Tank Volume  1/4/09
Hello, hope all of you had a great New Years!! I have a question, please..
I have just finished putting my substrate , my rocks and driftwood in my 75 gallon aquarium and will be putting in the water soon. Is there a formula that will roughly give the amount of water in the tank minus the decorations; or do I need to actually measure all the water I put in the tank but using a 5 gallon bucket or something comparable? I wanted to use a water hose hooked up to my kitchen sink, but could not measure the amount of water I put in by doing that. Thank you for your help.
James
<James, most folks factor 10-15% for the gravel and rocks in their tanks.
You can of course measure the height of the substrate: if the substrate is basically level and has a depth of, say, 3 inches in a 30 inch deep tank, then the substrate is taking up 10% of the volume. It's difficult to be precise without measuring the number of buckets of water you add to the tank, so that's really the only 100% reliable way to do things. Otherwise, don't worry about it too much. Things like medications are produced to allow for some degree of error, and unless the instructions on the medication specifically say to take 10% of the volume of the tank to allow
for the substrate, it's something you can safely ignore. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Tank Volume, stkg.  1/4/08
Thank you Neale,
I guess my main concern was determining how many fish I could safely allow in my tank.
James
<I'm not a fan of "inch per gallon" rules because they're so misleading.
Twelve neon tetras and one Oscar have the same length in inches, but obviously require completely different minimum amounts of space. So there's obviously a sliding scale between the extremes. A tall tank will also hold fewer fish than a shallow tank with the same volume, because one limiting factor is the surface area exposed to the atmosphere, because that's how oxygen gets into the water. A 20-gallon "tall" tank therefore holds fewer fish than a 20-gallon "long" tank, which is why all fishkeeping writers repeatedly state that long tanks are better than tall ones, if you have to
choose between two tanks of equal volume. Broadly, I prefer the one inch of small (guppy-sized) fish per 10 square inches of surface area rule because at least it accounts for this constraint. This is an underestimate, and the reality is that observing the fish and performing water quality tests is the only way to tell when your tank is overloaded. Social behaviour is another factor, with riverine species invariably looking best in spacious tanks. Silver Dollars for example are much happier (and more attractive) fish in big groups where they have plenty of space to race about. It's best
to err on the side of caution, or at least retain the option of rehoming fish once they become too big. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Tank Volume, stkg.  1/4/08
Thanks again Neale, If you don't mind giving me an estimate I would really appreciate it. I have a 75 gallon (measurements 48" long x 18" wide x 18 high. I planned on Corys, angels and rainbowfish. I know their exact size cannot be determined right now, but if you could please let me know about how many of each would be OK I would appreciate it. I know (at least have heard) that I will be better off with at least 6 angels to all be put in at the same time. Thank you again for your help and advice. James
<Hello James. 48 x 18 inches is 864 square inches, so that's your surface area. Divide by ten for each inch of fish, and you have about 86 inches of small fish. Each angelfish is about 4 inches long, and each rainbow 3-6 inches in length depending on the species. Most Corydoras are a couple of inches in length. So let's say six angels (= 24 inches of fish), six Corydoras (= 12 inches of fish), and six Melanotaenia boesemanni at about 4 inches each (= 24 inches of fish). Add all that up, 24 + 12 + 24 and you get 60 inches of fish. That's well under the stocking estimate of 86 inches, but given that these fish are bigger than Neons or guppies, allowing some extra space is now bad thing. Realistically, in a tank with good water current and generous filtration, you can usually keep 50-100% more fish than this estimate suggests, but to start with, this is an excellent way to move forward. Once the fish are settled in you can use your nitrite test kit to check the filter is coping, and your pH test kit to check water chemistry is staying stable. If the fish are breathing normally and have all the right colours and behaviours, you can then add additional fish as you see fit. But as things stand now, with the Corydoras, angels and rainbows, plus perhaps a small algae eater like a bristlenose Plec, and you're good to go! Cheers, Neale.> 

Tank Community Questions. stkg. 10 gal.   1/3/09
Hello,
<Hi there>
My name is Mark. I have a 10 gallon freshwater tank. I have 1-Powder Blue Gourami (male), 1-Dwarf Gourami (male), 5 different breeds of guppies - 6 guppies in total (3 male/3 female), 2 - Red Eyed Tetra (both female), 2 - Long Finned Zebra Danios (Both males), 2 - Balloon Belly Mollies (1 male/1 female), 2 - Sunburst Platys (1 male/1 female), and a Pleco.
