Biomass of Corals vs Fish?

[Johny123]

I am somewhat new to the hobby. When I was a kid, I had a lot of tanks but that was 20 years ago. Back then corals weren't as popular as they are today.

I have a 16 gallon bio cube, and I am stocking it with corals.

What I don't understand, is why am I only able to put a few small fish in there...but I can basically load the tank up with corals? Corals are animals, like fish...I would imagine that they excrete waste...is their biomass really that much less than fish?

Can someone explain this to me?

 

[Valentini89]

I am somewhat new to the hobby. When I was a kid, I had a lot of tanks but that was 20 years ago. Back then corals weren't as popular as they are today.

I have a 16 gallon bio cube, and I am stocking it with corals.

What I don't understand, is why am I only able to put a few small fish in there...but I can basically load the tank up with corals? Corals are animals, like fish...I would imagine that they excrete waste...is their biomass really that much less than fish?

Can someone explain this to me?

Fish are constantly eating and pooping. Sometimes my fish poop while they eat. Their bioload is more than coral. And.. you, excuse me, but only have 16 gallons to work with. That's a small space for all that waste to collect up.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

I am somewhat new to the hobby. When I was a kid, I had a lot of tanks but that was 20 years ago. Back then corals weren't as popular as they are today.

I have a 16 gallon bio cube, and I am stocking it with corals.

What I don't understand, is why am I only able to put a few small fish in there...but I can basically load the tank up with corals? Corals are animals, like fish...I would imagine that they excrete waste...is their biomass really that much less than fish?

Can someone explain this to me?

My non science answer best try- alot of the coral gain alot of it's energy from photosynthesis- through symbiotic relationship with zooxanthelle. I feed my lps, but they probably do fine without it.

Where as fish need to eat every few days so basically coral is alot less bio load

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