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From: alien@cpoint.UUCP (Alien Wells)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria,rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Getting a bigger tank. Filter? Airpump?
Message-ID: <3536@cpoint.UUCP>
Date: 16 Jan 90 22:20:49 GMT
References: <24777@gryphon.COM> <15670@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Reply-To: alien@cpoint.UUCP (Alien Wells)
Followup-To: alt.aquaria
Organization: Clearpoint Research Corp., Hopkinton Mass.
Lines: 38

In article <15670@boulder.Colorado.EDU> atk@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Alan T. Krantz) writes:
>This brings up an interesting question - well interesting to me - 
>do people treat tall tanks significantly different than long tanks in
>terms of the fishes and plants purchased? Specifically what fishes do
>well in a short tall tank? 

Almost everything does better in a long than than a tall tank.  If you are in
to bottom dwellers (mini-reef or inverb tanks) the case is even more clear.

>I think the 30L has a very nice aspect ratio
>- long enough for schooling fishes - short enough for good plant
>lighting from above ... what are other favorite dimensions and why?

The 30L has always been my favorite commercial size.  I once (about 10 yrs 
ago) got a bunch of specialty 20Ls from a fish store going out of business.
They were 30Ls shortened.  I loved them (and my fish loved them ...).  They
actually made good marine tanks too.  With UGF filters (only thing you can
get back then ...) they were about as stable and could take almost as much
bioload as a 55.

When you get to the big display tanks (90, 135, ...) it is almost impossible
to find tanks I consider short enough unless you have them custom made ...

When I had my house (sigh ...) I had a family room built downstairs.  I put
a 90 gal tank in the wall that connected to the utility room, so the tank
had totally open access from the utility room.  The contractor created the
stand (studded 2x4s with a 2x4 frame and a ply base, perfectly leveled).
From the family room, all you saw was a window-sized opening in the wall
framed like a picture frame with a ceiling light aimed at it.  Very nice,
especially with the room lights low.  From the utility room side you had
easy access to all the works, and I had a utility sink installed within a
few feet of it (between it and the washer/dryer).  In a setup like this,
you really do want the height for the display ... otherwise give me a nice
short tank ...
-- 
--------|	With Altzheimer's Disease, every day is a new day!
Alien   |   		- Earl McKennon
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