Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdahl!ihnp4!homxb!agd
From: agd@homxb.UUCP (A.DEACON)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: Tank Size
Summary: Right! Stay away from "Highs"
Message-ID: <1390@homxb.UUCP>
Date: 20 Jan 88 13:17:01 GMT
References: <5927@sol.ARPA> <2196@gryphon.CTS.COM>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 32

In article <2196@gryphon.CTS.COM>, richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton) writes:
> The question was asked "are hex tanks any good".
> 
> Well, yes and no.  They are very decorative, but remember that
> the fish holding capacity of a tank is a function of the area
> of the air/water interface (serial ? parallel ?) and not the
> capacity in gallons.
> 
> In other words, they look *real* neat (I have a couple in my
> living room) but pretend they are only 6-10 inches tall and
> you get a better idea how many fish they can hold.
> 
> 
> -- 
>          "...and the morning sun has yet to ride my hood ornament"
>                           richard@gryphon.CTS.COM 
>    {ihnp4!scgvaxd!cadovax, philabs!cadovax, codas!ddsw1} gryphon!richard

To reinforce what Richard says:  The higher the ratio of surface area
of the filter bed to tank volume, the better.  Hex tanks and the "High"
models are the worst offenders.  I too have a hex in the family room
but only because it suits the decor of the room.  IT DOES NOT SUPPORT
AS MANY ANIMALS AS A RECTANGULAR TANK OF SIMILAR VOLUME!!!!!! DO NOT
TRY TO MAKE IT DO SO!!!

On the positive side, the tanks with the best ratio, in most manufacturers
lines, are the 75 gallon rectangular.  The ratio maybe 50% larger than for
other tanks in the line.  This is not a scientific study, just some general
observations based on calculations of a couple of makers.

Art Deacon
ihnp4!homxb!agd