<Mmm... the tetras and Danios are schooling fishes... and the Pleco may become too large (starve) here... many (Sucker-mouth South American catfish) species offered in the hobby get too large for a ten gallon volume. Can you find out what species this is?>
Now I have had aquariums in the past, but have never had such a variety in the same tank. The only concern I have is my Powder Blue. He just sits in the upper back left corner, near the filter, all day, but will swim around once the light has gone off at night. He is eating, I know that. Any Ideas?
<This species, Colisa lalia, does have health and behavioral problems in excess nowadays... but yours may be acting "normally" here>
Also I would like to know if the numbers of each species are sufficient.
<Actually... no... For what you list, you really need at least twice the volume, and better, two separate systems of larger size...>
I was reading other FAQ's on your site, and read that I should prolly have more Tetras and Danios.
<Ahh! Yes>
I will soon be upgrading to a 45 gallon tank. Any suggestions as far as different fish that would go along well with what I already have, and would bring some more color to the tank.
<I would add to your schooling fish species... when you upgrade... and likely add a group of Corydoras species catfishes for excitement and to keep the bottom stirred a bit>
I have no idea how many I can put in a 45G. Also What do you think about live plants, versus artificial?
<Some live plant material should be part of all captive freshwater systems... Please read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/PlantedTksSubWebIndex/plttksovrview.htm
and the linked FAQs file above>
Any input that you could possibly give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
<Glad to share with you Mark. Bob Fenner>

20 Gal Set-up 12/28/08
I think this is way over the limit but I thought I would try anyways.
1 Gold Gourami
<Mmm, do keep an eye on this Trichogaster... might become a bully here>
1 Dwarf Gouramis
1 Bristlenose Pleco
2 Upside-down Catfish
<Mmm, are social animals...>
3-4 Cherry Barb
4-5 Neons
I have two filters and plenty of plants and caves for hiding and such.
Think I could pull it off? The tank does not have the fish in it yet. If this set-up is not good, do you have any suggestions. Thanks.
<Mmm, I'd likely leave out the Gold Gourami... but otherwise, this mix should work here. Bob Fenner>

Second tank- cycle and stocking questions, 10 gal. FW   12/26/08
Hi, crew! Happy Holidays!
<And a festive hello to you, too.>
I'm working on plans to set my 10 gallon freshwater aquarium back up and I'm looking for a few quick answers or thoughts. First, my other tank is slightly brackish (for livebearers). What is the best way to acclimate used filter media from that tank for the new tank?
<Invariably, the best approach is to "clone" the filter. All filters can lose up to 50% of their biological media without water quality drops.
Indeed, many filter manufacturers suggest you replace this much biological filter media every few months to compensate for the fact biological media becomes clogged with silt over time, and however well you rinse it, it never really gets clean, and so doesn't work as well as it did when fresh.
So, if you transplant 50% of the biological media from a mature filter to a new filter, you can instantly mature the new filter, assuming the water chemistry and temperature differences are minimal.>
Also, I'm struggling to actually choose what I want for livestock. So many choices!
