Hi To Everyone

[ianb1547]

As well as saying 'hi' I want to also say what a great forum

 
I've been 'lurking' as a guest for a little while and have been enjoying reading all of the advice you guys give out.
 
Me? I've kept fish in the past (or should I say, I've kept water for fish to live in??) and now that I have more time to enjoy the hobby I am looking to restart from new. I always kept community tanks of passive fish in tanks ranging 45-55 imp gallons.
 
Due to available space I am seriously considering a column tank (which I hope to be able to put a picture of in this post). The dimensions are 600mm (1'11") diameter, Height 1480mm (4'10")...although viewing/tank height is 980mm (3'2") and it holds 268 litres (59 imp gallons).
 
I appreciate the footprint is less than a normal rectangular tank but I would welcome any comments from you guys regarding these types of tanks (I've never had column before) and suggested fish to populate. Given the height of the tank I'm assuming the bottom, mid and top feeders will be ever more pronounced than a rectangular tank.
 
Look forward to getting to know you all and reading your comments.
 
 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Welcome to the forum!    Great to have to join us out of the shadows!
 
 
That is a very challenging type of tank.  The one you included in your post is quite interesting looking, but a headache, for a variety of reasons.
 
 
 
Personally, I don't like it the round shape (but I think that you are limited to round tanks at this type of height, given the water pressure involved) because round tanks produce distorted views.
 
Secondly, I have a serious doubt that this tank has been running like this for any length of time.  Plants (if real) in a tank like this are going to be a ridiculous challenge, because the light intensity by the time you reach the bottom of the tank will be dramatically smaller than the top.  
 
Third, because of limited swimming space, you would be limited to very small species, honestly, and that size tank will essentially dwarf them.  
 
Fourth, the pressure at the bottom of the tank would be considerably higher than many 'bottom dwelling' fish would prefer.  A lot of them come from shallow rivers by comparison to the height of that tank, and need access to the surface (such as corydoras, for example).  That would be a long way up for a cory to go from the bottom to the top for a quick gulp of air.
 
Finally, Oxygen may be an issue at the bottom of the tank.  Depending on how your filtration system is worked out, you may have problems with circulating the water and causing pockets of algae to grow... and maintenance seems like it is completely out of the question.   How would you vacuum the substrate to remove fish waste?   
 
 
 
 
Sorry... this is an oddity in the hobby and the problems that will accompany this tank will drive you nuts.  If your space is limited, then you need to find a way to work within that parameter with a more standard tank.    A 'large' nano tank could be an amazing display tank.   This could be accomplished in a 37 gallon tank (roughly 2.5 feet long) using small species of fish, small leaved plants... and some imagination.
 
 
This would be far easier for you to work out, maintain proper conditions, give the fish the parameters they need, etc.  

 

[LyraGuppi]

Hi! Welcome to the forum

 

[Akasha72]

Hi and 

 

[RRaquariums]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Ch4rlie]

Welcome aboard

 
have to say, everything Eaglesaquarium has said about that type of tank I have to concur with.
 
Lovely looking tank for sure but does comes with its own set of problems already mentioned by Eaglesaquarium.

 

[ianb1547]

I really appreciate the comments guys.......and already, im looking at alternatives.
 
For me, the important things are the fish....not what I want to display..............still welcome comments...good and bad
 
 
 
 
ps...................... and thanks for the 'welcomes' guys......very much appreciated

 

[Vethian]