For fish that need more room, is length or water volume more important?

[Easttuth]

I have 2-220s now, both are 6ft. I'm looking into a larger tank currently but having issues finding many options in glass. I've found a few 8ft tanks, but they are often still around the 220g mark. So I wouldn't be adding any water volume but I would be adding 2 feet of swimming length. Ideally I'd like to go to 8-10ft with 300+ gallons, but haven't found one yet.

I assume length is more important, but would like some other options.


Thank you!

 

[Mike Ordner]

10 x 2 x 2 foot tank is about 300 gallons. Length is always good, but on a tank this length I would think 2 feet will seem skinny. Any particular reason to stay with this water volume? A 10 x 3 foot tank would be much better, maybe even going 27 inches tall. But now you are talking about 500 gallons.

 

[Easttuth]

Mike,

At this point I'm looking on the used market before I spend the extra money to go with a new custom tank. So only thing stopping me from going to 10x3 and 500g is finding the tank. That size would be ideal, I don't prefer being in the 200-250 range but those are the tanks I'm finding at this point.

 

[griseum]

An 8x2x2 foot ~240 IMO is a better aquarium for swimming fish like Tangs, than the 6x2x(30?) 220gal.
A beautiful example of that 8 foot tank would be SDguy's FOWLR. I believe it's glass as well.
Without going custom, there's the Marineland line of Deep Dimension tanks with the largest being a 6x3 foot 300DD.
Water volume is good for stability of parameters and "dilution of pollution" (nitrogenous wastes). Water volume can always be added vía sumps/fuges.
I guess it depends on which types of fish you're going to keep?
Apologies if I'm repeating anything you've heard or know...
GL!

 

[ca1ore]

All things being equal, I think more length is better for fish that need space than extending height or depth. Obviously if you compromise too much on either of the latter it becomes an issue, but 2x2 is more than fine. Coral aquascaping cn benefit significantly from more back-to-front depth - I always find that 24" becomes restrictive. Ideal size for me would be 96"x30"x30", but as you imply, not easily found in glass - and then custom, at that. If I were going to go that big, I'd go acrylic. Glass tank just gets too heavy.

 

[Easttuth]

I've never had acrylic and I'm considered about scratching. I might be putting more worry into that than is needed, but I feel I may regret it if I went down that road.

 

[jduck]

I have a 96x24x24, if we ever move I will upgrade to 96x30-36x24-30

 

[Easttuth]

I have a 96x24x24, if we ever move I will upgrade to 96x30-36x24-30

Because of the coral or fish? Will the fish gain anything with the extra room?

 

[Dmorty217]

Because of the coral or fish? Will the fish gain anything with the extra room?

If used is your market then I would suggest this site giantaquariums.com/
I visit it frequently

 

[Easttuth]

If used is your market then I would suggest this site giantaquariums.com/
I visit it frequently

Thank you. I've been checking it frequently. I have tried to contact a few people from there with no luck.