Tips on Proper Aquarium Stocking

"Tips on Proper Aquarium Stocking"," One all too common question, especially from younger beginner aquarists, involves goldfish. Is it okay to add some more fish?"" This particular question sends the red flags a flying. Depending on the specific breed, goldfish can reach anywhere from 8 to 12 inches in length. They need ample room and adequate filtration to reach their maximum growth potential and live a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, many inexperienced aquarium owners are inadvertently given incorrect information in relation to stocking their aquarium properly. If you apply this as a general stocking guide, then a fully grown Oscar only requires a 10 gallon aquarium to survive and remain perfectly healthy. So what then are the proper rules of thumb for stocking a new aquarium? Proper Aquarium Stocking: Rule #1 There are actually two ""Rules of Thumb"" concerning fish and aquarium size. This rule applies to smaller fish species. Ten tetras take up less room, generate substantially less waste and consume less oxygen than a single 10 inch Oscar. It is 5 gallons of aquarium for every inch of fish. Note the word MINIMUM is capitalized. So two 10 inch Oscars would need a minimum tank size of 75 gallons. They pertain to everything from cold water goldfish and freshwater tropical fish to saltwater species. When in doubt, it is always best to error on the side of caution. A General Note of Caution for New Aquarium Owners Aquarium stocking parameters are based on routine partial water changes and regular testing of your water conditions, especially in a saltwater tank or marine reef application. As an aquarium owner, it is your responsibility to maintain proper living conditions for the creatures whose care you are entrusted with! A properly stocked aquarium with routine water changes will help insure that your fish will live a long and healthy life.

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