"Gail Futoran" wrote in message
...
I don't know how the experts feel about the system I'm
about to recommend, but I found this really useful
in figuring out how many fish I could reasonably have:
http://www.tropicalresources.net/web..._guide_fw.html
I'm still overstocked a bit in several of my tanks but
since all my fish are small tropicals I don't worry too much.

Rats- the site seems to be down right now. I would be very interested in
seeing yet another idea. My reference to pushing the limits (overstocked)
are based on the simple 1"/gallon rule. But like you most of my FW pets are
around 2 inches. I think I am correct in assuming that a 2" gourami is
going to produce more waste than a 2" narrow body tetra just because they
have more girth to support. I have also seen some reference to some fish
just apparently not producing as much waste per inch - platys are the only
one I have seen specifically mentioned. I have always figured that's one of
the reasons that fancy GF are considered so much more 'dirtier' - because
there is much more fish to support.

It is worth converting to
flourescent lights, even the mini compacts Wal-Mart
now sells are worth a try. (They'll work in an
incandescent hood - trust me, I've done it.)

All of my tanks have single florescent bulbs, 2 have the more expensive
'grow lights'. But they still are very minimal compared to the 2-5 watts
per gallon I often see recommended. The artificial plants in the 3rd tank
with regular florescent lighting seem to be doing fine

Thanxx
Bill