Stocking your tanks- Corals Vs Fish.. What are the limits?

[Drew]

Hi Guys,

when stocking my tank I have looked at many rules if thumb and guidelines most regarding the size of the tank.

What are the requirements regarding corals? - Is it possible to have too much coral, what tells you you may have too much?

What is a realistic limit with fish? - by cm/inch what have you experienced is best practice?

Does the amount of live rock you have alter these limits?

Does the amount of cleaner animals such as crabs, snails and shrimp alter these limits?

does the type of filtration you have in place alter these limits?


This is just a general topic to get people talking. Let us know what you have experienced or read/heard.

Thanks :0)

[Lucifer]

Yes to all the questions above.

eg. if you have a good skimmer/filter then you can keep more fish and corals.

To me its more common sense then rule of thumb. eg. You keep too much fish because you have a good skimmer/filter that helps to keep your water clean. But the fish are stressed out because they fighting for space.

[ledlights]

http://www.ledgrowlights-aquarium.com.au/images/l/201106/13086705240.jpg

120w led aquarium lights (http://www.ledgrowlights-aquarium.com.au/new-120w-led-aquarium-light-with-2w-chips-for-reef-tank-lighting_p177.html) use for coral

[fishfinder]

Corals are governed by sometimes coral aggression from other species near by and sense the chemicals they release and be stressed at all times or to close and they attack the other.



Enough quality LED lighting(where have you seen that before) spread over the tanks corals allowing all some light.



Enough tiny particles of food often, enough to feed them.



Trace elements for them to grow and flourish, salinity of above .23 but not above .26 to keep bacterial attacks at bay.



Current to keep them clean and temp to suit where they came from and corals do not do well over time in high temps.


Fish,as many as you like if the bio area is big enough to cope, live rock can not cope with large numbers of fish and make sure they are not aggressive or toxic to each other enducing stress making lives good for parasites.

Use a substancial algae area,not a refugeum and a clean robust well made external filtration,than the sky is the limit!