NOTES - AQUARIUM SIZE & SELECTING COMPATIBLE SPECIES

AQUARIUM SIZE

Calculating the size of your aquarium mostly evolves around common sense. Large fish can be temporarily housed in smaller tanks however with your fish' health as priority, arrangements must be made to provide adequate space for it them to manoeuvre freely.

• Fish can become stunted when housed in smaller aquariums. This is evident when fish cease growing and as they age their eyes seem large in proportion to their body size.
• Especially kept since juvenile stages, some fish will only grow to a size their home limits them to.
• Large predatory fish will out grow aquariums very rapidly due to their voracious appetites.

Research the species that you are interested in keeping.

Factors to consider upon deciding the desired aquarium size;

• The larger the type of fish, the more room it needs to swim.
• The greater the number of tails that you wish to house in total, then the more space that you will require.
• The stronger and more boisterous the fish, then the construction of your aquarium should be in thicker material.
• Fish deriving from deeper bodys of water enjoy aquariums with greater depths and vice-versa.
• A flawless method would be to go as big of an aquarium as your pocket will afford or as your living arrangements allow.
• It is a noticeable pattern that a hobbyist who is just starting will generally re-invest in larger fish tanks at a later time when they get more involved in fish keeping.
• When you have decided what size aquarium to settle with, then contemplate what species and their purpose, you wish to house.
• FACT: 1 Litre of water is almost the equivalent of 1 Kilogram in weight. Thus meaning that a 500L aquarium will weigh approximately 650kg after rock work, gravel, stands and filtration have been fitted. Hence foundation below the floor is must be adequate to facilitate such a commodity.
• To calculate an aquarium's volume simply multiply the length, height and width of the tank in "cm" and divide the answer by 1000 to obtain "x"litres.
  

The are many benefits for having the extra volume of water for your fish to swim in. You will encounter less problems as fluctuations and associated toxins in the aquarium are at lower, less harmful levels. Providing you do not stock your aquarium with more fish than water.

If you are beginning with a small aquarium and desire a busy aquarium against recommendations then make sure you are more persistent with water changes.


SELECTING APPROPRIATE SPECIES TO COINCIDE TOGETHER PEACEFULLY

• In a typical cichlid aquarium, you will never acquire 100% peace and tranquility. It is their inquisitive attitude, vibrant colours and territorial temperaments that have bought them decades of popularity in the trade.
  
• Novices generally begin with a community aquarium for display purposes. This is a tank with one male from each species coinciding together. If this is the case, try to select more placid species at a 6cm size min. and more aggressive sp. (mbuna) at a 4cm size to limit fatalities. The novice turned hobbyist then ventures to breeding aquariums which is more specific to one family/colony or pair of fish.
  
• For breeding purposes one species of cichlids per tank is recommended especially if you are uncertain of possibilities for inter breeding (not including catfish or dithers.)
• Information is provided to the best of my knowledge in relevant fish articles stating which species are more prone to inter breeding and which species are capable of coinciding together.
  
• When in doubt, trial and error is emphasised. Take notice of levels of aggression towards one another and importantly, take notice of breeding patterns. Eg. If an Electric blue male is courting and dancing with an Aulonocara female then cross breeding amongst tank mates will be for certain.
  
• When selecting fish to house in the same aquarium, introduce more boisterous species last to provide adequate time for more placid species to settle in to the aquarium first.
  
• A rule of thumb is to not house fish with large predatorial mouths and slender torpedo like body shapes with small tank mates unless they are for feeding purposes.
  
• African cichlids are best kept amongst themselves. Malawan and Tanganyikan species are generally fine to house together.
• American cichlids are predominantly larger growing species and again best housed amongst themselves.
• Juveniles cichlids from America and Africa are capable of coinciding together however it is only until American species reach a turning point in their life, be it breeding, size difference or territorial disputes that leads to constant aggression and possible death of weaker counter parts.
• It is highly recommended to add stock to your aquarium in batches of more than 3 fish at a time. If the existing fish in your aquarium are over 15cm, then increase this number accordingly. This method of introduction for new tank mates will increase the chance of survival for the new fish as inquisitive aggression will be wide spread.

When you are at the point of collecting assorted species of fish for your tank remember to pre-assess a total number of fish tails your tank will comfortably house. Before you purchase your new aquatic pets, ideally you should have your aquarium furnished with rockery and completely set-up in front of you for you to determine an approximate number and if the rockery can provide adequate homes for your fish. Then as you patiently collect your new fish, monitor them on a regular basis to observe levels of aggression.

• option 1: stock an aquarium to a level where each and every individual fish from catfish to cichlids has enough room to roam and territories to claim.
• option 2: stock an aquarium to a level that is extremely busy to a point where only several inhabitants have homes with other fish free roaming. This option will prevent constant aggression to be directed at any single fish and due to the high density will indirectly bring a more peaceful environment to the aquarium. (filtration must be adequate to handle higher load)
  

HAPPY FISH KEEPING!

Photos courteous of Peter VN, Anythingfish.com / Trophs.com