90gal Fish List Questions

[indyjaco]

I'd skip the hippo as well. A smaller hippo with some larger aggresive fish will stress him out and will bring up the ich parasite if you are not QT'ing.

 

[GoBigGuy]

I'm planning on starting everyone out small and then in a couple of years when they are getting bigger upgrade the tank for everyone

 

[Dalmatia]

I'm planning on starting everyone out small and then in a couple of years when they are getting bigger upgrade the tank for everyone

That's what I did and had no problems, my list was like yours, maybe even a bit bigger! Do it, just make sure you get your fish all small. In a year or so you'll know if you want this hobby or you want out!!! I went bigger. I had around 7 tangs, 5 ocellaris clowns, 2 wrasse, 3 damsels, blenny, 2 gobies and my fav oriental sweetlips,,,, this was all in a 75g

 

[PatW]

You asked how many fish you can have in a 90 gallon tank. The answer is, it depends.

Your husbandry methods matter. How much do you feed? How much filtration? Do you do water changes early and often? Obviously, a very zealous husbandry will allow for far more fish than lax methods.

Also remember that there is a margin of error. If you put every last fish into a tank that it can possibly hold even a small degradation of conditions could cause a catastrophic crash of the system.

Fish really matter more on their demands on the system. Very active fish have higher metabolic rates. Large fish make more demands than small fish.

There is even the interaction of fish to be considered. I have sen fish that were very aggressive in a tank that became quite peaceful in a larger tank.

So when you think it through, you are talking about not just a simple thing like system gallons vs number of fish. You are talking about a multiple variable situation.

Probably the best thing is to plan your tank fish list on the conservative side. Add fish slowly and see how the tank parameters hold up.

 

[Trex]

I'm planning on starting everyone out small and then in a couple of years when they are getting bigger upgrade the tank for everyone

Just remember, that life has a funny way of changing plans. I was suppose to have my "big" tank 6+ years ago, still don't have it. Perhaps in a year or 2. That is why I am a big proponent of stocking for the tank that you currently have, and not one that you hope to have down the road. It is better for you, and more importantly, better for the livestock you are in change of keeping healthy.

The growth rates of P. hepatus is shockingly fast when they are small, wouldn't be shocked to see one outgrow a 90 in less than a year.

 

[Dalmatia]

Here is my "dori", she's about an year and a half. Got her,, about 1" big, she's now around 4,1/2". And I've had her for about 15 months