Stupid Question:

[Ruskull]

Why are 40 gallon long tanks so hard to come by? Same footprint as a standard 55 gallon, but not as tall. This allows you to use any stand/furniture that's made for the 55 gallon.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Get one made, depending on your budget that is.

 

[Ruskull]

I thought about that route Steveo, but I figure it has to be available somewhere locally? That would more than likely make it less expensive, even if I had to have a local shop special order one.

 

[Cu455]

I am not sure if this is the reason why but the price difference won't be that much difference from a 40 gallon and 55 gallon of the same dimensions except height. If you have room for a 40 long you will have room for the 55, unless your ceiling is 4 feet high. If I had the option I will get the extra 15 gallons of water volume which will make the tank a little more stable.

 

[Ruskull]

Well bigger is always always better except:

The tank is for my 10 year old son & he's going to do all the routine water changes, pruning, etc. He has enough trouble getting to the bottom of the 20 high, which is the exact same height as the 40 long. Besides, his reasoning is that a 25% water change would only require two 5 gallon buckets. He doesn't want to go that big and he'd still have the same footprint and be able to choose from the many available stands for the 55 gallon.

Anyway, I called a couple of local fish only shops & one could order one for $150, which is ridiculous for just the tank. I called another & they can order it for $100. I'll talk to him tonight & see if he wants to go for it.

 

[CezzaXV]

With a 55 gallon tank, three five gallon buckets would be in excess of 25%, so it's not an awful lot of extra work.

I made my own almost automatic water changer. Take a look at the tutorial link in my signature.