(Snipped)

Subject: Preliminary Fish List!
From: "Lisa"
Date: 1/12/2005 1:47 P.M. Central Standard Time
Message-id: .com

16-17 Total "Fish Inches" at maturity

Lisa....you need to forget about this "total inches of fish" crud.
I understand you must be getting it from the old, outdated, and useless "rule"
that said one of fish per gallon of water.
That doesn't apply to most of the fish in this hobby.
So, toss that out of your head. Yes...far, far away from your head. = )
What that old "rule" doesn't take into consideration is that certain types of
fish need different requirements when it comes to territory.
Certain species cannot be housed with others, etc.
An example of the 1 inch per gallon doesn't work:
Oscars. That rule says you can put a 10" Oscar in a ten gallon tank.
You couldn't put a 10" Oscar in a 29g tank!
That rule says you can have 2) 10" Oscars in a 20g tank. Bah! They'd have the
tank busted in a matter of minutes just trying to turn around.
Plecostomus. You'd never be able to fit a 10" Pleco in a 10g tank. I mean, you
could, but he wouldn't be able to move.
Blue, 3 spot Gouramis.....that old rule allows you to have 2) 5" blue Gopuramis
in a 10g. Nope. They need larger territory and will fight constantly when fully
grown.
Goldfish. Goldies need (min) 10g per fish..however more for some varieties such
as Comets which get about 16" long, and Koi...even larger.
Goldies need more than just space too, they also need a very good filtrations
system...because of their body mass, as well as the amount of waste that they
put out into the water (far more than other hobby fish), they certainly can't
go by the 1 inch per gallon rule..it would be their death for sure.
When considering fish for a tank, their adult size is only one factor. Of
course it needs to be taken into consideration, but many more things must also
be too.
The best thing you can do is research what fish you fancy, research their
individual tank requirements, and take it from there.
Don't fret so much about pH, as unless it's in the extremes....leave it alone.
Most fish adapt to a different pH than what is "by the book" for them.
Unless breeding, usually you just need to acclimate them slowly to the pH of
your tank/ household water.
Oh..one more thing....you also need to check individual specie personalities as
well.
You mentioned wanting Gouramis.
In this group of fishes you can go from vicious (Blue and Gold 3 spot
Gouramis), to quite peaceful (Powder Blue, Pearl, and more).
Some you cannot house together, such as a Paradise Gourami and a Blue..or even
a closely related specie.,.such as having a male Betta and a Paradise Gourami
in the same tank. (If this happened, it would be a night out at the boxing ring
for sure).
So take your time and do the research.
ASK questions. Kudos to you for doing the research now! You're already ahead of
the newbie pack. = )
Look back..how's it look. hehe = )~