8x4 or 10x3 tank, which is better for silver arowana?

[Dylfin]

Hey everyone,

I am still in school and haven’t bought a home yet, so this a still just a dream for me, but I am wondering what tank dimensions are better for a silver arowana.

I frequently see 8x3 as the consensus minimum size, but also see people advocating the minimum depth should be 4 feet or that minimum length should be 10 feet. If you could only have one of those dimensions, which one would be better for a silver arowana? Would an 8x4 be better with its larger depth, or a 10x3 with its longer length?

Please let me know what you think and why. I often think a silver arowana is too big for a tank, but at the same time I am captivated whenever I see one and know that I will eventually have to get one so I want to provide it the best tank possible.

 

[tlindsey]

Hey everyone,

I am still in school and haven’t bought a home yet, so this a still just a dream for me, but I am wondering what tank dimensions are better for a silver arowana.

I frequently see 8x3 as the consensus minimum size, but also see people advocating the minimum depth should be 4 feet or that minimum length should be 10 feet. If you could only have one of those dimensions, which one would be better for a silver arowana? Would an 8x4 be better with its larger depth, or a 10x3 with its longer length?

Please let me know what you think and why. I often think a silver arowana is too big for a tank, but at the same time I am captivated whenever I see one and know that I will eventually have to get one so I want to provide it the best tank possible.

I personally like the extra length so 10×3 gets my vote.

 

[wednesday13]

Ive kept them in both a 10’x3’ and 9’x4’ footprint… there less jumpy in the 4’ width. Not all that much of a difference tho honestly. Id go with which ever tank/size u find more appealing to look at. Its for ur viewing pleasure after all

 

[Fishman Dave]

Between 10x3 and 8x4 I would go the 8x4 route simply because of the slightly extra volume as agree with others that between these two tanks for a silver it is fairly moot point. Ie. 10x6 pond would be better still. Etc.etc.
Not sure if others found the same in tanks, they soon get to a point where they follow a particular route round the tank and decor.

 

[danotaylor]

I would go 4’ wide so you can get rays as well

 

[yellowfinfmb]

I have a 10x4 tank with the return boxes on the outside I had 3 arowans in it until they each tried to jump out of the tank

 

[Backfromthedead]

For me, it would depend on the room or space the tank would occupy...but if the space is not an issue than i would go with the 8x4 just cause i like the width. I recently had the option of ordering an 8x3 or 6x4 and went with 6x4.

Consider that an 8x4 is actually nearly 9' corner to corner, while a 10x3 is less than 10.5', so really only a loss of 1.5' length for 1 more foot of width.

 

[Peckoltia]

I currently have 4x Arowana (including 3x Albino Silvers) in a 12'x40"x2.5' (700gal). While it is a 'big tank' I still feel it is too small in the long run (others will disagree) and I am already planning a larger tank for them. It has been a while since I have kept silvers, and forgot just how quickly this species grows. Mine have gone from little 3" fingerlings to 24-28" in the space of 12 months.

In terms of 10x3 or 8x4 - there isn't much in it. Whatever is more visually appealing to your eye and the area its going in would be my choice.