40 Gal Long

[h_ceri]

I've been offered a very cheap 40gal long tank, 48 x 13 x 16. are these tanks any good? I notice the surface area is the same as a 55 gal, with it just being shorter. Would this affect what species I can keep, as I have read that its floorspace/surface area thats important for cichlids?

I'm hoping to get a tank that will allow me to keep a severum - can this be done in the 40 long or am i better off trying to get a 55 or 75 for a severum?

If a severum isn't possible, what could be stocked in a 40long? i'm guessing its similar (but at a lower density) to a 55 gal?

 

[Gage]

what are the dimensions of a 55? are 55 18 tall instead of 16, i wouldnt imagine it would effect what sp. of cichlid, just how many can go in their, the more water, the more oxygen it can hold.

bigger is ALWAYS better, but i believe a severum could live in here OK, at least until it hits 10" then u may need to upgrade, for the fish to thrive.

 

[h_ceri]

what are the dimensions of a 55? are 55 18 tall instead of 16, i wouldnt imagine it would effect what sp. of cichlid, just how many can go in their, the more water, the more oxygen it can hold.

bigger is ALWAYS better, but i believe a severum could live in here OK, at least until it hits 10" then u may need to upgrade, for the fish to thrive.

The cookie cutter section at cichlid-forum.com says a 55gal is 48 x 13 x 20, with a 40 gal long being 48 x 13 x 16. I know theres a 25% ish increase in volume but is that such a big difference?

 

[blue acara]

I think of a 55 being 48x15x18. Severum get quite big and wouldn't be the best choice for 40 gallon, although 1-2 would be ok in there for a while-mabie even for life. Some smaller sized fish would be better.

 

[funkyhoney]

I think of a 55 being 48x15x18. Severum get quite big and wouldn't be the best choice for 40 gallon, although 1-2 would be ok in there for a while-mabie even for life. Some smaller sized fish would be better.

This, and a 75 as being 48x18x20. Severums are a bit iffy, some get up to 12" some stop at 8...

 

[h_ceri]

So i'd be better off looking for something ~75 gal, 48 x 15 size? Apart from cost I don't see any down side in the bigger tank, after all it takes up only 3 inches extra of floor space and the increase in volume is massive between a 40 long and a 75.

Thanks for everyone's advice

Ceri.

 

[Matt_northants]

I'm a fan of the 6 2 rule, which is basically a tank is suitable for a fish as long as its length is 6 x that of the adult fish and twice as wide as the fish's length.