firemouth tank size

[Bderick67]

20g long, 29g and 37g all have a 30" x 12" footprint. What I know to be a 30g has a 36" x 12" footprint and I am unfamiliar with a 30g long.

 

[Citrinellus]

If you go by the standard two gallons for every one inch of fish rule, which I know most around here don't, a 30 gallon is more than big enough for a pair of Fire Mouths. As for how fast it grows that can depend on a lot of things, but a one inch FM could reach five to six inches within two years if not less.

So a 14 inch oscar could fit in a 29g? That method is never accurate as to what can fit in a tank. And i notice you put 2 gallons per inch, still not adequate for the average cichlid.

 

[Bderick67]

If you go by the standard two gallons for every one inch of fish rule, which I know most around here don't, a 30 gallon is more than big enough for a pair of Fire Mouths. As for how fast it grows that can depend on a lot of things, but a one inch FM could reach five to six inches within two years if not less.

Never heard of the "two gallon per one inch rule". The "standard" that is one inch per gallon is a joke though. By using your rule though, you think it would be OK to keep a 12" oscar in 24 gallons of water?

 

[Citrinellus]

20g long, 29g and 37g all have a 30" x 12" footprint. What I know to be a 30g has a 36" x 12" footprint and I am unfamiliar with a 30g long.

Your right is saw the 30" and immediantly thought 3 ft. Curse conversions.

 

[darth pike]

Most people call the 33 gallon long a '30 gallon long' becuase of round numbers. It's a 4'x12" footprint.

 

[Bderick67]

Most people call the 33 gallon long a '30 gallon long' becuase of round numbers. It's a 4'x12" footprint.

what is the height of this tank? Seems like really odd dimensions. I've seen 40g with this footprint and they are 17" tall. So a 30L must really be short.

 

[killerfahaka]

I would say 40 or 55. Big the tank also make it easier for upkeeps and if you want to add pleco or cat you don't have to worry.

 

[darth pike]

what is the height of this tank? Seems like really odd dimensions. I've seen 40g with this footprint and they are 17" tall. So a 30L must really be short.

13" tall. Makes for a good dwarf cichlid tank, for like apistos or rams and such.

 

[dent20]

Yeah, I don't think you can use that rule with fish that get over six inches. I do think two Fire Mouths would be okay in a 30.

 

[Jason_S]

I would say a pair of FMs will need a tank with a minimum 30" x 12" foot print. So you could get away with a 20g long.

5 to 5.5" is a more realistic size to expect FMs to get. The pair I had were both just over 5" and never spent any time in anything smaller the a 75g tank.

IMO no way should anything growing over 2-3" be kept for life in a 20 long. Such a short tank is ok for rams/appistos or smaller plecs like bristlenose. Anything growing 4" or more should really be kept in a tank at least 17" tall, which is what a 30 gallon is...36" x 12" x 17".

A 29 gallon is the absolute smallest I would consider keeping a pair of friemouths in. A 29 is the same footprint as a 20 long (30" x 12") but is 18-20" tall instead of 13" tall. I would upgrade if necessary depending on how cramped the pair looked as they grew into adulthood.