Determining bioload

[Muddydan]

I'm still in the early learning stages and my nano cube has been up for about 4 months and is maturing. I've seen varying opinions on determining the bioload of a tank. Opinions vary from 1 inch of fish per 1 to 5 gallons which seems like a huge range though part of that may be dependant on the fish selected. Do herbivores count less towards the load? Invertebrates generally don't seem to count towards the bioload capacity of the tank. Are there exceptions? How do experiences reefers determine this?

[petolo]

Everything living technically adds to the bioload... but you could add a few corals and have a completely different bioload than if you added a few "inches" of fish.

 

When I stocked my pico I started with two, and slowly added over the weeks so that I could determine what was going on.

 

Others may have different opinions or experiences but I'm a fan of the gradual method (it lets your natural filtration catch up too!)

[Nanomaniac]

The one inch per how many gallons is a really outdated guideline to follow when determining the maximum capacity of a tank in regards to bio-load. There are a multitude of factors that come into play when determining how many fish a system can effectively handle, tank size, filtration, species of fish, amount of feeding, etc. Some reefers will stock their system heavily with fish, but they usually increase their level of filtration to do so. A more heavily stocked system will generally require more maintenance in the form of more frequent water changes, more equipment which means more cleaning, and of course more intense monitoring of water parameters.

[tetraodon]

I'm still in the early learning stages and my nano cube has been up for about 4 months and is maturing. I've seen varying opinions on determining the bioload of a tank. Opinions vary from 1 inch of fish per 1 to 5 gallons which seems like a huge range though part of that may be dependant on the fish selected. Do herbivores count less towards the load? Invertebrates generally don't seem to count towards the bioload capacity of the tank. Are there exceptions? How do experiences reefers determine this?

there is no set formula to finding bioload, at best its a rough estimate. for fish the more active the fish the more waste it produces, the carnivores produce more waste. dont worry about the inch per gallon rule, its archaic and shows a lack of will to update information. fish also dont just grow long they grow in girth and weight. you wouldnt put a ten inch trout in a ten gallon tank? its best to look at activity level to determine the fish any tank can have. be mindful the general accepted rule is clowns need a minimum of 20-30 gallons. coral and smaller cleaners produce a lot less waste than fish, but do contribute to the bioload, as does anything that decays, food and such.

[ajmckay]

+1 there's not really a "rule" per se. As mentioned the problem with rules like "1 inch per gallon" etc. is that not all fish are equal in terms of contribution to bio-load, aggression, and overall impact to the tank's "environment".

 

There are fish which are generally known to do well in nano tanks - and fish which do not do well in nano tanks. Definitely stick with fish already known to do well.

 

Things like average mature size, aggression, and compatibility also has to be factored into the decision.

 

Until you're experienced enough to answer this question confidently on your own (that means evaluating your own situation) I would suggest sticking with a lighter stocking plan. Experience will come with time - and time is much better when your tank is successful. Experience is also why we can't just say we're going to copy what someone else does - there are simply too many variables to say that I will have the same success as a setup I'm copying. It's best to post a thread about your planned livestock and then people can give you more poignant information.

[Muddydan]

Thanks. I figured it was way too multifactorial for a simplistic answer was just wondering what guidelines people use in roughing out a rank plan. I appreciate the input.

[charnelhouse]

There totally is a formula....

 

Bioload formula:

 

cm³ = cubic centimeter = organism LxWxH

cells/cm³ = 5,000,000,000

WPc = Waste Production constant = .38614

H₂OMol = 1 liter of water = 1000 grams of water

(1000 grams water)/(18.015 grams/mole) = 55.5093 moles

55.5093 moles * (6.0221E23) = 3.3428E25 molecules of water

TVol = (Tank W(cm)xL(cm)xH(cm))*.001

[((living organisms cm³)*(cells/cm³))*WPc]/(H₂OMol*TVol) = Bioload

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sunstar]

my brain went to mush.

[charnelhouse]

my brain went to mush.

 

Hah.. I almost had an aneurysm making that crap up.

[Astinus]

 

Hah.. I almost had an aneurysm making that crap up.

Are U sure U didn't?

[Sunstar]

 

Hah.. I almost had an aneurysm making that crap up.

Who knows, maybe mathematically it works.