Need Upgrades, Potential Tank Sizes

[Starfishpower]

without going into all the details of the situation i will put it simply. i have 2 cory cats and a banjo catfish in a 10 gallon that is in the process of being planted. i am now under the impression that they need a tank that is bigger than that. i am aware that i have "multi tank syndrome" and cant get enough aquariums but right now and for the next few years while im in college i think it will be really good for me if i keep not only the number of tanks i have to a minimum but also the size of those tanks. the issue being that i already have three ~5 gallon bettas tanks plus this 10 gallon and now im looking at having to get more because i evidently had mis planned what i was going to over the next few years when i started all this stuff. iv put some good money into that 10 gallon and id like to not have to tear it down and make most of that go to waste. so maybe yall can see an angle to this that i havent perceived yet. oh, and to put a spin on things, i have a baby senegal bichir in the 10 gallon as well. so.... what im looking at doing is upgrading the senny to something like a 30 or a 40 long and moving all my equipment for the ten gallon over to a 20 long, and hopefully that will be good enough for the banjo and the corys for the next 2ish years. my only problem with that is that my T8 bulb is 18" and it wolnt go the entire length of a 20G long. i could build a custom hood and install it in there anyway and just add another bulb or 2 behind it. my filter is rated for up to 20 gallons so thats good, and its a new one i just got, AquaClear 20. maybe i did go into a bit of detail there so what do yall think?

 

[Arfie]

my only problem with that is that my T8 bulb is 18" and it wolnt go the entire length of a 20G long. i could build a custom hood and install it in there anyway and just add another bulb or 2 behind it.

Unless you are trying to grow plants, the light will be fine, it's only really there for you to see the fish. The fish will not care if there is a light in there at all.

If you are custom building a hood, build one that can take normal household bulbs instead of rip off aquarium lighting, just make sure you protect the bulbs from getting wet.

Arfie

 

[Starfishpower]

i am trying to use it for plants. i spent a lot of money on that bulb for that very purpose because its one of the best. what about tank sizes though? thats my main concern. i want these upgrades to be the final upgrades for these fish so i dont have to buy new aquariums later.

 

[kribensis12]

Well, if you purchase a 20g flat hexagon tank, the lighting will fit. Mine is a 18 ' light bulb .

 

[Starfishpower]

thats a thought. i hadnt really consider tanks of other shapes. ill look into that but ireally did want to have a rectangular aquarium.