TankStocking

How many fish in a 29 gallon tank?

A 29-gallon (110 L) tank adds height and volume — fuller schools, a centrepiece fish, and a proper cory group.

The 29 (and similar 30-gallon) tanks give vertical room that taller fish like angelfish appreciate, and enough volume for a larger, more impressive school. Footprint still matters more than height for active swimmers.

Rule of thumb for a 29-gallon (110 L) tank: a full 10–12 fish school, a bottom group of 6–8, and one or two centrepiece fish — chosen so nothing can eat anything else. Use the planner below — it's pre-set to 29 gallons — to test your exact list against minimum-tank, schooling, temperature, aggression and bio-load checks.

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      Stocking ideas for a 29-gallon tank

      Each idea below is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.

      Planted community

      ✓ Good starter plan

      10× Cardinal Tetra, 8× Bronze Corydoras

      A bigger footprint lets you run a fuller school and a proper group of cories.

      Load this build in the planner ↑

      Why not angelfish + neons?

      ! Worth a closer look

      1× Freshwater Angelfish, 8× Neon Tetra

      A popular idea the tool flags: angelfish grow large enough to eat neon tetras. Pair angelfish with bigger, faster tankmates instead.

      Load this build in the planner ↑

      Good to know

      What is the maximum number of fish for a 29-gallon tank?

      There is no single number — it depends on the adult size, waste output, and social needs of the species. A handful of small nano fish can suit a tiny tank while a few large fish can overload a big one. The planner above estimates a stocking level for your exact list rather than guessing from gallons alone.

      Can I use the "one inch of fish per gallon" rule?

      It is a rough starting point at best and breaks down quickly: a 3-inch goldfish produces far more waste than three 1-inch tetras, and the rule ignores schooling needs, aggression, and adult size. TankStocking weights bio-load by body size and waste class and applies hard welfare checks instead.

      Should I add all the fish at once?

      No. Cycle the tank first, then add fish in small batches over several weeks so the biological filter can keep up. A fully-stocked plan is the destination, not the starting point.

      Stocking levels are planning estimates, not guarantees — individual fish, filtration, planting, and maintenance all matter. Cycle the tank before adding livestock and verify your own water. How TankStocking works →