Tank Shape

[Philbe]

After a few months with my nice 29 I am ready to move up. I am looking at a tank thats 48 long but the depth and height don't really matter to me. I would be putting it in a finished basement so weight is not a concern. What I am wondering is it better to have a deeper tank or a taller one. What do you think.

[Dangerdoll]

I would think it depends on what type of fish and/or plants you're looking to keep in there.

[Philbe]

I am very torn on that subject. I really like the idea of a wack of cichlids in a really rocky looking tank and yet I like the look of a heavily planted tank with angels,my 2 growing balas (from the 29) and rainbows.

[Captain Hook]

I prefer it to be deep rather than tall, I think you have more options that way. Tall tanks need more light to reach the bottom. A deeper tank will give you more room for aquascaping or rocks and things like that.

[NickH]

A wider (or larger footprint) tank is almost always better to have than a taller tank. Better oxygen exchange (increased surface area), larger fish capacity, ease of maintenance, and more useable space for territory/cover are just a few reasons why.

[JSchmidt]

Two popular tanks are the 55 and the 75; both are four feet long. I strongly prefer the 75. It is the same height and length as a 55, but it's deeper (front to back) and is more pleasing to look at, I think, due to it's proportions.

75 = 48"(L) x 18" (H) x 18" (D)
55 = 48"(L) x 18" (H) x 12" (D)

If you're keeping cichlids, the larger footprint of the 75 is nice, too.

Jim

[Philbe]

Thanks as usual everyone. The larger footprint bit makes sense. I am not going with 55 for sure. For the extra few inches of viewing and decorating area the price differance for the larger 75 or 90 is not an issue . For filtration I am thinking of the xp300 (I think its called) cannister and one of the larger penguins or emperor HOB's for extra bio filtration. Its the price of the friggin' stands I am having a problem with. The build up continues.

[tricksterpup]

Ok Here are the all-glass dimensions for their 75, 90 and 120.
75 48x18x20
90 48x18x24
120 48x24x24

I really like the 120, i find it an amazing tank. If I could afford one, would love to turn it into a reef tank. :)

Jim

[chefkeith]

You could easily build your own stand out of cinder blocks and 2x4's. That would only cost you about $20. If you type cinder block in the search engine here you'll find some info on how to do it.

[RTR]

IMHO, both the 75 and the 120 are as close to perfectly proportioned tanks as you can get in standard production. The depth and height being close matches to each other works for me as easy to aquascape and very showy. Both have excellent apparent depth, which the popular 55 sorely lacks.

The choice between the two is in part cost, but also the space in which it will be used. The 120 always looks big, and might be too dominant in a smaller space. For me the larger tank needs to be in an area with large scale furniture, or it seems oversized.

[tricksterpup]

RTR,
I totally agree with the 120's they are very nice tanks and almost have this neat look to them in height and depth. The 55 gallon is lacking depth, I own 2 of them, for the longest time one was a reef tank, I sure wish I had the depth for this tank. When I was younger, I always wanted a 55 because it was a big tank.. In all reality its not. :( I actually like the depth of a 40 breeder much better. I can do more pleasing landscaping in this tank. As they say deeper is always better, when it comes to landscaping tanks. :)

jim

[125gJoe]

Front to Back size is important.
This promotes a healthier water column by having better circulation. A narrow front to back tank can have much less water flow...

For maintenance of a 'live' planted tank, keep the height to about 22 inches. Also consider the aquarium stand. If the stand is too high you will need to get a ladder in order to get down to the bottom of the tank for re-planting, triming, etc..

I once had an article "bookmarked" that mentioned the Standard sized 55 gallon aquarium does not promote a healthy water column due to it's lenght from side to side. This can be remedied with the correct placement of a couple powerheads! :)

[Philbe]

Talking about the 120, I think I would have it as a hot tub. It is for sure a room dominator. 48*18 * something is the size for me. What do you guys think about the filter ideas for this size cichlid tank. Would be africans.

[JSchmidt]

That would depend a lot on how heavily you stock the tank. On a 75 with africans, I'd have the following:

1 canister filter (an Eheim of course, probably a 2215 or 2217, prefiltered with a sponge and packed only with bioballs or ceramic noodles, a la RTR's bio-only canister technique;

2 hefty mechanical filters; my faves for a cichlid tank would be 2 HOT Magnums, prefiltered with sponges and packed with floss.

For a 120, I'd go up to an Eheim 2217 for canister, or an Eheim 2229 wet/dry, and I'd consider adding another mech filter.

HTH,
Jim

[viboy]

I would go with the taller tank. I mean when you have a tank that is 48 feet long a couple of inches in height won't be noticed.:D That must be one huge basement

[Philbe]

jim,you say eheim of course. Are they that much better than Filstar or fluval . I see a HUGH price differance but they all do the same job do they not.

Viboy, you a funny man:;)

[RTR]

Yes, they all are supposed to do the same job, but Eheims do it extremely well, and keep doing it, and keep doing it, and keep doing it, all in total silence.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by RTR
Yes, they all are supposed to do the same job, but Eheims do it extremely well, and keep doing it, and keep doing it, and keep doing it, all in total silence. Aaaah yes, but so have both my Fluval 404 and Filstar xP-3..... In silence also... The Filstar did a little better on filtration - that I have proved (to me, if no one else..).

:)

[NJ Devils Fan]

Yea, I'm not saying eheims aren't good, but if thats all you have, you can't say it's the best if you don't have any other canister filters.

[Philbe]

So the idea is to let the canister do the bio filtering and the HOB's do the mechanical work. If I would have a lot of stock then hang another Penguin out the back. When the tank comes closer to being put together I'll be sure to take lots of pics. Attached is my 29 decorated with hewlp from the kids.:)