why is the 40b tank so popular, over 55g?

As stated, the 40Bs are more popular for a variety of reasons. They are GREAT for aquascaping (I had so much fun planting my tank), are shallower so you can get some more light in there and could easily be a high-light tank, it looks more proportional, it has more swim room IMO than other tanks, and it's more versatile. Although the 55 is bigger, the 40B is actually ~46 gallons, so it's not that big of a deal.

I was originally getting a 55 last year for a birthday gift to myself, but my mom stopped me and suggested a 40B, which looked a lot more smaller. I don't regret it at all. I've had such a fun experience with my 40B and wouldn't change it for the world! Also easy to do water changes and has more floor space for my cories.


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I have a 40 breeder and I love it. I hate tanks that are really tall and narrow front to back, I feel like they are really top heavy and going to fall over at any moment, plus trying to light them or get your hand to the bottom of the tank can be a challenge. I used to have a 45 tall and I HATED it.

My next tank will be a 33g long...48x12x12...going to make it a river tank with hillstream loaches, whiteclouds, and some cool gobies.
 
I have a 40B and since it is a "Breeder" that is exactly what I use it for. For fish that do not need swimming room, this is a fantastic alternative. The key thing is whether or not you have fish that need swimming room. For those that do, I use a 55 or 75 before going into larger (costlier) tanks. Just because the 40B is more aesthetic does not men a better choice. You need to consider the needs of the livestock before purchasing any tank.

I wouldn't put Discus, Angelfish or Silver Dollar type fish in a 40B, a 55 makes for a better choice. By the same token, I wouldn't put BN in a 55 and have wasted space, I would opt for the 40B
 
excuzzzeme, said it better than I did..some species will require a taller tank. while the 40b has 44.8 g my 55 measures out to just under 55(54.5) and it still stands a tank with more volume will tend to be more stable(we are talking about 20-25% more volume)
keep in mind breeder tanks are designed to be used with no substrate (bare bottom) and while they are good for planted tanks the added substrate will make it much too shallow for those species which are taller. the 55 was designed as a display tank and will offer more front viewing for it's size
 
Star_Rider said:
excuzzzeme, said it better than I did..some species will require a taller tank. while the 40b has 44.8 g my 55 measures out to just under 55(54.5) and it still stands a tank with more volume will tend to be more stable(we are talking about 20-25% more volume)
keep in mind breeder tanks are designed to be used with no substrate (bare bottom) and while they are good for planted tanks the added substrate will make it much too shallow for those species which are taller. the 55 was designed as a display tank and will offer more front viewing for it's size
Click to expand...

This is definitely something to consider. Angelfish in particular really appreciate a taller tank. That said, if you are only planning on keeping small fish in the tank like in an Amazonian biotope with tetras, corydoras, hatchetfish, and rams, it might not be that big of an issue.


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I read it has something to do with the footprint of the tank. Even though a 40b holds less volume the dimensions when measuring length and width offers a larger footprint which aids in oxygen exchange.

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