15 Gal, Long Vs 20 Gal Tall

CKutz

Fishaholic
Joined
Feb 10, 2009
Messages
534
Reaction score
0
Location
Chester/Lebanon, PA
I'm thinking about replacing my ten gallon tank because i'd like to give my fish a little more space and have the ability increase stocking without worrying too much
I am living at college though, so getting something much bigger than the 10 is kinda iffy, i'll have to take it back and forth about 4 times a year, i will be living in a a more apartment style dorm next semester so i'll have a bit more space (living room and bedroom) but my room mates already think i'm weird for keeping fish haha.

I'm on a strict budget so i found two tanks on craigslist. it might just come down to which is available once i am home again to get them. they are:

15 gal L, 30" long x 10" wide x 12" tall - this one doesn't come with many accessories, possibly a working filter, and stones
20 gal T (i think), 24" x 12" x 17" - costs a little more but has heater filter and some accessories.

I think people say the longer one is better because of the surface area of the water. but when i calculated it, and divided by 12, the difference between the two tanks is 1" of stocking. so doesn't seem like much of a difference.

Which tank would be better? i'm a little skeptical of the 30" long one cause that's pretty long for our small quarters, i think the 20 might not shock my room mates as much. but if it is significantly better stocking wise, i'll try and get it.

i'd like to stock,
rasbora, apple snail, goby (peacock or bbg), few cherry barbs, dwarf gourami, maybe pygmy cories.
 
I'd go with the 20 high, just because it has a little smaller foot print, allowing you with more space, and the tank taking up less space.

They do make a 20 gallon long as well, I was going to get that, but I got my 29 instead.

What about the 55 if you get it? :lol:

-FHM
 
I think... If you forget the Barbs for now, you could have either tank. Barbs really need some swimming space. so even the 15g long would not really be ideal (they also like to be in shoals, bigger the better).

Apart from that, I think the stocking sounds fine. :)
 
they are cherry barbs, if that makes a difference..i keep getting conflicting responses about them being ok in my tank, i have 1 right now..got 2 others but they died the next day. so i want to add 1 or 2. i can't really see them needing more swimming space than 30" 15x their size.
 
they are cherry barbs, if that makes a difference..i keep getting conflicting responses about them being ok in my tank, i have 1 right now..got 2 others but they died the next day. so i want to add 1 or 2. i can't really see them needing more swimming space than 30" 15x their size.

I guess if you just have the 3. They do better in larger shoals, ie. 6 plus which is why I suggested a bit more space. I can see why you may have got conflicting advice though, depending on where you look the minimum tank size suggested is anything from 5g (definitely too small) to 70L.
 
One advantage of the 20 tall is that you could perhaps get away with having an angel later (people will kill me for saying this for anything less than a 30) but also I seem to recall the cherry barbs being not as bad as other barbs with slightly smaller confines...

~~waterdrop~~
 
i would realllyyy like an angel (they will be happy enough on their own?) but i was kinda thinking the tank would be too small for it..it's only 4" wider than my 10 gal..so that makes me so skeptical of getting it. I also thought that since this take is kinda pushing it for an angel, maybe i would try the...leopoldi? or something like that...the one that doesn't get as "tall". my lfs has them but they are $25..but i guess it would be a possibility anyways.

the 15 L is sold now. so provided the 20 is still around next week, i will probably get it.
 
Oh, I'd never thought of the Leopoldi as not being as tall, I'd always thought they were just as big. They are definately more rare! Its really pretty true that 29 gallon talls are pretty much the bottom end for angels, I should probably never have mentioned it for a 20g. There are so many great fish out there, there should be other possibilities for you during the college years...

~~waterdrop~~
 
oh really? i thought they weren't supposed to get as big or something? people recommend them for tanks on the smaller side i've noticed.
what's the difference in them then?

Thanks for the replies guys!
 

Most reactions

Back
Top