How Much Swimming Space Does Your Fish Need?

You want to ensure your fish can remain comfortable inside their tank and have plenty of room to swim around. When things are cramped inside the aquarium, fish can become stressed and anxious, leading to many health issues. So how much swimming space does your fish need? Continue reading to find out.

Why Fish Need Plenty of Room

You may have heard that some fish will only grow as big as their tank, but this simply isn't true. Young fish growing up in a too-small tank can experience stunted growth, spinal abnormalities, atrophied muscles, and other developmental issues. Unfortunately, these health problems will ultimately lead to a shortened life span.

It's worse when you put more than one fish in a small place, especially if they're territorial. You'll need a tank big enough for fish to have their hiding spots and nooks where they can get away from unruly tankmates if necessary. If you don't, expect to see hostility that you wouldn't see in a tank with appropriate space.

Inch per Gallon Ratio

The 1 inch of fish per 1 or 2 gallons of water ratio is the most well-known rule for stocking a tank. While this calculation method is helpful as a rough estimate, it’s far from perfect. The rule overlooks the effects of advanced filtration systems, the presence or absence of live plants and proper lighting, and the type of fish you want to raise.

Always err on the side of caution and choose a somewhat larger tank than you think you'll need. You should always base it on the average mature size of the fish, not just their current size. Many pet stores will put signs on the tanks with details about the fish, such as their adult size and the species you can pair them with.

Using Surface Area

You can also choose to account for the surface area if you wish. The principle behind this is that the bigger the surface area of the water, the higher the oxygen exchange and the more fish you can support. As a result, the surface area of the water directly influences the number of fish that may live in an aquarium.

You compute surface area by multiplying the tank’s width by its length. According to the water surface area rule, you can support 1 inch of fish for every 12 square inches of surface area. If you want to keep wide-bodied fish in the tank, alter the calculation to 1 inch of fish for every 20 inches of surface area.

So how much swimming space does your fish need? While there are no one-size-fits-all solutions since each fish species and habitat is unique, using surface area or the gallons-to-inches ratio can get you close. Remember that you should aim for at least 2 gallons for every inch of fish for larger varieties.

Fish Tanks Direct has you covered no matter what size tank you need. You'll find a comprehensive selection of 30-gallon aquarium tanks that look great in any setting. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.