20 gal long or 20 gal high?

breynol · 12/20/2006, 07:00 PM

Getting ready to do my first setup ever and was thinking about a a 20 gal tank. I plan on getting the TBS package and using CF lighting.

Should I get the high or long version of the 20 gal tank? I plan on using Travis' thread as a guide for my setup.

Also...with the TBS package in a 20 gal tank...do I need a protein skimmer? If so...which one would be good and not empty my bank account?

Thanks and I am sure I will have a lot more questions when I get started after Christmas.

scottwhitson · 12/20/2006, 07:39 PM

I think most people here would say a 20 long due to the light penetration of CF'S. I would think that it would be easier to aquascape also.

dwculp · 12/20/2006, 07:42 PM

20 LONG!!!!!!

For a small tank I love the look of a 20 long, I like long, lower tanks. You will get much better light penetration.

No matter what type of tank you have, a skimmer will help keep the water quality high. For a small 20 long I would recomend an Aqua C Remora or a CPR Bak Pak 2.

Lpabsolute · 12/20/2006, 08:24 PM

I would go with a 20g Long with no skimmer....mine has no skimmer but 2 Aqua Clear 110's on the back...

saltycreefer · 12/20/2006, 08:26 PM

Long!

[17]shawn[17] · 12/20/2006, 09:08 PM

go for the long if you are picking a skimmer go for the ss65 it works great for me

Alaska_Phil · 12/20/2006, 09:24 PM

I have a 20 Long. The only skimmer I could find that would fit between the back of the tank and the All-glass versa top was a Prizm. Not my favorite skimmer, but better than nothing I guess.

Phil

MR PALM BEACH · 12/20/2006, 10:23 PM

Go long, Remember deeper the water stronger the light.

jimbo045 · 12/20/2006, 11:35 PM

20Long, testing now. JD

DrBegalke · 12/21/2006, 04:19 PM

20g L

aquarius77 · 12/21/2006, 04:53 PM

I am building a 20H with a 20H sump. I have MH to go on it tho.
I like the tallness personally that way i can step my rock back on the way up to create the shelves for corals and whatever to be placed on.

chris.hampton · 12/21/2006, 04:56 PM

The 20 long will give more room for gas exchange as well and in theory (please no one shout here) give you a little more room for more fish!

kfowler · 12/21/2006, 05:30 PM

I have a 20 gal high. All though I like the looks of the higher tanks, if I had to do it over I would have done a 20 long. You also have more options for aqua scaping.

BethanyM · 12/21/2006, 05:36 PM

i vote 20 long. i have used both and seriously hated the 20 tall.

alizarin · 12/21/2006, 06:11 PM

I had a 15H display and 15H refugium for a couple years and this was my take on that:

PROS:
* Low evaporation
* Different - interesting
* Small footprint on my desk and on floor for refugium
* Great for the refugium/sump - chaeto floated, stayed closer to light and drop in water level was apparent visually before strong change in salinity.
* Most marine fish like to stay close to the rocks so the top of the tank was just empty space.... fish didn't go there.

CONS:
* Poor light penetration
* Really hard to keep rockwork up and not on glass, and so hard to clean. If you didn't keep the rockwork high, everything had to stay closer to the bottom and light penetration problem became bigger. THIS WAS THE BIG PROBLEM.

I'd go 20 long for display, tall tank for refugium/sump if somehow you had the room.

Protein skimmer -
If you don't have a skimmer you have to be careful not to miss weekly water changes, keep the bioload moderate, and do weekly parameter checks. Skimmers are good safety nets but you don't have to have one (I run a 10g without one). Also, keep in mind that TBS rock is atlantic rock and it has half the filtering power per pound that pacific rock does.

If you decide you want to get one the good news is that since you have a small tank most anything will be an effective skimmer for you. If you want to be as cheap as possible I'd try and buy a red sea prism or cpr bakpak used for like 30-40$ on the for-sale forum here. The best one for a nano is probably the nano-remora but that'll be more like 100$.

12/20/2006, 07:00 PM	#1
breynol Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 15	20 gal long or 20 gal high? Getting ready to do my first setup ever and was thinking about a a 20 gal tank. I plan on getting the TBS package and using CF lighting. Should I get the high or long version of the 20 gal tank? I plan on using Travis' thread as a guide for my setup. Also...with the TBS package in a 20 gal tank...do I need a protein skimmer? If so...which one would be good and not empty my bank account? Thanks and I am sure I will have a lot more questions when I get started after Christmas.

