I am thinking abut getting a 45 gallon Octagon type tank in replacement of my 55 gallon tank to conserve some room when I move to Las Vegas. My girl friend and her daughter are moving in and I am in need of more space. I like these since they can go in a corner or along a wall. But first I would like to here from some folks who own or owned this type of tank or maybe a friend has one, and get there thoughts on them, good and bad. Thanks.
Octagon tanks
- Thread starter Britten
- Start date
tank
I don't have an octagon but I do have a new hexagon and have had one in the past. I'm going to assume you mean one of the tall, slender tanks (if it is one of those flat octagons let us know, but you mentioned it saves space so I figured it wasn't). They work fine but you need to remember that the surface area of the tank is reduced by these types of tanks. This means you can't stock it as heavily as you could a 45 gallon standard (and a long tank is even better for stocking levels due to the surface area exposed to air). Also, some fish (like Kuhli loaches) can be stressed if they have to travel a longer distance to get to the top for air, and these tanks are usually a bit too tall for them. They are great for long-bodied fish like angels, though. As long as you don't overstock or choose fish that like a lot of swimming room it should be fine.
I don't have an octagon but I do have a new hexagon and have had one in the past. I'm going to assume you mean one of the tall, slender tanks (if it is one of those flat octagons let us know, but you mentioned it saves space so I figured it wasn't). They work fine but you need to remember that the surface area of the tank is reduced by these types of tanks. This means you can't stock it as heavily as you could a 45 gallon standard (and a long tank is even better for stocking levels due to the surface area exposed to air). Also, some fish (like Kuhli loaches) can be stressed if they have to travel a longer distance to get to the top for air, and these tanks are usually a bit too tall for them. They are great for long-bodied fish like angels, though. As long as you don't overstock or choose fish that like a lot of swimming room it should be fine.
I have never owned one, but since they are taller, you wont be able to keep some fish and not as many as a long tank. It will be harder to clean, more corners and it is taller. Other then that, i think that it would like cool, since it would contrast from the normail rectangle or bow front tanks.
I dis like hexes for a few reasons the biggest HOB filter that fits is a emp 280 second if you buy oceanic it will leak! third lighting a hex is fun unless you want a metal halide light. Personaly I think anything less than a 60 hex looks goofy to tall and slender IMHO
BTW My opinon is the 60 allglass hex is the way to go solid frame instead of 6 glued on pieces-oceanic-
BTW My opinon is the 60 allglass hex is the way to go solid frame instead of 6 glued on pieces-oceanic-
Dahlia beat me to it, but that is a more detailed explanation of what i said. somefinnfishy made some good points too. Metal halide lighting is expensive, and produces a lot of heat. i never thought about the filter aspect of it too. There is less back space for HOB then normal tanks. You would have to use a cannister and they are more expensive if you want to go cheap. So this tank will also be more expensive then a rectangular tank. Antother cleaning disadvantage is that you will have to reach down a far ways down to vacuum the gravel.
I dislike the too because they have much less viewing space because of all the joints (even more so on the smaller ones... some only have 4" wide viewing areas) Also, the lighting and filtration is a problem like others noted. My favorite tanks are bow fronts (although I dont have one of my own).
Aaron
Aaron
If you wanted to do something really cool, make it a table centerpeice. Make it a glass table, and put the tank in hte middle, reinforcing the table where the tank is. Now that would be cool. Make it a mbuna tank with a rock tower in hte middle. NO lack of veiwing space there.
why dont you get a corner bowfront they come in a lot of sizes and they will hold more fish and look better i think. Plus they will fit even better than octagons into corners. -john
hex and octoganol tanks are long term death traps. too little water surface area for the fish. I like the corner tank idea much better. If you must go with a hex tank, understock and over filter it.
good luck
good luck
In fact the 36 corner bow might run less than the hex if you dont buy the stand with it.The 36 corner bow runs 139.99 with lights and lids and the stand 259.99 GRRRRRR.
I have a Idea for you.Get the 44 pentagon and buy two stands with it and set one upsidedown on top as a canopy to make a 7'6" corner unit
You could hang a cool light in there use the door for feeding and such.