| You will hear a lot of recommendations for the | | | | the most deadly combination there is in the |
| amount of fish to add to a newly established | | | | beginning aquarium. |
| aquarium. The heartbreak is that most people will | | | | After a month to six weeks, the fish that have |
| ignore the limits and add "just a few more,it can`t | | | | been in the aquarium have experienced the rise |
| hurt, right?" Wrong!! A few weeks later, that | | | | and then sudden drop of nitrogenous toxins, |
| extra bioload has produced enough toxic ammonia | | | | ammonia, but especially nitrite and the biological |
| and nitrite to crash the whole system. | | | | filter has been properly established. It is a time of |
| The cardinal rule for any novice aquarist should be | | | | anticipation for the aquarist as new fish can finally |
| patience. The less fish added in the beginning and | | | | be added to the habitat. |
| allowed to help the biological filter mature, the | | | | At this point the second half of the rule becomes |
| better. | | | | relevant. I suggest that the maximum amount of |
| With this in mind, the best answer to "How Many | | | | fish the aquarium can safely accommodate is two |
| Fish in a tank?" is a two part one. The first half is | | | | inches per gallon - but this is actually greater than |
| the rule for adding fish to a new aquarium, and | | | | double! In this calculation I suggest it is possible to |
| the second half is used when the Nitrogen Cycle | | | | discount the tails, and measure only the actual |
| has been firmly established and new fish can be | | | | bodies. This does greatly increase the the capacity |
| finally added to the system. | | | | for supporting fish to a much higher level. |
| One inch per gallon (3.78 L) is the established rule | | | | I would caution here, that suddenly doubling the |
| for a brand new aquarium. People pretty much | | | | bioload will cause serious problems for the biofilter. |
| agree on this, but the issue gets clouded when | | | | The bacteria do have a lag time to react to |
| the further question is asked: "Just the body | | | | sudden changes. The best method is to apply the |
| length or with the fins included?" In this case, I | | | | rule to the community, but only gradually work to |
| prefer to use the entire length of the the fish, | | | | the upper limit. Add only a few fish at any given |
| with the finnage included. Most starter fish do not | | | | time. If the species is a schooling fish, add just |
| have long flowing fins, with the possible exception | | | | the correct number of fish for a good school and |
| of the Betta, so this is really not a hardship, and | | | | that would be it. Wait at least a few days before |
| the stricter definition ensures the load on the | | | | adding any more to allow the bacteria population |
| system will be relatively light - just what is | | | | to adjust to the increased ammonia load the new |
| needed to produce a strong and vibrant bacterial | | | | fish will provide. |
| mix, but help prevent extensive overfeeding | | | | Take your time with building up the population, |
| because of the scarcity of fish. | | | | everyone will be much happier for it. |
| The combination of fish load and excess food is | | | | |