I've seen a variety of large aquariums and I was curious about the length vs number of gallons, does it matter ? There are some not so wide tanks that are still 300+ gallons and they have monster fish in them. Is it more about the gallons of water or the length that matters ? I was under the impression that you want length so the fish can have more swim area, is this not the case as long as they have over-all space to swim ? ie would a 4ft length 600 gallon tank make sense ? Is weight more of an issue with shorter lengths and higher heights vs longer lengths ?
Does Size Really Matter ? Length Vs Number Of Gallons
- Thread starter plecostic
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The surface area of a tank is very important. The larger the surface area the better. But when keeping large fish, the width of the tank is also important so that the fish has room to turn around. As far as weight is concerned, the longer the tank the more spread out the weight is. Short length tanks that are tall, concentrate all the weight on a small area of the floor.
I think the most important thing about the dimensions of a tank depend on what kind of fish you are going to keep in it. For a fish that gets 4' in length you would obviously want a tank that has enough length for them to swim, and enough width for them to turn around. The height of the tank matters but not as much as length and width in my opinion.
Its really a matter of stock. Aggressive fish need room to establish territories. Similar sized fish that are peaceful can be kept in a taller tank where the extra volume will keep water quality better with a heavier stock.
I agree, it all depends on what you are keeping in there. you wouldn't have much luck keeping Rays in a 12" wide tank no matter how long it was but some fish would be fine with it.
I prefer tank width over height. 18" deep tanks are generally longer and great for smaller fish, while 24" deep (or preferably deeper!) tanks are better for longer fish. Tank height can sometimes limit access to the bottom of the tank as well. Of course this is my opinion and each person has their own preference. Just make sure the fish can comfortably turn around in the aquarium.