How many Triggers can I fit in a 125G ?

[191185]

Hello,

I have a 125G ... I was wondering how many different triggers I can fit in there ? They will all eventually be full grown, and I never plan on getting a larger tank ..


So far, I have a Clown trigger, (1.5 inches now ) and a Picasso trigger ( same size )

I was looking at a Blueline trigger, and a Halfmoon trigger,

They all seem to get about 12" , except the clown I believe is supposed to get bigger .. ..

[leebca]

If your plan is to keep them to full adult size, then the tank is maxed out now. Thinking in terms of inches -- 24 inches in less than 125 gallons of water, when the usual rule of thum is about 1" to 5 gallons is maxed out. Have you read this post? Fish Stocking Limit - for FO and FOWLR

[191185]

I read it. But don't some fish dart around all the time. Where as some just kinda float and don't swim very often?

I see triggers swim around Alot. So you may very well be correct that I am fully stocked.

But how about two lionfish ? They seem to just kinda "float" would the same 4 gallons per inch hold true there as well?

[leebca]

Thanks for reading that. However, it seems you didn't grasp the big picture. Swimming room is only a part of the picture. Bioload is a lot of the picture, too. These fishes create a large amount of nitrogen wastes in rather large doses. They swim more than 40 miles a day in the reef when adults. They are food fishes to the local population. Mixed species don't get along very well as they grow bigger. All of this is part of the bigger picture.

Because of ALL the above, the tank is full. It's great that it is 6 feet long, otherwise, anything shorter wouldn't due.

[191185]

If my tank is full because of the bio load , then lets say someone has a 200G sump for a 125G Display Tank, then can they in theory have more fish ?

How about we assume for a second, that I have an unlimited size sump with unlimited size live rock / media etc .. What is the capacity as far as "swimming room" goes ?

[Reefing Madness]

If my tank is full because of the bio load , then lets say someone has a 200G sump for a 125G Display Tank, then can they in theory have more fish ?

How about we assume for a second, that I have an unlimited size sump with unlimited size live rock / media etc .. What is the capacity as far as "swimming room" goes ?

Per the fish you have suggested, your tank size would then be minimum of 125g. And you don't need a sump that big. Lets just say that you could use the Ocean Clear Canister Filter using a 1500 gph return pump, and that would allow you to keep those fish in the same tank. I know, I have done it. It will work. I used the Micron Filter that comes with the unit, water stays clear as a bell.

[leebca]

The answers and questions are all realted to what kind of fish you have in mind. With an ability to treat a huge bioload, then territorial fishes will want their own space. Those that are not territorial can be crammed together -- providing they will get along with each other. Those then that require a long swimming space, like Tangs, Large Angels, Triggers, Puffers (of the large kind), then usually about 3 per 6 feet in length, assuming the fish is under 10" long.

Remember, there is a combination of issues which dictate the number of fishes in a marine aquarium. That is why marine aquariums are unlike freshwater systems where you can have a simple rule of inches of fish per gallon.