I'd like to get some opinions on whether a 6ft or 8ft long tank would be best in this space if/when I upgrade.
The current tank is a 6ftx18" 125g. There's a foot on each side, so an 8ft tank should fully fill up the space between the kitchen counter on the left and the wall to the right. (Sidenote would that even fit or does a stand and 8ft tank need more than 8 total feet?)
Originally i thought something like a 96"x36"x24" 350g tank from fishtankdirect, for example would be ideal (I'm open to other manufacturers but this site has prices and measurements online and I'm in the early planning stages so don't want to bother calling around for prices until I'm ready to order).
Then I thought about how it would be very difficult to access the back area of the tank and the sides. I'm not sure if various tools would make this concern unfounded. Im not sure if you're supposed to leave access for the back and forth parts of the side?
The other option I was looking at was something like a 72"x36"x30" 300g also from that same site. If I went with something like that, would I be better off leaving a foot on each side and having it centered like the current 125g, or would it be better to put it against the back and right wall, leaving two feet on the left side?
I'd also look into customized sizes when I was ready to order. Like the above, I wouldnt mind just 24" tall as it would be easier to maintain and footprint is supposedly more important for clown loaches than height (and 24" is supposed to be tall enough). The way I understand, it though, an odd customized size would add a lot to price vs getting a standard sized tank.
Please your opinions on what you'd do with this space. Thanks.
Here's a pic of the currently messy area. I suppose the tank could also be on the ride side wall as that's 8ft long but having it against the back wall would allow me pull that table out into the living room. I never use it and would consider just getting a smaller table.

The current tank is a 6ftx18" 125g. There's a foot on each side, so an 8ft tank should fully fill up the space between the kitchen counter on the left and the wall to the right. (Sidenote would that even fit or does a stand and 8ft tank need more than 8 total feet?)
Originally i thought something like a 96"x36"x24" 350g tank from fishtankdirect, for example would be ideal (I'm open to other manufacturers but this site has prices and measurements online and I'm in the early planning stages so don't want to bother calling around for prices until I'm ready to order).
Then I thought about how it would be very difficult to access the back area of the tank and the sides. I'm not sure if various tools would make this concern unfounded. Im not sure if you're supposed to leave access for the back and forth parts of the side?
The other option I was looking at was something like a 72"x36"x30" 300g also from that same site. If I went with something like that, would I be better off leaving a foot on each side and having it centered like the current 125g, or would it be better to put it against the back and right wall, leaving two feet on the left side?
I'd also look into customized sizes when I was ready to order. Like the above, I wouldnt mind just 24" tall as it would be easier to maintain and footprint is supposedly more important for clown loaches than height (and 24" is supposed to be tall enough). The way I understand, it though, an odd customized size would add a lot to price vs getting a standard sized tank.
Please your opinions on what you'd do with this space. Thanks.
Here's a pic of the currently messy area. I suppose the tank could also be on the ride side wall as that's 8ft long but having it against the back wall would allow me pull that table out into the living room. I never use it and would consider just getting a smaller table.
