Quick answer
How many neon tetras in a 30 gallon tank?
A standard 30-gallon tank (36 × 12 × 16 in, about 114 liters) holds about 12–18 neon tetras as the only fish, based on the bioload model behind our stocking calculator. If you add tankmates, keep the school toward the lower number.
Once you allow for a 5 cm substrate bed and some décor, a 30-gallon tank holds roughly 89 liters of water. Neon tetras are small, light-bodied fish with a low bioload, and they need to be kept in a group of at least 6. Our stocking model measures the combined waste of the school against the tank's water volume and footprint, and the 12–18 range keeps it at a comfortable 55–80% of capacity, which leaves room for a few snails or shrimp.
A 30-gallon tank has room for a small community. A school of neons pairs well with a group of six corydoras on the bottom, a pair of honey gouramis, a few otocinclus, or even a single betta. When you add tankmates, keep the neons toward 12 and check the full plan in the stocking calculator.
Equipment for this tank: a filter delivering about 540 liters per hour of real flow (six turnovers an hour) and a 75 W heater to hold 24 °C in a typical heated room. Neon tetras do best at 20–26 °C in soft to medium water with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
Check it against your tank
Every tank is different. Enter your real dimensions and stock list to get a bioload-based stocking level, a filtration check and compatibility warnings for your exact setup.
Open the Stocking CalculatorFrequently asked questions
- How many neon tetras should be kept together?
- At least 6, and ideally 10 or more. Neon tetras are schooling fish: in small groups they become stressed, pale and more prone to disease, while a larger school is calmer and more colorful.
- Can I keep other fish with neon tetras in a 30 gallon tank?
- Yes, as long as the tankmates are small and peaceful. Avoid fish large enough to eat a neon, such as angelfish and most cichlids, and fin-nippers such as tiger barbs. Reduce the neon school a little for each tankmate you add.
- How many liters is a 30 gallon tank?
- A 30 US gallon tank is about 114 liters (30 × 3.785). A standard 36 × 12 × 16 inch tank measures about 113 liters from its outside dimensions and holds about 89 liters of water once substrate and décor are in.