Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!pyramid!pyrnj!rutgers!paul.rutgers.edu!hammy
From: hammy@steeleye.rutgers.edu (hammy)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: Tank Size
Keywords: Layered Fish
Message-ID: <2924@steeleye.rutgers.edu>
Date: 18 Jan 88 22:14:01 GMT
References: <5927@sol.ARPA> <348@galaxy>
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 34

Hi.  I currently have a standard 30 gallon long tank.  Previously
I had a 30 gallon high, (2 feet wide, 2 high, 1 deep).  I changed
to the longer tank last time I moved (since the fish were going to
be disturbed anyway...), largely because of the problems I had
with the high tank.

It's been pointed out several times on this newsgroup about the
importance of surface area for oxygenation: well, high tanks just
don't have that surface area.  The water tends to stagnate unless
you have a really powerful air pump and plenty of circulation.
I couldn't get plants to grow, although algae loved it.  The only 
fish I found that used that blank space in the middle of the
tank that you spoke about were angelfish.

In general, I'd advise against the high tank.  If you decide to
try it, get a filtration system that really moves the water around,
moving it from top to bottom (or v.v.), and get an air pump at least
twice the recomended power.  Plants you might have some luck with
are *Hygrophila Difformis*, *Ceratophyllum Demersum*, or *Cabomba
spp.*.  Make sure they are really well anchored.  The nice thing about
these plants is that they all grow fairly long, and can help to fill
up that space in the middle of the tank.  Fish like to have some
cover, and this might help to bring them up from the bottom of the
tank.

A few other fish that I have found like to use open areas of a tank
besides angels are mollies (I have a pair of large sailfins), tricolor
and irridescent sharks, and maybe platties, if you have enough of
them.

Good luck!

John.
_____	(hammy@paul.rutgers.edu)