Inches of Fish per Gallon

[bingham9]

If I'm looking to use the overcrowding tactic for filling my tank, should I use 1.5 inches to the gallon or 1.25 inches to the gallon?Or am I missing a completely different guideline altogether?

[aharris]

How many fish in your tank constitutes overstocking really depends on what kind of fish you're talking about. For example, 3 adult Oscars is filling a 125g tank to the brim even though they fall way short of the 1", 1.5", 1.25"/g rule. In the case of oscars, the limiting factor is the amount of waste each fish produces to contaminate the water. Sometimes, the limiting factor is how much territorial space you can provide.

The best way to figure out how to safely overcrowd your tank would be to figure out which fish you would like and ask the experienced folks on the appropriate forum who can give you estimates based on their own experience.

[bingham9]

I'm working with African cichlids from malawi. I have 10 juvenile fish right now in a 46 gallon. Everything I have read has said to overcrowd these guys. I just want to know how much is overkill.

[aharris]

I would take your question to the Malawi list along a list of what you're currently keeping (species) and a list of species you would like to add, and let them help you out there.

[ander]

just think of this, say u have a 2 inch fish who gives of "G" amount of wast. when his size doubles, the wast amount increases exponetialy. so u got a big fat "G^2" on ur hands that why no rules work
good luck

[usafschue]

and with big fish its
"big fatty=waste x how much they want to make you work" LOL

[usafschue]

In all seriousness, it really is special rules for cichies, my rainbowfish tank is 1.25 fish inches per gallon but they keep it clean and clear and all have about 12x their body size to swim around.