29gal vs 30gal

[sscamatt]

what are the pros and cons of a 29 gallon vs. a 30 gallon?

both are 12.5 inches wide

29 gallon is 30 inches wide and 18 inches tall

30 gallon is 36 inches wide and 16 inches tall

 

[jams.alaskan]

The 30 gal has a larger footprint, meaning more swimming space along and more open to air water so more oxygen in the water. In the long run you may be able to have a few more fish in the 30 with the higher O2 levels. The 29 is a bit taller and may make an angelfish or other TALL fish happier with the water depth. Which one do you like the looks of more - do you have the room for the 30 gal? It will require a little more substrate but think of all the things you can do with all that space. Me - I'd go with the 30.

ALASKA

 

[Bol]

Available floorspace is the biggest concern, I think.

Also, there's the question of lights, at least if you're talking about Normal Output fluorescents.

A 30" tank will most likely use 24" bulbs (in a 30" hood), so the tank will be slightly darker at the ends. However, 24" bulbs are pretty easy to find, so they're cheaper, and you'll have a lot of color choices.

A 36" tank generally uses 36" bulbs, so the lighting is more even on the ends. However, good (for an aquarium, and especially a planted aquarium) 36" NO bulbs are a pain to find (in my experience).

 

[Nina7777]

I'd go with the 30 gallon. unless of course you would like angels as alaska mentioned!

 

[sscamatt]

thanx, im probably gonna go with the 30...thinking about a 45...same footprint but is it worth it for the extra height?

 

[Bol]

Personally, I think 24" is too deep for comfort (a 45 is 24" deep).

I'm 6'1", and find that my 20" tall bowfront is deep enough that short sleeves have to be rolled up if I want to reach the bottom. I'd guess in a 24" tank, I'd be armpit deep.

I'd guess that you probably wouldn't be able to put a whole lot more fish in a 45 than a 30, though, if that's what you're asking. Almost certainly not 50% more, as the volume would imply.

 

[sscamatt]

ya went to lfs today and looked at them. decided on the 30 (pretty final this time).

aquaclear300 vs emperer 280?

 

[Bol]

Hah!

Ford or Chevy?
Coke or Pepsi?

They're both excellent filters, you won't go wrong with either one.

 

[jams.alaskan]

Here's my thoughts on the 45... I have one in my special education classroom with children kindergarten through second or third grade. It is my perfered tank for the room as it provides viewing for those standing or in a wheelchair. It sits on a window bench I'm guessing is 2 1/2 feet tall. Non of my children seem to be able to lift the lid and mess with the fish without my help - we all feed daily as one of their assignments. I've only had one child able to do potential harm, an autistic boy that poured 10 pounds of uncooked rice into the tank from our rice table. I ran over to the tank and began to remove it right away with a net. and siphoned the rest with a massive 80 percent water change. The school is on well water and so I just matched the temp and crossed my fingers. No fatalities, no visible stress except for me. I had removed the substrate two days before while we were choosing a new look for our tank. I do get wet to the armpits every time I work in the tank but knowing that they are limited to what they can get into works for me. I would not choose this set up for plants, or homelife as it's just not that great for stocking (smaller footprint) low light to the bottom. Pretty yes, but those longer tanks have it beat for the other benifits per gallon...

ALASKA

 

[kgrehm]

Both filters good but i recomment the emperor!

 

[tstenback]

EIther one of those will do the job. I have used the aqauclear products for many years with no problems at all so my biased opinion would be for the aquaclear but you wont go wrong with either one. HTH