Tall Tanks

[champ&sweetpea]

Just wondering what your thoughts are on those tall hexegon shaped tanks. They are new to me, but seem like most fish would just stay at one level and not enjoy the cubic freedom as compared to a more horizontal tank. They are tempting in that they would fit in a normal home, but is it good for the fish? Any thoughts either way? Does anyone have one and enjoy it? I am interested but not well versed on tank design.

 

[erk628]

Just wondering what your thoughts are on those tall hexegon shaped tanks. They are new to me, but seem like most fish would just stay at one level and not enjoy the cubic freedom as compared to a more horizontal tank. They are tempting in that they would fit in a normal home, but is it good for the fish? Any thoughts either way? Does anyone have one and enjoy it? I am interested but not well versed on tank design.

It really depends on the types of fish that will be inhabiting it. Different fish like to spend most of there time in different parts of the water like bottom, middle, top. If you had fish for example like angles then I think they would like that kind of tank.

 

[champ&sweetpea]

Thanks for responding. This is my first time in a forum like this. I have Oscars now, but I was thinking of getting another tank. I just love having the fish around...the more the better. My bigest concern now is space. Do you have one of those tanks? If so, what do you have in there?

 

[erk628]

Thanks for responding. This is my first time in a forum like this. I have Oscars now, but I was thinking of getting another tank. I just love having the fish around...the more the better. My bigest concern now is space. Do you have one of those tanks? If so, what do you have in there?

Welcome to the forum!! I personally don't have a tank like that all mine are just the normal ones you see. I have looked at them and if I did get on I would probally make it a community tank with smaller fish. If you did get a tank like that the first think you would want to consider is the size, then you would be able to better figure out what you could stock it with. I have been think of getting a Betta and have been looking at these tanks at walmart that come with everything. There only five gallons. Thats another example of a fish that would like this sort of tank would be a Betta.

 

[rabbut]

I hope you are looking at a good sized hezagon if it is for an Oscar. Oscars need 55g as a minimum, though 75g would be better Big, messy fish require large and overfiltered tanks as adults. I'm shure you knew that already though...

to TFF
Rabbut

 

[erk628]

I hope you are looking at a good sized hezagon if it is for an Oscar. Oscars need 55g as a minimum, though 75g would be better Big, messy fish require large and overfiltered tanks as adults. I'm shure you knew that already though...

to TFF
Rabbut

The way I took it is the ocars are in another tank seeing how he already has them. I think he is looking for a second tank and was looking at the hexagons because they take up less room.

 

[Cdarmychi]

I have one of those tall hex tanks....I have a group of FEMALE bettas in them (never put males in with other bettas), along with a couple of corys. The bettas and corys both use all levels of the tank.

 

[LauraFrog]

If the tank is sufficiently wide (enough of a diameter) to provide small fish with enough swimming space, a tank like that is ideal for stocking with fish like tetras, rasboras, danios and other small generic fish. It's also good for livebearers, bettas or gouramis. It is NOT suitable for fish that need horizontal space - my pet picky there is rainbows, which are miserable if they can't stretch out and dart along the length of a tank. I've seen them in the wild and that probably makes it worse for me... lol I think danios would also prefer a long tank to a hex, but they seem to cope okay and because they're so small, you don't need a really big, whopping great hex to give them sufficient space. Livebearers like tall tanks, the shape doesn't seem to bother them.

When you do have a tall tank you need to consider that you have less bottom area and less surface area... if you're going to have bottom feeders stick to corys or very small plecs and keep the numbers low. Large plecs NEED lots of space and vertical space is no use to them. Also, less surface area means less oxygen diffusion, so keep on the safe side and don't overstock it at all. Stick to 1 inch/gal if stocking a tall... usually you can stretch this limit if stocking a long.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, your own feeling of caution that tank shape makes a difference is entirely correct. Laura has hit the most important thing to understand, that extra volume via height does not actually buy you more stocking capacity, since you haven't gained more surface area and surface area determines oxygenation limits. It also doesn't gain you more substrate area which can have a bearing on maximum planted capacity.

Tall tanks also bring with them various physical issues. Besides the horizontal swimming room issues, which Laura has covered, and which are among the most important, there is also the problem that taller plants may be needed to create a pleasing aquascape. Also, as the tank gets taller, it can be more and more difficult to perform various maintenance activities with your forearm, an issue that doesn't sound like much but can bring much grief over time.

As a minor issue, hex and bowfront tanks also have the added thing of needing non-standard fittings for various covers and other equipment associated with the top of the tank. Usually that's not a problem but its something to just be aware of. Bowfronts also have issues with lensing effects, changing your perception of the depth of your display. Plain old rectangular tanks of reasonable height have retained their popularity over the decades for good reasons.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[OldMan47]

A factor that I have not seen mentioned yet is the difficulty that a tall tank can cause when you do tank maintenance. In general, I would not recommend a tank where you can't easily reach the substrate with your bare hand when it is full of water.

 

[Schmill]

Just a quick note to add is the weight of the tank.
A 300 L tank will contain 300 kg of water (+ substrate + ornaments + tank weight). If that is spread over a 4ft long, 2 ft wide tank, it is obviously spreading the weight out a lot more over the floor than a hexagonal tank that might only be 2ft diameter.
Figures are kinda plucked from the air there, but hopefully you see my point about spreading the loading on the floor. Perhaps not such an issue with a solid floor, but certainly a concern on any sort of suspended flooring, (and yes, that includes laminate wood flooring with foam underlay!)

 

[loubega]

hi and welcome,

i have a 70l hexagonal tank that i aquired from a friend, and yes they can be pratical as they are smaller and can fit nicely into a corner but i much prefer my rectangular tank, maitnance is so much harder in the hex tank as it is deeper and you cant shift the plants/slate/bogwood as easily....also found it more difficult to find a hood for it when mine broke...

however saying that it does look very effective if you plant the back of the tank, ie: the three back walls and leave the front section open...with say a bit of wood or slate...i have done this with a community tank with neons,black neons and a dwarf gourami. Just be careful when you stock it to remember that althought the literage may be the same as a rectangular tank the shape will restrict the movement of fish that like to dart around and shoal at the top of the tank, like zebra danios etc....