Fish Inche's

My tank is 55 gallon, according to the volume calculator's that enables me to have 50 inch of freshwater, or only 12 inches of marine fish in the tank, doe's this include things like, coral's, anemones, ???

 

Usually not. Many corals in fact take in nutrients from the water that will help to eliminate excess algae and such. Also on a quick side note, 12 ins. of fish in a 55 is a very conservative number. There is no set equation to calculate saltwater tank capacities, meaning inches of fish. There are many, many things that can effect this number. People who have been in this hobby for a while seem to underestimate what a tank can actually handle because it used to be, when using undergravel filtration, that there were much more strict guidelines. With todays technology, tanks can handle much more of a biological load, assuming it is used. For example, I am also starting a 55gal. tank. I plan on having between 20-25 inches of fish, including 2 clowns, 1 flame angel, 1 6 line wrasse and 3 yellow tail damsels. Several books I have read say that with a fair amount of live rock, you can have about a .5" of fully grown fish per gallon, given that you slowly add them over a period of time. This may be a little much for some, but I've known people who do it this way and their tanks turn out great. Sorry for being long winded, but I feel pretty strongly on this issue.

 

That is one of the most lame calculations I have ever heard of or seen .. You can tell when the tank is to crowded .. To many variables to simple say so many inches to to gallon . Like long gobies and short butterfly's LOL I myself ran a 55 reef in a school with 4 tangs and 2 clowns and a potters angel and a pair of Cardinals and a 12 inch engineer goby never a problem I had a wet dry on the system..Corals add little load and anemones not so much unless they are fed ..then that waste ball they yak up is a ball of bad news . Also anemones in a reef is just a bad idea and a future problem.

 

"Inches"/size tank is really a worthless guideline. :-/

More important to consider are age of tank, amount of LR, fish compatability, willingness of owner to maintain.

Water params will always let you know fish limit.

Also need to plan on ultimate size fish will grow into, plus eating habits.

Start few, small, slowly...add more only after tank stabilizes after last addition.


Good luck!

Keep us posted.


(ummm, think that is what Roger just said...)