The general guideline of 1" to 1 gallon is for longer lower tanks with more "top surface area" to volume ratio. It's also intended for torpedo-shaped fish like tetras, not tall fish like angels or bulky bruisers like some of the monster cichlids. It originated back when people were not using pumps or aeration of any kind. It's kind of a safety net now, because although we have better water movement, our tanks tend to run warmer (=less available O2) than they used to, and we push the stocking levels on our tanks (more algae, P and N excess problems). A planted tank will eat up some of those waste products; wih a non-planted tank, good maintenance, more frequent water changes, using carbon filtration, makes up the difference. Also, I found it helped to use higher quality, finer-grain carbon filtering materials.
IF you can stay 1/3 to 1/4 of the totals inside that 1" rule and do reguarly water changes, you should be very safe.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2004-10-13 02:08 am (UTC)It's kind of a safety net now, because although we have better water movement, our tanks tend to run warmer (=less available O2) than they used to, and we push the stocking levels on our tanks (more algae, P and N excess problems).
A planted tank will eat up some of those waste products; wih a non-planted tank, good maintenance, more frequent water changes, using carbon filtration, makes up the difference. Also, I found it helped to use higher quality, finer-grain carbon filtering materials.
IF you can stay 1/3 to 1/4 of the totals inside that 1" rule and do reguarly water changes, you should be very safe.