<Actually, not that many choices for a 10 gallon system. Things like male Guppies for example shouldn't be kept in tanks this small because of their tendency to be bullying towards one another and aggressive towards the females (being a female Guppy in a 10 gallon tank alongside some male Guppies has got to be a form of torture!). Platies and Swordtails, medium to large Corydoras, most Barbs, most tetras and virtually all cichlids and gouramis would be far too large for a 10 gallon tank. Danios are far too hyperactive for a 10 gallon system. Yes, you could "fit" them in, but no, they wouldn't be happy, and sometimes frustrated Danios become nippy and bullying. When it comes to stocking 10 gallon tanks, the key things are that the fish are small (ideally sub-5 cm in length) and relatively inactive. Good choices including Kuhli loaches, Neons, Cardinals, small gobies such as Peacock Gudgeon, and the "dwarf" Corydoras such as Corydoras hastatus. Do see here for some thoughts:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_5/volume_5_3/stocking.htm
I also have a "freshwater reef tank" in a 30 litre system that might be interesting to you:
http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/freshwaterreef.html
The idea is that invertebrates, rather than fish, become the focus.>
The only solid plans are low tech, pretty heavily planted with some slate caves. I think I'd like cherry shrimp but only if I can have a few fish too.
<Choose the fish carefully; things like Neons, Whiptail cats, Aspidoras catfish, and small gobies and halfbeaks appear to be fine with my Cherry Shrimps.>
I'm okay with fish eating the baby shrimp as the local stores don't like to take extras of stock they don't normally carry. I'll have to order the shrimp via internet if I want them. I just want the adults to be safe.
Could I have cherry or gold barbs with the shrimp?
<Cherry barbs would be fine in a 10 gallon system and shouldn't do any harm to Cherry Shrimps. "Gold Barb" seems to be a name used for at least three different species. Puntius sachsii and Puntius semifasciolatus would be too large, though Puntius gelius would be okay, with the proviso it (like the Cherry Shrimps) actually prefers subtropical not tropical conditions. Puntius gelius is highly attractive though, and works great in quiet tanks, even though it is a bit delicate.>
Or what about a honey Gourami, Betta, or flag fish?
<Bettas mix fine with Cherry shrimps, but shouldn't be mixed with anything else except perhaps dwarf Corydoras species and Kuhli loaches. Certainly not with anything barb- or tetra-like for fear of nipping or bullying.
Likewise, mixing with other labyrinth fish or dwarf cichlids is usually a disaster. Colisa chuna is a difficult species in some ways, but if you can get quality stock and are able to provide excellent water quality, it is viable in 10 gallons. Florida flagfish would also be good in a 10 gallon tank, but they're subtropical fish, and need lots and lots of algae to colour up properly. They're often kept poorly, hence few people have seen their naturally stunning colours. In a coolish system with Cherry Shrimps and perhaps White Cloud Mountain minnows, they'd be great.>
If these aren't good choices, could you give me some ideas? I have to drive an hour to get to a store with decent plants anyway, I can check what that better store has available and do research before a return trip for the fish. My tap water is pH 7.5 and somewhat hard. No livebearers please, I have plenty. :)
<Most tropical fish will be fine in moderately hard, basic water. Do always remember: in freshwater fishkeeping, the precise pH doesn't matter, pH stability does; so focus on understanding your local water hardness.>
Also, what should I add first, shrimp or fish? Should I get the shrimp first so they can find all the hiding places?
<Makes no odds really, but I prefer to add the shrimps and let them settle in for a few weeks. They keep the filter healthy without disturbing the plants, and also help to control initial algae blooms. Once I'm comfortable the filter is working 100% and the shrimps have adjusted to the tank, then I'd start adding any new fish.>
Thanks for any advice!
Angela
<Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Second tank- cycle and stocking questions 12/27/08
Thanks very much, Neale!
<Most welcome.>
I'm thinking I'll get the shrimp first and then hash out which fish I really want afterwards. See, there's still lots of tiny options for me to choose from. Your freshwater reef tank is really fascinating although I've never seen snails for sale other than apples around here.
<Apple snails make pretty poor aquarium residents; best avoided. Some retailers sell aquarium snails online; do research and consider this option. Snails ship well.>
I'll see what I can find on my trip to get the plants. There's something inherently awesome about a snail-eating snail!
