The Aquarium Stock Calculator helps you determine how many fish your tank can safely support. Overcrowding leads to poor water quality, stress, and disease, so proper stocking is essential for a healthy aquarium.
Formula
The fish stocking capacity is calculated as:
[\text{Fish Inches} = \text{Length} \times \text{Width} \times \text{Height} \times 0.004329 \times 2]
Where:
- Dimensions are in inches (use 0.01639 factor for centimeters)
- The result is the total inches of adult fish the tank can support
Calculation Example
For a 15" × 10" × 12" aquarium:
[\text{Fish Inches} = 15 \times 10 \times 12 \times 0.004329 \times 2]
[\text{Fish Inches} = 1800 \times 0.004329 \times 2 = 15.58 \text{ inches}]
This tank can support approximately 15.58 inches of fish, which could be:
- 15 one-inch fish (like neon tetras)
- 7 two-inch fish (like guppies)
- 3 five-inch fish (like dwarf gouramis)
Stocking Guidelines
| Fish Size | Example Species | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 inches | Tetras, guppies, rasboras | School in groups of 6+ |
| 2-3 inches | Mollies, platies, corydoras | Good community fish |
| 3-5 inches | Dwarf cichlids, gouramis | May be territorial |
| 5+ inches | Angels, larger cichlids | Need significantly more space |
Best Practices
- Use adult sizes when calculating - fish grow!
- Start conservatively - add fish gradually over weeks
- Consider bioload - some fish produce more waste
- Account for territory - aggressive fish need buffer space
- Factor in plants - live plants help but don't eliminate limits