In your opinion what makes a tank a "Show Tank"?

[Dan F]

A tank that is meant to look good, however you do it.

For me, a show tank needs the following.

The equipment should be hidden or if not, organized and unobtrusive.
The tank needs to be clean.
In most cases, a background of some sort is necessary.
The viewing window needs to be cleaned regularly and not be terribly scratched.
If there is aquascaping, it should be done well and scaled to the tank size.
If there is no aquascaping the tank bottom needs to be extra clean.
The stand needs to be finished.
If there is no hood it needs to have a good-looking light fixture.
The fish need to stand out - maybe it's just me, but a beautiful tank that you have to search to see the fish is boring.

 

[aclockworkorange]

I think it also depends on the type of tank. An Amano style planted tank will be focused on the scape, a central american cichlid show tank will focus on the fish and a bit less on the scape (a few rocks and driftwood and maybe a background).


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[golcondorus]

How many people like to show off their fish? I usually get annoid when people want to see my fish. I am pretty weird though


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[oscaroo]

Asian upside down cats are good show fish in my opion. they are pretty uncommon and exotic.

 

[Slippery K]

It is what you consider to be your best tank, best fish, the tank that you are most proud of.

+1 as long as your proud of the time and effort you pjt into your tank.

 

[Lusus_Naturae]

^ I agree - but I also know that what one person may be able to do with their $, another may not, so there will always be a variation to a show tank by that alone. There are quite a few nice examples where people have designed a natural environment that almost looks like a section of the river was cut out and put in a tank. There are also those that have taken other directions for their tanks, with stunning results. My one show tank I did years ago was nice, but nothing compared to what others have done.

 

[Lusus_Naturae]

A tank that is meant to look good, however you do it.

For me, a show tank needs the following.

The equipment should be hidden or if not, organized and unobtrusive.
The tank needs to be clean.
In most cases, a background of some sort is necessary.
The viewing window needs to be cleaned regularly and not be terribly scratched.
If there is aquascaping, it should be done well and scaled to the tank size.
If there is no aquascaping the tank bottom needs to be extra clean.
The stand needs to be finished.
If there is no hood it needs to have a good-looking light fixture.
The fish need to stand out - maybe it's just me, but a beautiful tank that you have to search to see the fish is boring.

All good points. Not sure if I want to require a background, I have taken a liking to tanks without recently for some reason. Above all I want to see a clean tank, clean design, and nice and healthy fish.

 

[Dan F]

All good points. Not sure if I want to require a background, I have taken a liking to tanks without recently for some reason. Above all I want to see a clean tank, clean design, and nice and healthy fish.

If you take the effort to keep all the cords/tubes away from the back a see-through tank can look good, but I think it looks pretty tacky otherwise. When I say background I mean paint, paper, 3D, shadowbox, anything.

 

[Runitis]

Asian upside down cats are good show fish in my opion. they are pretty uncommon and exotic.

LOL you're in love with you're Oscars and Asian upside Down ccatfish but there pretty common here... I think a show tank is a tank with no scratches looks brand new a nice silcone job nice light fixture and a natural or natural like aquascape and a nice show piece fish could always help but not necessary.

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[woofy]

well like in my house i have 4 tanks right now that our for a specific purpous. they have no gravel no decor they are in back rooms and just are used for breeding right now and growing fry. those arent show tanks. show tanks are the ones where they are there to show of your best fish, the ones you spent hours figuring out decor, substrate to get the look your going for. when you spend 3 days switching from sand to tile to get the perfect wow factor look but at the same time because your making the best home possible for your favorite fish thats a show tank. also the tanks that take up 80% of your living room and dining room are your show tanks ;P