types of tanks

Is there a difference between a horizontal tank and a vertical tank like some of the hexagonal tanks? Besides looks does it effect the fish?

 

The hexagonal tanks do not allow for much of any swimming space where the long tanks allow for the most.

Depends on the tank that your looking at and the fish you want to keep as to what the best tank is. It also really can depend on your budget and what you get for a deal.

 

I have 1 beta, 5 cardinal tetras, 1 siamensis, 3 rummy-nose tetras, and 1 clown loach in a 10 gallon tank horizontal tank. We've had the tank for 10 months with just the betta in it. We added the rest of the fish 1 month ago. I'm new at this and didn't check on fish growth before purchase. So I am hearing clown loach and siamensis need a lot more room. I can get a 40 gallon glass hex tank used for cheap so I am thinking about upgrading to be able to keep fish longer. I realize siamensis and clown loach will one day have to go.

 

yes they will, the 40 hex would be great for angels, but unfortunately tetras really like the horizontal swimming space. The betta would be great in a 10gal hex thou.

The clown loach I'm sorry to say will want more like a 125 eventually and a group of at least 6.

 

I agree, hex tanks are very hard to stock. And yes, the shape of the tank is very important to consider when stocking. Length is most important, followed by a tie of width and height (depends on the species, which is more important).

 

Horizontal tanks provide the most surface area for oxygen exchange and a longer swimming area. They are great when you have fish that need more swimming area or are high oxygen users. They are recommended for lots of types of fish like Danios because they are very active and like to swimming from one end of the tank to the other quickly.

Vertical tanks provide less surface area so they are normally used for fish that don’t swim a lot and that like vertical space like Angelfish. Like Angelfish some fish don’t like to feel squashed down vertically so a vertically tall tank is used to keep them.

Hexagon tanks are normally taller tanks with a small surface area so they don’t provide very good space for oxygen exchange and the viewing area is short panels so fish seem to disappear from view a lot. Some people like them and some don’t, personally I don’t like them for the viewing area.