Stocking question

[KorD]

I have always been under stocked for my tanks over the years. What is the true calculation for fish size to tank size. I have seen anywhere from full maturity of fish size to every 3 gal of water. But do the fish really get to full maturity size while in the aquarium?
I have seen clowns stay a couple inches smaller them what either live aquaria or other places say.
Yes always go for the largest as a calculated guess, but what is your go to for figuring it out?

 

[LiLinka]

It depends on what you’re getting. Obviously if you love tangs you can’t put 10 tangs in a 100 gallon tank. With that being said I like 1 per 10 gallons of water.

 

[Jekyl]

I go off of hiding / sleeping spaces. If each individual fish doesn't have its own safe zone then the tank is over stocked.

 

[LordofCinder]

I think of stocking in 3 ways; biological stocking, territorial stocking, and fish size stocking.

its not only fish size to consider. A damsel will claim a 20 gallon tank while a watchman goby will be happy under a single rock, while predator fish are messy and create a heavy bioload.

 

[KorD]

I already have a sailfin, no more tangs for me for a long time. This thing poops a lot
My stock list is clown, sailfin, 3 Chromis, spotted rabbit, and China wrasse. So far all are well behaved, have plenty of room to roam, hide, eat.
The tank is thriving and all levels have been great for years.. I just don’t want to be one of “them people” who way over stocked because fish look cool.