4Ft Vs 6Ft 90+Gallon Tanks

[Canadian Fish]

I would like to put a large tank in my basement, where I have lots of room and a concrete floor.

I currently have a couple of 55 gallon tanks, so what I'm looking to do is get a tank that will allow me to keep larger fish than is possible in a 55 gallon. (As opposed to a larger quantity of the same fish). I want larger and different fish (right now my largest fish are Rainbows)

I see most 90 gallons are still only 4 feet in length, but wider and higher than the 55 gallon tanks. Does this allow for larger fish, for example, some of the fish that reach up to 12" in length? Or is a 6 foot tank required for most of these fish?

Locally there seems to be a huge jump in price between the 90 4ft tanks and the 100+ Gallon 6ft tanks.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Wills]

If you like big fish get a big tank as there will always be fish bigger than the 4 foot tank can handle. For foot long fish ideally you want 2 foot front to back and 6 foot long (or more if it will fit)

Have a look at second hand tanks - are you in the US or the UK? If your in the UK there are some great custom tank builders around I can recommend ND aquatics and they do various tanks for not bad money. You just need to add on filtration and heaters etc. They do a budget range which comes with a cabinet with no doors or trim around the polystyrene base but if you dont mind that they come in close to £400 I think. Their delivery service is pretty good and when you get a tank and stand its free!!

Wills

 

[OldMan47]

I would lean toward that 6 foot tank for larger fish like oscars. Volume is not really the issue with a big fish, it needs room to swim. On a strictly volume basis, you can adjust how many you keep but each of them will want room to swim in and to turn around. A few years back the 180 gallon 6 foot long tank was a popular size around where I live for large fish.