Could Someone Explain What A Breeder Tank Is?

[P&J]

I've seen "40 gallon breeder" tanks in the store. I gather these are for breeding, but what exactly is different about them? Would they not be suitable as a main tank? They seemed to be a bit shallow, which would mean more "floor space" for cories. Is there anything else about them that I'm missing? Thanks!

-P

 

[OldMan47]

What are called a breeder tank are tanks that are wider front to back than the average tank that is sold in the US. Most tanks sold in the US are designed to show off the fish and are tall and narrow from front to back. Most people like that look better than a squatty tank of the same volume. The breeder makes better use of the water volume than a typical show tank. I have a 40 breeder that is 3 feet long and quite deep from front to back. I also Have a 40 long that is 4 feet long but only 1 foot from front to back. The breeder is a much more versatile shape tank for a person keeping fish and will accommodate larger numbers of fish than the same water volume in a show tank. A breeder is not a typical choice for display in your living room but is a great shape for the person breeding fish out of the public eye.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi P&J

It's just a name for a standard size tank and it can be used for a regular aquarium. For example, a 40 gallon breeder is 36" 3⁄16 x 18¼" x 16 15⁄16" while a 40 gallon long is 48¼" x 12¾" x 16 7⁄8". There is a similar designation for 30 gallon tanks, but for some reason, 20 gallon tanks are called long and high.

If you are looking for a tank to fit on the bottom shelf of an aquarium stand, the lower one might fit while the higher one might not. I use 30 gallon breeders on the sheves under three of my 55 gallon tanks, for example.

 

[P&J]

Thanks! Sounds like it would be a good choice for cories, but you are right, they might be harder to see if they head to the back.

Edit: Thanks Inchworm! I didn't see your comment until after I responded! I suppose the very specific "breeder" name threw me, as opposed to the 20-gallon designations.

-P

 

[bitteraspects]

to put it simply, breeder = wide.
i personally have a few 40B's. its one of my favorite sized tanks. breeder or wide tanks are good for cichlids and other fish that require a larger footprint. i just prefer the look of a wide tank. give the fish the option to swim front to back as well as side to side. you can also have a centerpiece like driftwood or stacked rocks, and watch fish shoal around it in a circle. its pretty cool.

It's just a name for a standard size tank and it can be used for a regular aquarium. For example, a 40 gallon breeder is 36" 3⁄16 x 18¼" x 16 15⁄16" while a 40 gallon long is 48¼" x 12¾" x 16 7⁄8". There is a similar designation for 30 gallon tanks, but for some reason, 20 gallon tanks are called long and high.

beacuse there is no 20W or 55W for that matter. there are only a couple of "breeder" tanks out there, but once you start getting to the bigger sizes, they call them "wide" again. im not sure why that is. i guess they dont expect you to breed in a 120. lol

 

[Tolak]

The "breeder" designation is pretty much an Aqueon (used to be All-Glass) designation. http/www.aqueonproducts.com/products/sta...d-aquariums.htm

Tanks are usually considered breeder tanks when the dimension of the water depth is considerably less than either of the other two dimensions. It's a term commonly used among aquarists, but not by all tank manufacturers, as can be seen on Glasscage's site; http/www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2

Why the term "breeder"? These tanks have a large surface area to water volume ratio. Breeders tend to stock heavier, the larger surface area means more O2 transfer, thus the ability to stock heavily with less risk. As mentioned, for fish that like their space such as cichlids it provides the needed footprint.

The only reason I can figure for the larger tanks not being designated breeders is that once the larger tanks are set in position they are not an easy thing to move. Breeders often use racks instead of individual stands, and will often empty a tank, pull it off the rack & hose it out to clean it. A 40 breeder is about the largest size the average person can do this with on their own.

 

[P&J]

Thanks Tolak and Bitteraspects, very helpful info! I like that idea of a school around a centerpiece...

-P