GrumpyGills
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2014
- Messages
- 22
I'm thinking of starting my first tank soon and I have some questions.
I am fairly certain that a 40 gallon tank is the right size for me. From what I have read, a 40 gallon breeder seems like the best option due to the dimensions being more favorable for a community of fish.
Part of me is disappointed that I won't be getting a 55 gallon though (which is not really going to be an option for me) since for some reason it seems like that is the threshold which opens up a ton of options for larger fish. I was wondering why this seems to be the magic number for fish larger than a few inches.
As a beginner I don't understand why the stocking lists I see for 40 gallons are for example a few dwarf cichlids, maybe 8 or so tetras, some bottom feeders like corys and then maybe another fish or two (notice all of these are small fish, 3 inches or less). Then I look at lists for 55 gallons, just 15 gallons more, and all of the sudden the tank can handle 12 cichlids which will grow to 6+ inches each. I went and looked at tanks today, and I was surprised at just how big a 40 gallon breeder looked, yet all of my fish options seem to be 3 inches or less.
Basically, I want a community tank but I am afraid that I won't be happy with stocking only small fish. I think having even a couple centerpiece fish that are larger would really bring a "wow" factor to the tank. This may seem silly but I like how larger fish seem to actually "swim" while small fish tend to rapidly "flit" around the tank when they move. I've been doing a lot of research on dwarf cichlids and they certainly are beautiful but for some reason they still seem quite small to really be a centerpiece. Unfortunately this is all based on looking at pictures and videos so it is hard for me to tell how big they really are.
I would appreciate any insight or advice.
I am fairly certain that a 40 gallon tank is the right size for me. From what I have read, a 40 gallon breeder seems like the best option due to the dimensions being more favorable for a community of fish.
Part of me is disappointed that I won't be getting a 55 gallon though (which is not really going to be an option for me) since for some reason it seems like that is the threshold which opens up a ton of options for larger fish. I was wondering why this seems to be the magic number for fish larger than a few inches.
As a beginner I don't understand why the stocking lists I see for 40 gallons are for example a few dwarf cichlids, maybe 8 or so tetras, some bottom feeders like corys and then maybe another fish or two (notice all of these are small fish, 3 inches or less). Then I look at lists for 55 gallons, just 15 gallons more, and all of the sudden the tank can handle 12 cichlids which will grow to 6+ inches each. I went and looked at tanks today, and I was surprised at just how big a 40 gallon breeder looked, yet all of my fish options seem to be 3 inches or less.
Basically, I want a community tank but I am afraid that I won't be happy with stocking only small fish. I think having even a couple centerpiece fish that are larger would really bring a "wow" factor to the tank. This may seem silly but I like how larger fish seem to actually "swim" while small fish tend to rapidly "flit" around the tank when they move. I've been doing a lot of research on dwarf cichlids and they certainly are beautiful but for some reason they still seem quite small to really be a centerpiece. Unfortunately this is all based on looking at pictures and videos so it is hard for me to tell how big they really are.
I would appreciate any insight or advice.