BEST TANK SIZES FOR FW FISH, USA Common Sizes |
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 Nov 20 2006, 07:08 PM
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#41
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Fish Crazy  Group: Members Posts: 145 Joined: 31-July 06 From: MA Member No.: 23372  |
I have heard a lot of people say things like, "Tall tanks are pointless, fish only swim side to side..." before in many different variations.
THIS IS NOT TRUE There is no good tank shape, and no bad tank shape. It all depends on where you are putting it, and what you put in it. For instance: For African Mbuna Cichlids: this IS pretty true, tank height isn't all that important to them, but having a big footprint is necessary, so they can each claim a territory. With these fish, you're better off with 4 ft long 55 gallon than you are with a 3 ft long 65 gallon; they NEED the floor space. BUT... If you have a nice community tank with fish that swim at all levels, than a tall tank is great. I have a tank with Zebra Danios and Long-Band Rasboras patrolling the top, Neon Rosy Barbs schooling in the middle of the tank, and a Spotted Rafael Catfish and Bristlenose Pleco that own the bottom of the tank. The Pleco goes all over up the glass, but he sleeps in a cave with the catfish and spends most of his time down there. Angelfish also like a tall tank (they are pretty tall themselves!) Now... I WILL agree that a 20 High tank with only some top swimmers in it will look funny, but proper stocking of all levels of a high tank can make for a VERY exciting setup! 
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Apr 9 2007, 09:18 PM
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#42
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 Fish Addict  Group: Members Posts: 635 Joined: 13-March 07 From: Tennessee Member No.: 30201 |
I personally preferr smaller tanks because I'm a cheap bastard but would love to have one of those 55 gal behemoths one day.Right now I got a 10 gal waiting for a betta.
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Jun 16 2007, 04:09 PM
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#43
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Newbie  Group: Member Posts: 4 Joined: 16-June 07 From: Los Angeles, california Member No.: 32989 |
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QUOTE(wishiwasafish @ Nov 20 2004, 01:32 AM) [snapback]549343[/snapback] sand bottem tanks are the way to go for looks cause it is ever canging the bottem never looks same twice (a week or so) but it kinda sucks for cleaning ( i'm always suckuing up sand .....) any opne with a sand bottem tank have a secret on how to save the sand but suck the poo? lol that sounds funnny I see this is a bit late to respond to but I have been using sand for a substrate for the last two years and I doubt that I will ever change. The look it gives my tank is beautiful. Needless to say I also found this a bit harder to vacuum. After quite a bit of trial and error I found a way of doing this without losing so much of my sand. Now, I dont know how this would have worked in the past on some of my smaller tanks, but at this point in my addiction I am maintaning a 300 gallon tank that occupies about a quarter of my bedroom. This in itself may have created a situation more closely resembling the upkeep your local fish store deals with on a regular basis so this might be out of the question for some people because of what it entails. My tank is fairly close to the window in my room so I run a 25 foot length of inch and a quarter smoothbore vacuum hose I picked up at a pool supply store where i worked at the time. I also picked up a plastic valve to make establishing the syphon much easier. i run the hose out into the yard and into a 7 or 8 gallon bucket and once I get the syphon going I vacuum from about an inch and a half off of the sand and pick up very little sand inspite of the amount of suction i get with this method. when I added polished stones for contrast I put a 6 inch wide household vacuum cleaner head on it with a little brush in it that prevents me from sucking up the stones. I lose about 30 to 40 gallons of water and about a pound of sand which stays at the bottom of my bucket and when I'm finished I just pour it back into the tank before I add my chemicals and refill . I know this must sound like a lot of work but all my sloshing around and water spillage is outside on the grass and it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to finish my upkeep this way. |
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Mar 30 2008, 08:41 PM
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#44
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 10 Joined: 9-March 08 Member No.: 40152 |
i have a tigon 190 liter tank,just worried how many fish to put into it,i have 2 platys,3 mollys,7 zebra danios,6 rummy nose tetre,1 common plec he is 3 inchs now,1 afican butterfly fish,2 sliver dollars,2 yoyo loches, i do 25%water changes every week cycle done,test every week all good, thinking of getting more fish can u give me advice please
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Mar 31 2008, 06:54 PM
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#45
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Fish Crazy Group: Members Posts: 100 Joined: 15-June 07 From: New Hampshire USA Member No.: 32983 |
QUOTE (Adrinal @ Mar 21 2004, 03:06 PM)  Best tank shapes common in the USA IMO: (IN order of best to worst... still all good). These have the best surface area in each class. Tanks are one of the cheepest parts of setting up a system. You will spend way more money on food, gravel, thermometers, pumps, digital camera, FISH, and other things. Get the right shape!!! and get the largest thing you can fit into the room (with respect of going over the 75g mark). The only tank you are really getting a deal on is the 10g for cost per gallon, so just get the largest tank you can
If you answer oo but that is too much. get a piggy bank. If you stock good levels of fish (2 per gallon) on the larger systems you can start off with pretty cheep filtration. WOIEJFLAFresh Water Best tanks 180 Gallon 72 1/2 x 24 1/2 x 25 5/8 100 Gallon 72 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 19 3/8 120 Gallon 48 1/2 x 24 1/4 x 25 1/2 75 Gallon 48 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 21 3/8 Smallest recomended 40 breeder though low in volume does have nice surface area. 40 Breeder36 3/16 x 18 1/4 x 16 15/16 30 breeder good too but less common I believe. 20 Long 30 1/4 x 12 1/2 x 12 Ύ I highly suggest getting 2 overflows in any new tank. Even if you are not doing salt water you can put pre-filter sponges in them for your cans or HOB inlets. And, they pull off surface scum. This cost may be more than its worth for many. . I don't suggest under a 20L for anyone new to the hobby 40 breeder or larger would be best (but not as cheep as the 20L  ).10g are inexpensive and great for sick tanks, but too small to be considered "easy" care. IF you HAVE to go smaller the 15g normal Long? is ok as well as the 10g, but the 20 High is a waste of space IMO. 55g are not bad tanks... but the price difference is worth having the 75 for surface area and aqua-scaping. If you are unsure of your floor's strength. stick with a 75 or less. (If your floor cant handle 1,000 lb spread over 4 feet YOU NEED TO CONDEM THE PREMISIS). PS Any one know how much pressure the ball of my fat 200 lb man foot puts on the floor boards when I jump up and down? Any other shapes are inferior  And a waist of foot print |
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