aquarium sizes

[JEFFREY STREET]

First I want to thank everyone who is helping me with my aquarium questions,
you guys are all far smarter than I am on this subject... so thanks... I
actually break the replies to work with me (I read them all on the bus to
work).

My current question...

Some of you know I have a spiny monster pleco, a 20 gal tank, a Tetratec ap
100 air pump with bubble wall and a Aquaclear 500 filter.... I also have the
stand in my living room where the new tank is going to go... (The tank will
be the centerpiece of the living room which is why I am going slow)...

The stand, made of solid, thick and strong wood, has a top that is 48 inches
by 18 inches... as I see it, a 55 gallon tank is 48 inches by 13 inches...
I was wondering if I should go to a bigger tank...

a) is the filter going to be strong enough?
b) how much larger?
c) how much will the price differ (I see 55 gal tanks at Petland for 69
dollars made by All Glass company)?
d) It seems I am leaning towards Tinfoil Barbs, but I may want a chiclid
also and some fast fish too... will the tank height and those 5 extra inches
I have to expand make that much of a difference in the fish I can have and
the size they will grow?

Please help, you guys are great and I do learn sooo much... thanks, Jeffrey

[Racf]

"JEFFREY STREET" > wrote in message
. net...
> First I want to thank everyone who is helping me with my aquarium
questions,
> you guys are all far smarter than I am on this subject... so thanks...
I
> actually break the replies to work with me (I read them all on the bus
to
> work).
>
> My current question...
>
> Some of you know I have a spiny monster pleco, a 20 gal tank, a
Tetratec ap
> 100 air pump with bubble wall and a Aquaclear 500 filter.... I also
have the
> stand in my living room where the new tank is going to go... (The tank
will
> be the centerpiece of the living room which is why I am going slow)...
>
> The stand, made of solid, thick and strong wood, has a top that is 48
inches
> by 18 inches... as I see it, a 55 gallon tank is 48 inches by 13
inches...
> I was wondering if I should go to a bigger tank...
>
> a) is the filter going to be strong enough?

Hard to say. My opinion would be to use (2) Emperor 400s.....but thats
me. And buy a battery backup air pump.. The sort that comes on when
power is lost....

> b) how much larger?
> c) how much will the price differ (I see 55 gal tanks at Petland for
69
> dollars made by All Glass company)?

An All-glass 75 or a 90 gallon fits that footprint. If you just buy the
tank and get the tops and lights on-line you will save a bunch of money.
I have no idea how much Petland would charge. Check Petco and other
types of LFS and see whom is cheapest. Any All-glass dealer could get
your tank....It takes maybe a week to get in an order. Here is a link
to their site where you can use their dealer finder:

http://www.all-glass.com/products/aquariums/index.html

Prices of tanks can vary a lot.....Buy the rest on-line....

> d) It seems I am leaning towards Tinfoil Barbs, but I may want a
chiclid
> also and some fast fish too... will the tank height and those 5 extra
inches
> I have to expand make that much of a difference in the fish I can have
and
> the size they will grow?

Well, 90 gallons is much deeper and taller so its a factor.......but not
a miracle...

>
> Please help, you guys are great and I do learn sooo much... thanks,
Jeffrey
>
>