12/20/2006, 07:42 PM	#3
dwculp Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 2,338	20 LONG!!!!!! For a small tank I love the look of a 20 long, I like long, lower tanks. You will get much better light penetration. No matter what type of tank you have, a skimmer will help keep the water quality high. For a small 20 long I would recomend an Aqua C Remora or a CPR Bak Pak 2. __________________ Remember, it will only get worse before it gets worse. Current Tank Info: 10 years - Currently have a 100 FOWLR

12/20/2006, 08:24 PM	#4
Lpabsolute Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Johns Island, SC Posts: 2,021	I would go with a 20g Long with no skimmer....mine has no skimmer but 2 Aqua Clear 110's on the back... __________________ "Do not float above me when I'm drowning in the abyss......float away from me.........float away" Current Tank Info: 54g Corner Reef Tank......and......5.5g Nano Reef Tank......and......20g Long Reef Tank.......and......27g Cube

12/20/2006, 08:26 PM	#5
saltycreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fairfield,CT Posts: 1,696	Long! __________________ I love being a turtle!!! Current Tank Info: Got out of tanks for a little while.

12/20/2006, 09:08 PM	#6
[17]shawn[17] Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brockville Ontario Canada Posts: 844	go for the long if you are picking a skimmer go for the ss65 it works great for me __________________ shawn “We will only conserve what we love. We will only love what we understand. We will only understand what we are taught.”

12/20/2006, 07:39 PM	#2
scottwhitson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 1,395	I think most people here would say a 20 long due to the light penetration of CF'S. I would think that it would be easier to aquascape also.

12/20/2006, 09:24 PM	#7
Alaska_Phil Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Pole Posts: 986	I have a 20 Long. The only skimmer I could find that would fit between the back of the tank and the All-glass versa top was a Prizm. Not my favorite skimmer, but better than nothing I guess. Phil

12/20/2006, 10:23 PM	#8
MR PALM BEACH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Jupiter, Fl Posts: 802	Go long, Remember deeper the water stronger the light. __________________ And I thought buying an puppy would be to expensive! Current Tank Info: 23" LCD with Windows Aquarium screen saver.

12/20/2006, 11:35 PM	#9
jimbo045 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiea, HI. Posts: 1,788	20Long, testing now. JD

12/21/2006, 04:19 PM	#10
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	20g L __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

12/21/2006, 04:53 PM	#11
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	I am building a 20H with a 20H sump. I have MH to go on it tho. I like the tallness personally that way i can step my rock back on the way up to create the shelves for corals and whatever to be placed on.

12/21/2006, 04:56 PM	#12
chris.hampton Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 490	The 20 long will give more room for gas exchange as well and in theory (please no one shout here) give you a little more room for more fish! __________________ Imagine how deep the ocean would be if there wasn’t any sponges!! Current Tank Info: 95 (UK) gal 2 years old and 10 gal with bangi babies!!!

12/21/2006, 05:30 PM	#13
kfowler Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,095	I have a 20 gal high. All though I like the looks of the higher tanks, if I had to do it over I would have done a 20 long. You also have more options for aqua scaping. __________________ Kevin "You cannot achieve what you are not willing to pursue." Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef

12/21/2006, 05:36 PM	#14
BethanyM Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Indiana / Louisville Metro Posts: 385	i vote 20 long. i have used both and seriously hated the 20 tall. __________________ Maybe this world is another planet's hell. - Aldous Huxley Current Tank Info: 24 nanocube D, 125 in the works

12/21/2006, 06:11 PM	#15
alizarin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 869	I had a 15H display and 15H refugium for a couple years and this was my take on that: PROS: * Low evaporation * Different - interesting * Small footprint on my desk and on floor for refugium * Great for the refugium/sump - chaeto floated, stayed closer to light and drop in water level was apparent visually before strong change in salinity. * Most marine fish like to stay close to the rocks so the top of the tank was just empty space.... fish didn't go there. CONS: * Poor light penetration * Really hard to keep rockwork up and not on glass, and so hard to clean. If you didn't keep the rockwork high, everything had to stay closer to the bottom and light penetration problem became bigger. THIS WAS THE BIG PROBLEM. I'd go 20 long for display, tall tank for refugium/sump if somehow you had the room. Protein skimmer - If you don't have a skimmer you have to be careful not to miss weekly water changes, keep the bioload moderate, and do weekly parameter checks. Skimmers are good safety nets but you don't have to have one (I run a 10g without one). Also, keep in mind that TBS rock is atlantic rock and it has half the filtering power per pound that pacific rock does. If you decide you want to get one the good news is that since you have a small tank most anything will be an effective skimmer for you. If you want to be as cheap as possible I'd try and buy a red sea prism or cpr bakpak used for like 30-40$ on the for-sale forum here. The best one for a nano is probably the nano-remora but that'll be more like 100$. Last edited by alizarin; 12/21/2006 at 06:24 PM.