Methodology

What AquaScience does not do

AquaScience does not use one universal fish-per-litre formula. It does not use “1 inch per gallon”, “1 cm per litre”, minimum tank size as total capacity, minimum social group as a maximum, or one capacity multiplier for every species.

What the model considers

Depending on available verified evidence, the stocking engine can consider:

• Tank volume
• Optional tank dimensions later, for spatial notes only
• Adult size
• Species-specific tank and social requirements
• Minimum and preferred groups
• Activity and swimming zone
• Territoriality
• Water and behavior compatibility
• Mixed-species stocking load
• A beginner safety buffer in the optimizer

Capacity method

Every fish uses part of one shared tank budget. AquaScience converts tank volume into internal planning units and gives each species a per-fish load from adult size, body shape, activity, and a modest livebearer waste class. Those units are not a biological measurement. A territorial fish such as a male betta is still limited to one fish. Honey gouramis keep a sourced occupancy cap for pairs and small groups.

Mixed species share that one budget. Species A being acceptable alone does not give every species a full single-species budget at once. AquaScience does not require a sourced mixed stocking table for every combination.

Above 120 L, extra litres count at 70% so counts do not grow in a straight line forever. Load labels such as Comfortable, Almost full, and Too full are beginner planning bands, not scientific precision.

Social groups versus capacity

Social requirements and stocking capacity are separate. Meeting a minimum group never means the selected quantity fits. Preferred group size is not a maximum. AquaScience will not tell you to add fish into an overloaded aquarium.

Safety buffer

Optimize My Tank and Fix My Plan target about 75% of the conservative planning budget so beginners keep reserve. If verified social minima need more than 75%, the optimizer may rise toward 85% to keep a proper group. It will not recommend zero members of a selected schooling species unless that plan explicitly removes the species.

Limitations

Real aquarium capacity also depends on filtration, biological maturity, oxygenation, maintenance, feeding, planting, waste, aquarium dimensions, and individual behavior. Missing verified data fails closed: AquaScience shows insufficient data instead of guessing.

Technical quantity limits in the form are software protection only. They are not biological maxima.

Affiliate independence

Product suggestions, if shown, start from aquarium requirements. Affiliate links cannot change stocking, compatibility, care, or required/optional classification. See the Affiliate Disclosure.