20 long or tall?

[son2fu]

i want a 20 gallon but I can't figure which one to get
i think the long is a little too low and will limit decorations and gravel
but the tall seems short, and too high

plz respond with reasons why you would choose one or the other

 

[dorkfish]

The long is what's best for fish, because a) it provides the most water surface resulting in the most gas exchange and b) it gives the fish the most swimming room (fish mostly swim horizontally, and for the most part don't care that much about water depth).

 

[Ulan]

Both have advantages and disadvantages.

20H:

• stands are cheaper
• if you go planted, you get standard lights (24 inches)
• you have three distinct water layers (bottom, middle, top)
• your plants can grow higher and need less pruning
• you don't need as much deco and gravel
• you get cheap ready-to-use kits

20L:

• you have more ground area to play with and for bottom dwellers
• schooling fish can have longer "runs"
• aeration is better due to larger surface (may allow slightly higher stocking, if you keep up with water changes)
• easier maintenance, as you can reach everything easily

I went with the 20L, because those points I listed were more important to me. For you, this may look different . Hope this helps.

 

[echoofformless]

You will also find a 20l is easier to illuminate, as less distance from the lights equals the need for fewer watts.

 

[son2fu]

yea, i think i will get the long, i like the length

 

[Squawkbert]

I had a 20 show years ago - 30" long, 18" tall, only 10" deep (I think). I really liked that tank.

 

[Brian Anderson]

id go long.

 

[rosita]

I have a 5g hex (high) and a 44g tall--for the fish's sake, I'd go
long long long long long long long

When it comes to cleaning--well, I don't like to be armpit up to water---long long long lollollol :

 

[con-man-dan]

Unless you're buying tanks to keep a specific type of fish that do better in tall tanks (angels or discuss for example) ALWAYS go with longs! I even preffer 40 and 33 gallon tanks over 55's for the common 48x12" layouts. And if you decide one day you'd like to graduate to larger tanks, if you have the space besides long, I always suggest wide as well! I tend to not look at pure gallons, but foot prints. A 55 has 15 more gallons then my 30 breeders, but the 30 at 36x18" has a better foot print for territories.