Keeping fish as pets seems easy until you are asked to choose the best shape of the tank for the job.
Not just any kind of shape can sustain any type of fish.
There are 2 main shapes:
- horizontal
- vertical.
The former is the most common of the two.
So, Is It Better to Have a Horizontal or Vertical Fish Tank?
Well, that’s going to depend on a few factors, including whether your home or office is spacious enough and the type of fish you plan to keep.
Six Situations That Call for Horizontal Fish Tanks
1. You Want to Keep a Large Community of Fish
If you are planning to keep a sizeable school of fish, the best type of tank for the job would be the horizontal one.
The reason is obvious – this type of tank spreads across the surface, providing more swimming length for your finned friends.
A vertical tank would be highly inappropriate because groups of fish prefer to swim horizontally, not vertically.
2. You Plan to Keep the Species That Prefer It – Loaches, Plecos, Cory Catfish, Snails, etc.
Certain species seem to prefer horizontal tanks to vertical tanks.
Most of these fish spend a big part of their time at the bottom of the tank which means the floor needs to be wide.
Also, water needs to be evenly distributed above them over a large cross-sectional area.
Consult widely to understand the needs of your favorite species before settling for a horizontal tank.
3. How Active Are Your Fish?
Besides the species, the behavior of your fish can influence your choice of the tank as well.
Some types of fish aren’t bottom dwellers by nature to demand a rectangular tank, but conduct themselves in a way that would require a horizontal tank.
Active fish like Barbs and Danios are always on the move, meaning you need a longer and wider aquarium.
4. Ease of Cleaning
Horizontal tanks are much easier to clean compared to their vertical counterparts.
You don’t need to climb ladders or stools to keep them sparkling clean.
So, if your back has been sick lately but you still want to keep a few Goldfish, a rectangular tank is the best option for you.
5. They Readily Permit Artificial Rocks
Rocks and gravel are integral to establishing optimum conditions for your fish as they provide a living space for beneficial bacteria.
These bacterial colonies are important for the removal of leftover food, fish excreta, and plant debris.
Horizontal tanks are more spacious as they run sideways, providing enough space for the addition of artificial rocks. Since vertical tanks extend upward, you will have a hard time adding anything/
6. Horizontal Means Affordable
On average, horizontal fish tanks are more affordable than vertical tanks of similar capacity.
While some added features like décor and accessories and even the brand can influence the cost of the tank, horizontal tanks are cheap on average compared to their tower counterparts.
Five Situations That Call for Vertical Tanks
1. You Don’t Have a Lot of Space
If you don’t have enough space to support the expansive horizontal tank, the best alternative is a vertical tank.
Since they extend vertically rather than sideways, they are capable of holding the desired volume of water and still eat less space.
2. Your Fish Are Less Active and Would Like to Be Left Alone
Active fish prefer horizontal tanks; inactive fish would be happy to live in a vertical tank because they don’t swim much.
If you are planning to keep fish that don’t move much, choose the best vertical tank you could get.
3. Convenient Storage Top
The top part of horizontal tanks is seldom designed to support extra loads. This means you can’t use it to store some of your essentials.
Vertical tanks, on another hand, comes with spacious and free storage at the top.
This is highly advantageous for two reasons.
- Firstly, in situations requiring the addition of accessories such as heating elements, you can simply place them on the top and forget about everything.
- Secondly, if you don’t have enough space at home to store such essentials as fish food, and stuff, you can place them on top of this free space for easy retrieval next time you need them.
Aeration and filtration systems are sometimes constructed specifically for the tank, and this top space could prove useful.
4. You Plan to Keep Betta Fish
If you plan to keep Betta fish, you don’t have an option but settle on a vertical tank.
Betta fish are known to be territorial by nature.
This means they should not be placed in the same tank as other Betta fish.
They tend to get aggressive when confined in spaces with other fish of similar temperament. It doesn’t make sense to keep one or a few of these in a spacious horizontal tank.
Rather, put it in a vertical tank and let it have the entire tower all for itself.
Another thing – Betta fish seldom displays signs of loneliness when left alone in the tank unless they feel confined in a tiny space.
5. Can Be Installed in A Corner
Besides the fact that tower (vertical) saves a lot of space, they are the easiest shape to install in the corner of your home.
Therefore, if you want to make the most out of the corners in your home.
Conclusion
So, is it better to have a horizontal or vertical fish tank?
As shown above, that’s going to depend on an array of factors, including the amount of free space and the type of fish you plan to keep.
First, consider the temperament of your fish. Are they the aggressive and territorial type?
If yes, choose a vertical tank.
If you have plenty of space, choose horizontal tanks.
Also, if you plan to keep a community of fish, the best tank for the job would be a decently decorated horizontal unit.
References
Do I Need a High or Long Aquarium for Tropical Fish?
Vertical vs. Horizontal Aquarium Heaters: Which is Better?