BIG FISH: Swimming Space or Water Volume?

[revhtree Verified Admin]

We're talking about BIG FISH this week and we all know that BIG fish need BIGGER tanks. But what qualifies as a bigger tank? More room to swim or more water volume? Of course the BEST option is a a tank with large dimensions and plenty of water volume but you can't always get both of these together. Let's talk about it!

Which do you think is more important for BIG FISH, swimming space or tank water volume?

image via @JuniorMC8704

 

[Aspect]

My tank is 8' x 4' (32 sq ft) and only has 400 gallons. I know of another tank on here that has less swimming space 10' x 3' (30 sq ft) but is nearly double my tanks volume.

 

[MillennialReefer]

I think space and volume go hand in hand however, a 150 gallon stuffed with rock and coral with lets say 6 or so inches from the front glass panel and most side's doesn't allow the fish to swim as much as lets says a 60 gallon with 2-3 rocks and smaller colonies.

 

[redfishbluefish]

For tangs, swimming space. We had a local club member who had a 12 foot tank....not very tall...maybe 18-24 inches. It was amazing watching the tangs race down the length of the tank. Tangs are the speed demons and need the length to use that speed. One reason I don't like seeing tangs in short tanks.

 

[Jeffcb]

Tank length is important.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Both
With as many occupants each tank has, providing both makes water quality management so much easier

 

[exnisstech]

Length and depth first then height for swim room. For my tangs I would rather have a 6ft x 2ft vs say a 4ft square. Well I would really like an 8 ft tank (10 won't fit) but that probably won't happen any time soon.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I think lots of area to swim and also having enough areas for them to hide with caves and places for them to going though the rock work while swimming

 

[FishOkay]

Well my tank is 3ft cubed 160 gallon I have a purple and a yellow tang they seem fine they love using the whole tank corner to corner, around and all sort of which ways even up and down munching on algae on the weir near the surface.
Although I'm not sure on the purple when it reaches max size but we will see.

 

[Jwise]

I have a 6 foot 125 and im putting 5 tangs and i got a majestic foxface in there and im also using all ecotech equipment on my aquarium ( I love ecotech equpment so much) It saves space and no cords in the aquarium it self.

 

[design.maddie]

My dream tank is 18inx18inx12ft which is about 200g. I think that is enough length and width to house most of our standard fish.

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

I would initially have voted for swimming space, but decided to choose "other" simply because it really depends on the requirements of the specific fish... Overall though, I'd say swimming space is most important.

 

[RSnodgrass]

I would add that varied current is perhaps just as important as how much room they have to swim.

 

[iFunnny]

Volume for the water stability! Length for awesome viewing experience + tang laps!

 

[pomoev]

Technically, tank volume precisely represents the "room to swim" in 3 dimensions.

If you assume that fish only swim in 2 dimensions, then you can argue volume vs bottom area. But the assumption has to be stated.

 

[CoralB]

BOTH !!!

 

[Hassaan]

swimming space

 

[reef_of_the_desert]

Some fish require swim space and some like the hiding places that may not be there with more of an open water aquarium. It just depends on your fish goals

 

[DJF]

Definitely swimming space. I had a 180g with corals & fish (6 tangs) with 2 overflows that took a good amount of space. I’m working on getting a new tank situated and had to move the fish temporarily into a 150g (No coral… they’re in a different system). They appear happier with no aggression in the 150g which is taller with no coral & less rock obstructing them. Btw- the new tank is ~400g and all for the swimming extra space.

 

[Freddy0144]

I think that both open spaces to swim, but also caves and pass through. I find mine is always swimming through the rock work etc. I actually find they go through the rocks more often than swimming the length of the tank.