A week ago, I threw away an 80 gal acrylic aquarium that I've had for twenty-seven years. I gave away all the fish in it to a good home (a guy with a 120 gal who specializes in loaches). I had a lot of harder to find loaches in there, including a school of ten year old B. sids. It was depressing, but it was best for the fish. The tank was damaged by rough handling during my last move. It started to slightly leak on a lower seam and I feared a blowout. I also have a 46 gal bowfront, but it is currently fully stocked. I couldn't just cram them in there.
I'm 52 now, and I used to keep Corys when I was much younger. They used to be my absolutely favorite fish, but I was frustrated in keeping them because their barbels kept wearing down. I had medium sized gravel and overcrowded them at the time. I stopped keeping them altogether and then shifted gears to (mostly) loaches. I want to keep Corys again and correct my mistakes.
I've always loved the look of a 20 long. I've also admired some custom built tanks that I've seen. There was one in particular that captured my interest. It was like they took eight 20 long aquariums and made a large square with them (I hope I've described this well enough for a proper visual). I just like the look of a shallow tank, and I like the option of fish being able to school without having to turn around for an extended period of time. You're right on about the disporportionate part, but I just like the look. I know for a fact that I'm a little off anyway.
I had the stand built extra high (45") so that I could sit down and look directly into the shallow tank. I shared the same concerns about needing to have the tank on the edges, but I also wanted it to be extra wide because I was afraid that it might tip over if I had it made 14" wide. As a result, the cabinet is constructed a bit differently. The top is very solid and heavy (and removable -- so you only have to move a ton twice instead of two tons once lol). There is also extra bracing underneath. I'm hopeful that this will be sufficient. We will see.
If I had three species to fill the tank it would be C. robinae, C. sterbai and some pandas (although some dwarf Corys would be nice as well).
BTW, the fellow who built the stand visited my office one day and saw my tanks. He mentioned that he used to build aquarium cabinet stands. I then said I had a dream of owning an 8' tank someday. He then looked at me and told me that he would build me a cabinet that long for FREE! My jaw dropped to the floor. He built the entire thing out of recycled wood pieces he had stored in a pile in his back yard. Most of the hardware he had in his shop in bags. I am very blessed.