<Clea helena is a wonderful little creature!>
Angela
<Cheers, Neale.>

Need Help - FW stocking-- need to read/research 11/21/08
Dear Sir,
<Miss here... Sara M.>
I have a fish tank of size : 30 x 15 x 15 inches <so, roughly 30g> and the same are having the below mentioned fish :
2 red cap Oranda gold fish
2 silver Oranda gold fish
2 rainbow shark <Adults need a tank of at least 55g and are best to kept solitary-- they tend not to like the company of their own kind.>
2 black gold fish
2 black Ghost knife fish <Absolutely not...these fish need to be in a tank of at least 75g.>
1 shubhamkin <Do you mean shubunkin?>
2 paradise
2 surphy tetra
2 small gold fish
1 sucker fish and 2 snails
<::sigh:: Please, please, just stop and start reading. Get a book on freshwater community fish... or start reading more on WWM. A simple Google search of any one of these fish could tell you all you need to know. You can't keep 9 goldfish (plus all these other fish) in a 30g tank.>
is this tank ok for all these fish or do I need to go for a bigger one. If yes then what size?
<Maybe you could keep all these fish in a 100g tank. Please shorten your list of fish, or, better yet.... pick different fish.>
I have made this tank as per the space convenience in my room.
<Ok, but now you need to pick fish that will survive in this size tank.>
Rgds,
Amit
<Please start reading/researching,
Sara M.>

Corydoras, Blackskirts, no problem yet.... FW stkg.  11/15/08
Good evening,
I have kept Albino Corydoras and Black Skirt tetras for more than half a year in a twelve gallon Eclipse tank with BioWheel filtration. In addition there are two extra old school in the corner box filters (I had them so I guess I thought the bubblier the better, and the occupants do seem to love it).
<Good idea to have/use this not-so-redundant back up/extra filtration/aeration/circulation with Eclipse units>
I used filter media and some water from a tank that has been running for about eight years to get the tank going.
<Good>
No live plants, just fakes. Everything still seems to be great. Using five-in-one test strips, the water often has no detectable nitrite when I test before doing a weekly water change (I do detect nitrites in other critter tanks before water change, so I don't think they are bad strips as far as strips go anyway.
<Mmm, am not a fan of strip tests... neither precise nor accurate too often. You want/need there to be zero nitrite at all times>
Since being informed on your site I think I will spring for a real test kit after I have used these strips up). I usually remove at least two gallons when I vacuum. The pH is about 6.6 I believe. Heater prevents water from cooling less than
73 F. .I feed them once a day sparingly.
<I'd increase this to twice... the fishes mentioned pretty much search for food all daylight>
I try to be responsible about any creature I care for and do some research beforehand, but I guess I didn't do enough research this time. Apparently the initial information I found placed both of these fishes on the smaller side of their actual growth potential. This was before I discovered and adopted your site and Fishbase.org as my prime references for all aquarium information.
<Is mine for ichthyological>
Fishbase doesn't always say what size aquarium to use for every fish listed. My fish have grown noticeably since I've had them and I have since found lots of contradictory information.
For Black Skirt Tetras I have read:
Peaceful, very peaceful, notorious nippers.
Will grow to 5 cm / 2 inches, 6cm, 3 cm, 1 ½ inches, 6.4 cm
They should never be kept in schools of less then 10 fishes, best kept in groups of three or more, seven is a school, school of five, at least five, six or more
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons, 20 gallons, 24 inches, 20 inches
For Albino Corydoras I have read:
Will grow to: 7cm, 8 cm, 5 cm, 7.5 cm, two inches, 5 cm
Should be kept in groups of at least half a dozen, three males to three females, a pair, one male to two females
Minimum tank size: 10 gallons, 30 gallons, 20 gallons, 15 gallons, 24 inches
<I concur... yes, even with the conflicting info.>
My largest Cory is maybe 4 ½ cm at the most and the largest Black Skirt is a little less (includes their tails). Most of the fish are much smaller than these largest ones. In total I have three Corydoras and seven Black Skirts (I added part of these later after quarantining them). They all look very good and I do spend a lot of time watching them. If I have to, now or eventually, put them in a larger aquarium I have thought of two options. I could just get a larger aquarium or I could move the Corydoras into a ten gallon that is currently not set up. I know smaller aquariums are more challenging to maintain, but if they are large enough to meet the demands of the fish I am used to them since I haven't had one larger than twenty gallons in the short nine years I have been in the freshwater hobby. Please guide me in the right direction through the varied information I have encountered so far.
