't seem right. Either I did the math wrong or the fromula is wrong. I was just curious to see if anyone here knew about this and what the general feelings were about it.

Thanks!

- Meow -

Surface area is an important consideration when stocking a tank but those formulas aren't accurate. Biggest reason is because they don't take into account the mass of the fish only the length. Thicker fish count for more fish than thinner fish. 2nd major problem is they don't take into account the attitude or disposition of the fish. More active fish need more swimming space especially tank length and territorial fish will claim an area much larger than just their body length would dictate they need. Do not rely on formulas alone to stock your tank no matter how accurate someone might claims it is. It can provide a rough guideline to get you started but there are for more things you need to consider than just surface area or fish length. If in doubt ask about the needs of a certain fish.

highly agree with sham. there is no formula for how much you can have. it mostly comes down to what kind of fish you want. then there is a whole other set of unwritten rules to follow.



Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Good advice given, follow it, etc.

Yeah, I thought it sounded a little general. I have already set up that tank and stocked a while ago so I'm not really worried about it. I just found it interesting. I had never heard of this or thought about the surface area of a tank before. You are all right though. There are lots of different things to consider. I wish sometimes that I had done more research before buying fish for my first tank 7 years ago. I would have made very different descions.
I went back and read over that section again. I guess this author was talking about making sure that there would be enough dissolved oxygen in the water to support the type and size of fish that would be inhabitants. However, he doesn't mention any other factors that would contribute to the amount of oxygen like the type of filter used or if an airstone was being used. I have a 12in air stone running full blast which my fish love so I think the water is plenty oxygenated. I found the formula strange because by that calculation, my 55 gallon is overstocked by 5 times, and there are only 4 fish in that tank. 2 thin, 1 fat and 1 average

- Meow -

overstocked? lol i dont believe in that word for a few reasons.

one is from what i was told when i was looking at setting up a cichlid tank (I dont remember what species it was) but they said to purposely over stock to avoid aggression.

2nd, is i have a freind who had successfully has well over 100 guppies in a 15g long tank ( i think it was).

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Surface area, I think, is the most important
issue in stocking tall tanks that are not so long.
In a tall tank you have significantly less surface
area, so stocking should be reduced accordingly.
I like to think of tall tanks as having 3 layers,
top middle and bottom. Its important in a tall tank
to not overstock one level so much as to leave the rest
of the layers empty.
For example, my 25g is 20 inches tall x 24 long x 12 wide.
I have it lightly stocked and heavily planted, and my fish in the tank occur per level, bottom 4 nanochromis transvestitus and an oto, middle some neons and glowlights, top some white cloud minnows.

In a longer tank, surface area is less of consideration,
as there is a much more adequate amount of surface, and less depth between layers. Long shallow tanks I think of as being 2 layers, top-middle, and middle-bottom, and so a long tank should be stocked accordingly.

The whole 1 inch per gallon rule really only applies
to small (under 3 inches) slim bodied fish, like neons, glowlights, and similar. There are still exceptions to this rule too, like zebra danios, which fit in the small slim bodied fish rule, but need much more space than a neon or harlequin rasbora - you wouldnt want to put 6 zebra danios in a 10g tank, but you could put 6 neons.

I dont think there are really any hard and fast rules to follow, just to try to ensure each fish has enough space depending on its individual requirements, and providing clean water for all and a good level of filtration.



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Yeah the college I go to is always on about surface area vs density of stocking, and its mostly a load of bull. Overstocking to me is when the chemical balance goes awry due to excessive pollutants, and inadequate filtration. Modern equipment like venturi aerators , and other tools for water surface agitation combined with the new generation external filters often allow you to exceed the traditionally adhered to limits of tank stocking. So much so infact that I know consider stocking density's only prerequisite is that the social behaviour and full freedom of animal movement are kept within acceptable limits. In emergency and rescue situations ive far exceeded stocking densities, but the point is , I had suitable equipment to cope with the excess numbers, and never was a fish's health compromised by excess pollutants or lack of oxygen.

A lot of old stocking density stats rely on the principles of a tank with no decent oxygenation, no decent filtration, no plants, and food that pollutes, and no flow.

With modern equipment there are so many different waste disposal and oxygen creating variables you can achieve, as long as the water tests ok, the oxygen is sufficient for normal respiration and you change the water sensibly without overdoing it and making too much work for yourself youll probably be fine. For this reason, if youwant to build up a certain stocking density, work up to it slowly, and keep on doing actual tests and careful observation of your fish. That way you have real evidence not just the abstract formulas that dont really apply to your own setup, and you will do much better. Always estimate into your equations a little safety factor, and youll be fine. Most overstocking comes from getting overenthusiastic, or buying unsuitably large or aggressive fish, or even, sometimes those unexpected times when your fish breed and the tank stocking volume increases unexpectedly.

These days i think ensuring that your fish are happy, have room to move and explore their full range of behaviours and movement is a much better marker. It far exceeds the standards of stocking density arguments anyway, and really has to be a better goal than buying a small tank and packing it as full of fish as you can manage.

I honestly think that stocking density is something that has to be worked out for individual mixes of species, and on the exact known performance of your aquarium and its equipment. Abstract rules dont work and never really did.

We all know a goldfish wont go in a 10 gallon, and a lone tetra in a 125 isnt worth the worry, beyond that you kind of have to work it out as you go along.

Experience is the teacher, and rules are not good shortcuts to knowledge. Folks on here can probably via their experiences give you a better estimation than a set of rules , learn from them and get a sense of the average . Youll do much better that way.