New Tank Selection

[JTF]

I am planning to buy my first freshwater aquarium and due to location restrictions the largest size I can get is 33 inches long (approx 29 gallon). Is there any real difference in the amount of fish I can keep if I get a standard height or a tall, IE: 12 inches verus 18 inches. What species are the least prone to disease. My location is in an area where it does not get any direct light, difussed only. About 10 feet from  a utility sink; wall outlet and not heaters or vents nearby. Any very important on a level location.

[dpatte]

Unless you buy custom built tanks, most tanks over 10 gallons come in standard sizes which are multiples of 6 inches.  Terefore the longest standard tank your likely to find for your location is a 30" tank.

The best way to add attractiveness and volume is actually to get a thicker tank (18 inches depth from the wall) where possible.

Personally, tanks that are taller than they are deep' never look right to me when filled with water. (Water makes tanks look 'thinner')

a 30 x 18 x 18, if they make it would be 42 US gallons - a great size for a tank, whereas 30x12x12 is only  18 gallons

[vpilieci]

Taller = less surface space. Which means less oxygen exchange and thus, you cannot keep as many fish as you could in a longer tank with a larger surface area.

VP

[JTF]

Thanks for the post backs & help.

[artw]

well there are work arounds for the surface area problem... which really isn't a problem if you ask me
a 65 gallon tall can hold the same amount of fish as a 65 long
but longer tanks vs. taller tanks have their advantages (tall tanks for discus , angelfish,  long tanks for african cichlids)

I would think that the floor area with regards to territories is a more logical debate vs. surface area of the water.

[lcoates]

Thank goddness, I just set up a 65g that is tall, it's great for me it lets my plants grow higher, and the angels love it. It does look balanced for me, as I do have alot of tall plants growing in the background.
When I bought the tank I asked that same question at the store,whether it made a differenceif the tank was quiet tall, they looked at me like I was on another planet, I'm glad someone started a thread on it, it does make a difference.

[ambushman2j]

I would think a taller tank would be harder to have a good plant tank since the further the distance from light to gravel the more and more the lights degrated

[artw]

this is true, and they are also harder to clean. I didnt like my 77

[ambushman2j]

I like my 77..it's just I wouldn't ever make it a plant tank..speaking of cleaning it, I have been putting that off for probly a week now lol