Frame Wall Tank Fish Suggestions Please?

[didz04]

Hi its been a while since I've posted on here. 
 
A little background insight to my current situation. I have an aquarium setup in my kitchen 40" long fluval tank and I am currently keeping cichlids. They are out growing the tank so I am looking to upgrade but to place the new tank in my living room and sell on the fluval aquarium. A couple of reasons for moving the new tank in my living room is because I will have more space and in my kitchen too much sunlight gets through and its causing the ocean rock to be covered in algae. Some of my family members prefer the tank in the kitchen, however a bigger tank just wouldn't look right in the kitchen and wouldn't fit where the fluval tank is currently kept. 
 
So to keep my family members happy and not using much space, today I came up with the idea of trying out the frame type wall aquariums. It can go where the fluval tank is kept on the wall and the maximum space I can fit is up to 40" length including frame. A good size will be 36" in length of actual tank space. I think on average you find them to be 12" of height?.. and usually 10 cm width but if I can find one with more width possibly up to 15 cm will be better. 
 
Right, so I have an idea on the dimensions, next step is to figure out which suitable fish to put in a tank like this? I understand that most fish will be out of the window because of the small amount of width these tanks have. I would like to have fish that will not really out grow the tank and fish that will be happy even with a small amount of width but benefits from the length of the tank. So far I have a small spread of idea from bumblebee goby's to perhaps dwarf puffers. I would like to fit a good 8 fish in this aquarium if possible. I have thought more about this and would like a group of fish bigger than bumblebee goby's so that you don't have to be right in front of the tank to enjoy it, rather prefer fish you can see swimming from a few meters distance from the tank. Please any ideas/suggestions I will greatly appreciate it as I am at slight loss as to what to go for here? 
 
To be honest I am also open to brackish and saltwater fish too.
 
Thanks. 

 

[Munroco]

A 10cm depth of tank? TBH it hardy seems worthwhile.

 

[tunagirll]

10cm deep is very shallow and really the only kind of animals I would keep in there would be very small and not highly active swimmers. Bumblebee gobies, maybe, shrimp, a shoal of microrasbora.
 
Anything over an inch is going to live a hampered life in a shallow aquarium.

 

[didz04]

You're right, and it's exactly what I was thinking, 10 cm does seem very shallow, but since these frame tanks are on the market I thought I'd see what the forums says to keeping types of fish in them. At the moment I haven't decided to purchase one but just brainstorming ideas for an aquarium for the kitchen, however if I do look to purchase one, I wouldn't look for anything less than 6" (15cm). I'm sure I have seen a wider one like that in the past but so far listed on ebay all I see is 10-11.5 cm, they were 4ft in length and 2ft in height. 
 
Personally I wouldn't like to keep any fish which will be very active, fast swimmers. That's why I was thinking of Bumblebee goby's or Dwarf puffers at first. 
 
Will Dwarf puffers be fine if I were to find one at 6" minimum and if yes, can I keep 2 in a length of 3ft? 
 
Even though it's not the right length at 129 cm, I found this one in link below with 17.5 cm in width, so its promising that I may find one around same width or more in 3 ft length tank. 
 
https/www.gumtree.com/p/aquariums-for-sale/aquatlantis-picture-frame-tank-aquarium/1158773475

 

[tunagirll]

The volume is about the same as a foot square tank, so if you keep that in mind and allow for the small turning space, I think it would be an interesting project!

 

[didz04]

The volume is about the same as a foot square tank, so if you keep that in mind and allow for the small turning space, I think it would be an interesting project!

 
Thanks I really appreciate your input. In terms of keeping dwarf puffers will a species like this be a good fit? I've never kept them before and I have been wanting to keep them for quite a while. Of course if you feel they may need more than 6" of width swimming space, I'll leave that idea out. 

 

[Flubberlump]

Do you mean 36" in length, 12" in height and 4" depth (converted 10cm just for ease of understanding)? As in the tank will be 12" from top to bottom, and 4" from front to back? That would mean that the water would be 12" deep, and 4" from the wall to the front of the tank? Rather than 4" of water top to bottom?

That would mean that the water wouldn't be as shallow but narrower front to back. Have I read that right? In the original post I mean.

 

[StevenF]

 
 
Do you mean 36" in length, 12" in height and 4" depth (converted 10cm just for ease of understanding)? As in the tank will be 12" from top to bottom, and 4" from front to back?

That is what he is talking about.   Manufactures keep the depth narrow to limit the weight of the tank so rather light steel brackets can be used to attach it to the wall.  Deeper tanks would require stronger supports and possible wall work to accomidate the load. The above tank will hold about 7 gallon with no gravel.   You can find these tanks in lengths up to 7 feet.
 
As mentioned by others the 4 inch depth makes it very difficult for fish 3 inches long to turn around.  They have to do a vertical twist.  I think the longest fish that would feal comfortable in such a tank is 1.5 inches.  This limits you to smallest tetras and danios on the markets.  I looked at these tanks but in my opinion they are too limiting on the fish stocking options.

 

[didz04]

Do you mean 36" in length, 12" in height and 4" depth (converted 10cm just for ease of understanding)? As in the tank will be 12" from top to bottom, and 4" from front to back? That would mean that the water would be 12" deep, and 4" from the wall to the front of the tank? Rather than 4" of water top to bottom?
That would mean that the water wouldn't be as shallow but narrower front to back. Have I read that right? In the original post I mean.

  
 
Yeah that's right 4" front to back but I have seen some that are 6" (15 cm) front to back and even one up to 17.5 cm. I thought there may have been users on this forum that have or had a tank like this and find out what they have stocked. 
 

 

 
Do you mean 36" in length, 12" in height and 4" depth (converted 10cm just for ease of understanding)? As in the tank will be 12" from top to bottom, and 4" from front to back?

That is what he is talking about.   Manufactures keep the depth narrow to limit the weight of the tank so rather light steel brackets can be used to attach it to the wall.  Deeper tanks would require stronger supports and possible wall work to accomidate the load. The above tank will hold about 7 gallon with no gravel.   You can find these tanks in lengths up to 7 feet.
 
As mentioned by others the 4 inch depth makes it very difficult for fish 3 inches long to turn around.  They have to do a vertical twist.  I think the longest fish that would feal comfortable in such a tank is 1.5 inches.  This limits you to smallest tetras and danios on the markets.  I looked at these tanks but in my opinion they are too limiting on the fish stocking options.

 
I knew it would limit my selections. If I were to go for one 6" (15 cm) or more front to back. I will be okay with the smallest tetras, bumblebee gobys and dwarf puffers? Not all of them but one out of the selection? 
 

 

[didz04]

I have decided not to go for one of these aquariums. I thought from the start they are too shallow from front to back, but I was just thinking of an alternative replacement tank in the kitchen. 
 
Thanks to everyone who has replied ( : 

 

[Flubberlump]

Is there another alternative you could go for? There are some lovely nano tanks about that won't take up too much room.

 

[didz04]

Yes thanks I'll definitely look around. I think I need to look for a different location in the kitchen, perhaps move the dining table to one side a little and fit one near the other wall. 

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Because fish are worth moving the furniture... no really. They are.

 

[Flubberlump]

Because fish are worth moving the furniture... no really. They are.

They are!

I really want a nano. Don't think it'll happen though as I'll be getting a bigger tank after we've redecorated to upgrade my current community. I'll be keeping my current tank too although I've no idea what I'll do with it yet.