FishProfiles.com Message Forums

between a 'show tank' and a regular tank? I've seen the phrase in articles and such but have no idea what the difference is

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Show tanks refer to tanks that are meant to be more showy looking, made to show off fish/ plants/ corals, to blend in more and be as much a house decoration as a tank.

Bowfronts, corner tanks etc. are all show tanks. They're often more deep than wide, and have unusual dimensions.

Just think about it: knowing what you know now about tanks and plants etc., what's more useful - a 46 gal bowfront or a 40 breeder? The breeder is, because of greater surface area for gas exchange and fish territory and shallower depth, helping light penetrate to the bottom which would be good for a planted tank. But the 46 is fancier looking. Wish I realized this difference when I first got my set-up ...

---

Back in the saddle!

To add to the above examples, hexagon, pentagon, and extra-tall tanks are all considered as show aquariums, as are the new "wave" tanks. There are plenty of types of non-boxy show tanks, but extra-tall rectangular aquariums fall under this category as well. The major aquarium manufacturers produce quite a few different varieties of these fancy fish tanks.

When you really look at it, these things aren't as practical as the typical aquarium. "Normal" tanks do provide more useful swimming space and a greater surface area, as well as more room for equipment, decorations, and plants. Long and shallow breeder setups are the best type of tank for some purposes, but the low height is a drawback in other cases. The standard fish tank is a happy medium between the two more extreme types of aquarium.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Hmm... I think there are two differnt definitions for "show tank" here, as I've seen the term applied to specific sizes of regular rectangular aquariums. The different is between exhibition (as with the corer, bowfront, column, etc tanks), and sometimes it just means a long tank. When you buy from SeaClear acrylic aquariums, they refer to their long tanks as "show" tanks, as opposed to regular tanks or tall tanks.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

werent old show tanks metal frame instead of wood, plastic etc.... or so it showed in alittle fish book.