How much fish in a tank?

Squall · 06/03/2010, 11:01 AM

I am reading a lot about marine fish in anticipation of setting up my tank, and in the descriptions of each fish the authors describe the minimum tank size required. However, no one seems to be giving a general rule of thumb for how many fish to a tank size. I know marine tanks are more lightly stocked than freshwater. Is there a rule of thumb for marine tanks?

My tank will be a 40 breeder with 20L refugium, and 30 gallon sump. 40lbs live rock in the breeder and 20 lbs live rock in the refugium and about 3" of sand in each tank. Corals will mainly be softies, with a few LPS, and maybe some SPS down the road.

Inverts: Crocea clam, pistol shrimp, emerald crab, skunk cleaner shrimp, pom-pom crab, astrea snails, nassarius snails, cerith snails, nerites.

Fish: 3 Blue-Green chromis, High Fin Red Banded Goby (for the pistol shrimp), Firefish, Royal Gramma, Coral Beauty, Ocellaris Clown (pair), and down the road a Mandarin.

The fish list is a wish list. Is this way too many for the tank? What do you all suggest? Just trying to do research.

Bigshow · 06/03/2010, 11:24 AM

Sounds like your on the right track all those fish are great. However the mandrian I believe you might want to either wait at least 6 months because his prime source of food copes and your tank needs to be well established for those unless you want to spend a lot on buying the copes from you lfs. The general rule is 1nch for every gallon you have.

Sugar Magnolia · 06/03/2010, 11:42 AM

IMO, that's really pushing the limits for bioload. I'd skip the chromis. You'd end up with one eventually anyway. They tend to squabble a lot in smaller tanks. Also, hold out for the ORA mandarins. They may be more expensive, but they are guaranteed to be eating prepared foods once they become available.

muppet · 06/03/2010, 11:48 AM

What's an ORA mandarin? Captive bred?

Reef 101 · 06/03/2010, 12:07 PM

maximum population density in the marine fish aquarium should not exceed
1\2"of fish per gallon of water. If this rule is observed and patience is exercised in adding fish to the aquarium, one should be very successful in the saltwater fish hobby

Sugar Magnolia · 06/03/2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppet

What's an ORA mandarin? Captive bred?

Yes, captive bred.

Squall · 06/03/2010, 07:54 PM

Thanks for the input. I am planning on waiting a year before the mandarin-just to make sure the tank can actually provide enough critters for it to eat. And someone told me a new fish every two weeks so as not to shock the system. Is that right?

mthomp · 06/03/2010, 08:01 PM

what kind of lights are you planning on? is this your first tank? I may be wrong but dont clams kind of require a lot of light and really good water conditions? maybe something you will want to wait on till you have some experiance under your belt.

Squall · 06/03/2010, 08:19 PM

I am thinking of getting a TEK 6x39w Fixture. Yeah, this is my first tank. A lot of the critters listed won't be for a couple of years or till I get experience under my belt. I like to do long term planning, so I listed what I would eventually like to have in the tank in about 3 or 4 years. And I wanted feedback from people telling me if I was crazy or not for thinking about putting something in a 40 gallon breeder. The LFS isn't exactly helpful about being realistic/truthful and telling me that no that fish or clam does not belong in my tank-I think they would sell me anything. So all feedback/ tales of experience are appreciated.

REEFinaBOX23 · 06/03/2010, 08:32 PM

I agree to with it being just at the boarder line concerning your bioload. You also have to consider are you putting all the fish in at once or at separate times because this can raise your nitrates considerably. A 40 breeder is a decent size, but stick to smaller fishes and preferably ones that don't like to take off and do laps like tangs. Oh, and with inverts you don't really need to worry about them as much add as many as you would like.

REEFinaBOX23 · 06/03/2010, 08:34 PM

In 3-4 years you will probably upgrade to a much larger tank and you wont have to worry about what you want in it!

stevek480 · 06/03/2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REEFinaBOX23

In 3-4 years you will probably upgrade to a much larger tank and you wont have to worry about what you want in it!

So true, so true...

