on stocking

I feel as though stock limits are a very controversial issue and I want some of your opinions. Some people swear by the inch of fish per gallon rule. I hate this rule personally because an inch of one fish carries such a different impact than an inch of another. For example, I have 12 fish in my 90- 2 clown gobies, a green banded goby, two yellow watchman gobies, an algae blenny, a royal gramma, a six line wrasse, 2 ocellaris clowns, a yellow tang, and a coral beauty. However, outside of the coral beauty and yellow tang, nothing is putting off much bioload. The five gobies all sit in one place all day putting off almost negligible waste and using up almost negligible oxygen. The gramma, clownfish, and algae blenny also use a small amount. More, but small. Then the wrasse, tang, and angelfish are more active swimmers than the others and put off a good amount of bioload. Once all of these guys are full grown I will have a bit more than the calculator calculated, but IMO I won't be overstocked.

I know some people may disagree. Maybe everyone will disagree. But this is my opinion and I want to hear your opinions on this issue.

 

regardless of what a fish is doing...they still have a bioload. And it can't be neglected.

They still eat, they poop. just like the rest of us!

 

Thats why I said ALMOST negligible. It is still there, but very minimal.

 

Its weird. I dont like the "inch to every" rule either. There's about 4 of those as well. I would say as long as it doesn't get too crowded and you maintain good params then your good. But the other aspect to consider is the available oxygen. That's the main differences in stocking for FW and SW, as SW doesn't hold nearly as much available O2.

 

IMO, i've seen countless situations where tanks have crashed due to too many fish...a system can only take on so much. But it's doable, very much so!!

I still stick with the inch thing, but if i were to want to put more than that...one thing i would do is beef up my filtration. I think that would be key. and just keep a very close eye on things!! I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's easier to maintain a lightly to medium stocked tank than a rather heavily stocked one!

EDIT: as packleader stated...O2 levels are important to with heavy stocking!! dont forget

 

There's no doubt its easier with very few fish, but for those of us who cant resist fish...

As for me I am actually probably going to offload my clowns and something else in favor of a fiji foxface, but I would need to think about what else to get rid of. Maybe the algae blenny. In my situation I have ample O2 between surface agitation on top, my skimmer, and the trickle over live rock as the water goes into my wet/dry. I do, however, as everyone have to be careful about this. I didn't start this thread just for me however, and I am trying not to make it sound like I think I can brake the rules, because I obviously can't. Nobody can. I am more just voicing my opinion about the IOF/G rule.

 

Anyone else want to chime in?

 

i think the inch thing is wong because a 3" tang produces more waste and uses more oxygen than a 3" gobie

 

Exactly my idea Damsels R Cool

 

1" per 5 gallons, and it doesn't matter what it is. Generally this averages out about right unless you put in multiple tangs.