Minimum Tank Size..

[Twinklecaz]

I've come to the realisation that I cannot go through my whole life without having an Angelfish (LOl). I love them and they are half the reason I wanted fish in the first place. Sadly I quickly found out on here that my 60l was too small.

So I'll need a bigger tank at some point. What's the minimum it would need to be? I think I read 100L and at least 18 inches tall. Is that right?

I have to point out (if it makes a difference) that I would only have one (and then obv some smaller tank mates)as I can't be doing with the hassle of bullying/agression/breeding pairs.

At the moment this is hypothetical but I need to know the minimum size so I can begin trying to fight the "It will not crash through the ceiling" battle

 

[Curiosity101]

100l and 18" inches high sounds like the min I'd happily put an angel in. Or maybe 120... basically I'd be happy with it in a 30x12x18 LxWxH, but you're more likely to find a 30x15x18 as that is more 'normal'.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Fab, thanks. So it would only be like having 2 of what I have now.........lol can't see that argument working though!

 

[Curiosity101]

Tbh I could see a 24x15x18 working just as well if you had the room for something a bit more square. But I wouldn't go any smaller than 24x15x18 or 30x12x18 cause they are quite big fish and although no overly active they definitely should be given a decent amount of room.

I've got 90l sat next to me right now and I'm upstairs... What is putting you off about the weight?

 

[Twinklecaz]

My Dad! He's very overly paranoid about it. I got mutterings about the 60L.

Annoyingly I think my tank is like 24x15x16 lol!

 

[Curiosity101]

Yeah but it's probably only 16" if filled right to the very brim? lol.

Well I'd imagine a 100l tank with decor and stand and water would weight no more than 150kg. 150kg is the equvalent to 23stone (ish). So probably the same as two fully grown adults tbh. Not exactly heavy... not in terms of what the house is built to hold anyways!

 

[Twinklecaz]

Lol I know. This will be the basis for my battle

 

[KittyKat]

Having kept angels before, I would personally only keep them again in a tank which was 4×2×2ft and I would only keep them in a group of 6.

 

[the biffster]

when i was a young fish keeper
just starting out i asked a senior
fish keeper the same question the
answer was the biggest you can get

 

[Curiosity101]

when i was a young fish keeper
just starting out i asked a senior
fish keeper the same question the
answer was the biggest you can get

Sounds like the biggest the OP can get is the same thing the minimum required though. lol.

 

[Rynofasho]

If you are literally having someone worried that it is going to crash through the floor, tell them to stop. 120L of water should weigh about 250lbs, and add the weight of the tank and everything in there and you are probably looking at less than 300lbs.

While that is still a lot of weight, there's no way on Earth it is going through the floor.

 

[curlyriff]

While that is still a lot of weight, there's no way on Earth it is going through the floor.

Thats not completly true. There is allot of varibles but should you really be worried about it then most floors if you think about support a bath with allot more water in and has very small amount of distribution in weight once you take into account most baths are not solid bottoms. Plus a person or two in the bath (size/people depending) is always going to weigh more as is a bed or sofa should you ever be in a flat with two/three people sitting on it and no one bats an eye lid.

If your floor is timber (most likely if a house) then the best bet is to find out which way the timbers run. If you can sit the tank parallel to the timbers then they will support a greater weight than a single timber spaning the same direction as the tank.

Also with it being placed close to a wall (most likely) it will mean it has the greatest bearing capasity the floor can carry at the same time.

With all this in mind most people shouldn't worry about the weight of there tank being upstairs till they hit about the 250 ltr mark and then you may have to consult a qualified structural engineer or surveyour to let you know if your floor can stand the weight.

If you have precast beams or beam & block floor (normally flats) then you are much more likely to be able to take a tank weight of around 500 ltr without too much worry.

My TV unit weights nearly 500 lbs and my tank weights in around 800lbs and they are on a precast floor of a flat next to each other against a wall without any worries.

Hope that helps a little.

Kind Regards.

Adam

 

[Twinklecaz]

Hi, thanks everyone again.

Sounds silly but getting a qualified person to tell him may be the only way.

Still, it's only in the planning stages at the moment. I do love them though lol!

 

[curlyriff]

Hi, thanks everyone again.

Sounds silly but getting a qualified person to tell him may be the only way.

Still, it's only in the planning stages at the moment. I do love them though lol!

I don't know where you live but if you need someone to speak to your dad about it then let me know I can always call or get him to call me to discuss as I work as a Structural Engineer.

Hope it all works out and good luck.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[Twinklecaz]

HIya

East Sussex, you?