<Mmm, I'd be looking for a larger system to move all to. At least a twenty gallon...>
Also, I am interested in Paradise fish and Dojos but have found extremely contradictory information about minimum tank size and temperature ranges. Are they compatible?
<Yes... both like cooler, slightly hard, alkaline water...>
I am interested in having a fish tank in a part of the house that is NOT kept toasty during winter and gets down into the 50s if no tank heater is used (this area of the house could allow me more flexibility in tank size as well). In the summer it would be in the 70s. I know I could use a heater in the tank, but when our electricity is interrupted I don't want such a big change in temperature to cause a tragedy. Are there ANY inhabitants for the home aquarium that appreciate those kinds of conditions, perhaps crayfish?
<Many natives, other temperament organisms, yes...>
Thank you for the time all of you put into the site. Great information and also entertaining. I find it a joy [well, usually ;-) ] to read about other people's tanks even if I have no intention of ever owning a similar type.
Thank you,
Perplexed Fish Keeper
<Not so PFK in my opinion/experience... Keep learning, sharing. Bob Fenner>

Beginning Aquarist stocking new Freshwater 10 Gallon 11-13-08
Hi,
<Hello! Hope you are having a great weekend!>
First of all thanks so much for this great online resource! This site trumps pretty much everything I have found online.
<That's great to hear! We appreciate that.>
My roommates and I bought a goldfish a while back to keep in a vase as a centerpiece for our kitchen table. We watched him swim around for a few days, then bought him a plant. Then another goldfish. A few days later, two male Betta fish (which we kept separated from each other), and then a few days later a 10 gallon aquarium. In short we became completely obsessed in about two weeks. The aquarium we bought is the deluxe Aqueon 10 gallon, which comes with a fluorescent light and a filter.
<I hope you put those two goldfish in the 10 gallon, a vase is not a suitable home.>
We added a Fluorite substrate and 5-6 good-sized live plants, let the filter run for a few days, then added a goldfish, again let the filter run for a few days, then added a Betta, then removed the goldfish (lol). Yesterday added a very good quality heater (more wattage than necessary for 10 gallons of water) and since then have maintained the temperature at about 79-80 degrees. The tank looks absolutely incredible, and the Betta is happy as can be, especially since we added the heater. Now I'll get to my question:
<That sounds great! Smart job in adding the Fluorite, your plants are going to take off.>
I've been researching aquariums and fish online pretty much constantly the past couple days, and I have come up with what I think my ideal set-up would be: 4-5 smaller Corys, and 6-8 smaller tetras (neon or cardinal or both, undecided), and the Betta currently in it. Is this too much for a 10 gallon? We've heard it both ways from every site on the web and the guys at the LFS. Also plan on adding a few more small plants as the ones we have are mostly in the back. Does the amount of plant life have a real impact on the amount of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite? I've also heard mixed things about whether or not the fluorite base scratches Cory's stomachs/injures Cory's barbells. Any input at all on this set-up? Should we add tetras or Corys first (after the tank finishes cycling)?
<You might have too many fish in your ideal setup. You could try the 4 Corys and then 6 smaller tetras and that would be it. It is always great to have life plants, they increase water oxygen, help decrease ammonia, nitrates and nitrites but, they won't control it for you. You would have to keep up with water changes and changing the filter. Also, I have heard the same about Corys and hard substrates. But, I have kept Corys with gravel substrate and did not see any hurt tummy's or barbells. Adding the Corys first would be best due to tetras stressing easy. Your setup sounds great; I think you will be happy with it. You are welcome! Merritt A.>
Thanks a lot,
Ryan