Vertical or horizontal - Which tank is better?

Right now I have the most basic standard 10 gallon filtered tank with a handful of guppies and red tetras. I have no complaints, each school has their own clear territory, but I saw a good deal for a 15 gallon tank + stand + all equipment needed. The only issue with that is the tank is vertical, and I’ve heard mixed reviews on vertical tanks. Part of me thinks the concerns are irrelevant in this case since the tank is still so small, but am I right to worry? Would a few guppies and a few tetras be okay in a 15 gallon tank if it’s vertical? Or am I better off just leaving them in the 10 gallon now until I find a better deal?

 

You should be fine with these fish as long as its not too small. It's up to you.

 

Right now I have the most basic standard 10 gallon filtered tank with a handful of guppies and red tetras. I have no complaints, each school has their own clear territory, but I saw a good deal for a 15 gallon tank + stand + all equipment needed. The only issue with that is the tank is vertical, and I’ve heard mixed reviews on vertical tanks. Part of me thinks the concerns are irrelevant in this case since the tank is still so small, but am I right to worry? Would a few guppies and a few tetras be okay in a 15 gallon tank if it’s vertical? Or am I better off just leaving them in the 10 gallon now until I find a better deal?

I'd wait for a better deal on a larger tank.

 

Fish prefer to swim back and forth, not up and down.

Just my $0.02.

 

A 15 column?

 

I'd also wait for a larger tank. Petco's dollar per gallon sales happen a few times a year.

15g is better than 10 gallon but it doesn't make a huge difference with your stocking options. A 20 gallon or bigger would give you more choices. (The 20 gallon long tank is a popular choice.)

Re vertical vs horizontal: Schoolers like tetras will want length, not height. Also, in case it matters, it's much trickier to light a tall tank as the light gets diffused before it reaches the bottom. This matters for live plants. It's the reason I have a love/hate relationship with my 29 gallon (tall).

 

You should get at least a 20 long for the fish you have. Check Craigslist for a tank with a hood, maybe even a filter!

 

Definitely don't go vertical. Fish definitely prefer to swim "forward" and not "up", so longer is always better than taller (at least for most fish).

Id leave them in the 10 for now and save up for a 20 long, which you can buy a brand new at Petco for $20 bucks (theyre having that sale start within the next week). A sponge filter is inexpensive or a decent HOB (Aquaclear) is $30ish. A decent heater for another $25 or $30 and you're all set. You can buy a lid/light for as little or as much as you want (I don't keep lids on any of my tanks except for the ones with Hatchetfish). A sheet of Plexiglas and a clamp light are super cheap. You can buy a metal stand for $60 and be in the whole thing for under $150, and that's with a good HOB and heater (the most important parts). Or you can save $60 and build your own stand with some concrete blocks. Your imagination (and google) are your friends.