06/03/2010, 11:01 AM	#1
Squall Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 59	How much fish in a tank? I am reading a lot about marine fish in anticipation of setting up my tank, and in the descriptions of each fish the authors describe the minimum tank size required. However, no one seems to be giving a general rule of thumb for how many fish to a tank size. I know marine tanks are more lightly stocked than freshwater. Is there a rule of thumb for marine tanks? My tank will be a 40 breeder with 20L refugium, and 30 gallon sump. 40lbs live rock in the breeder and 20 lbs live rock in the refugium and about 3" of sand in each tank. Corals will mainly be softies, with a few LPS, and maybe some SPS down the road. Inverts: Crocea clam, pistol shrimp, emerald crab, skunk cleaner shrimp, pom-pom crab, astrea snails, nassarius snails, cerith snails, nerites. Fish: 3 Blue-Green chromis, High Fin Red Banded Goby (for the pistol shrimp), Firefish, Royal Gramma, Coral Beauty, Ocellaris Clown (pair), and down the road a Mandarin. The fish list is a wish list. Is this way too many for the tank? What do you all suggest? Just trying to do research.

06/03/2010, 11:42 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	IMO, that's really pushing the limits for bioload. I'd skip the chromis. You'd end up with one eventually anyway. They tend to squabble a lot in smaller tanks. Also, hold out for the ORA mandarins. They may be more expensive, but they are guaranteed to be eating prepared foods once they become available. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

06/03/2010, 11:48 AM	#4
muppet Misanthrope Join Date: May 2010 Location: Plainville, CT Posts: 2,759	What's an ORA mandarin? Captive bred? __________________ Vertex IN-100 Skimmer 5g fuge area in the works JBJ Ocean Pulse 1600GPH wavemaker CoralVue 4x54 fixture running?: 2xATI Blue Plus, 1xRed Sea Pink, 1xRed Sea 12K, 10x1w LED blue moonlights Current Tank Info: Deep Blue 75G RR with 20H sump

06/03/2010, 12:07 PM	#5
Reef 101 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ft,Myers, FL Posts: 74	maximum population density in the marine fish aquarium should not exceed 1\2"of fish per gallon of water. If this rule is observed and patience is exercised in adding fish to the aquarium, one should be very successful in the saltwater fish hobby __________________ Life is fast so drive a faster car! Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef mixed

06/03/2010, 08:32 PM	#10
REEFinaBOX23 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 9	Fish amount in tank. I agree to with it being just at the boarder line concerning your bioload. You also have to consider are you putting all the fish in at once or at separate times because this can raise your nitrates considerably. A 40 breeder is a decent size, but stick to smaller fishes and preferably ones that don't like to take off and do laps like tangs. Oh, and with inverts you don't really need to worry about them as much add as many as you would like.

06/03/2010, 11:24 AM	#2
Bigshow Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Paseo District/Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 256	Sounds like your on the right track all those fish are great. However the mandrian I believe you might want to either wait at least 6 months because his prime source of food copes and your tank needs to be well established for those unless you want to spend a lot on buying the copes from you lfs. The general rule is 1nch for every gallon you have.

06/03/2010, 07:54 PM	#7
Squall Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 59	Thanks for the input. I am planning on waiting a year before the mandarin-just to make sure the tank can actually provide enough critters for it to eat. And someone told me a new fish every two weeks so as not to shock the system. Is that right?

06/03/2010, 08:01 PM	#8
mthomp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 766	what kind of lights are you planning on? is this your first tank? I may be wrong but dont clams kind of require a lot of light and really good water conditions? maybe something you will want to wait on till you have some experiance under your belt.

06/03/2010, 08:19 PM	#9
Squall Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 59	I am thinking of getting a TEK 6x39w Fixture. Yeah, this is my first tank. A lot of the critters listed won't be for a couple of years or till I get experience under my belt. I like to do long term planning, so I listed what I would eventually like to have in the tank in about 3 or 4 years. And I wanted feedback from people telling me if I was crazy or not for thinking about putting something in a 40 gallon breeder. The LFS isn't exactly helpful about being realistic/truthful and telling me that no that fish or clam does not belong in my tank-I think they would sell me anything. So all feedback/ tales of experience are appreciated.

06/03/2010, 08:34 PM	#11
REEFinaBOX23 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 9	In 3-4 years you will probably upgrade to a much larger tank and you wont have to worry about what you want in it!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Looking to Purchase Tank/Set Up	215reefone	Delaware Valley Reef Club (DVRC)	2	12/27/2009 11:33 AM
what fish can i keep together in a small fish only tank?	jtdesigns2	Fish Only & Aggressive Tanks	6	09/25/2008 02:28 PM
What do people put in a fish only tank beside fish?	Deb91	New to the Hobby	30	12/21/2007 08:50 AM
fish ideas for new 65Gal fish-only tank	robbo	Reef Fishes	11	04/26/2006 07:08 AM