Do any of you own a "show" tank?

[doug z]

Like the kind pictured here in this thumb?

What are they?

Acrylic? Glass?

Where did you get yours?

Is there anywhere in Canada you could get them, I wonder?

How much are they?

Any cons, besides price?

[siymdapolio]

Sure do I have heard that show tanks are more tall and boxy

My dimensions of my tank is 24 inches long 18 inches wide and 24 inches deep...
I also have to say those big bow fronts got to be a show tank and something that is 24 inches deep or more is a show tank.

The cons of it is how deep if you want to penetrate the water with enough light to get down to plants. I get my arm all the way down to the armpit if i need to mess with the bottom...

Bought it off craigslist and i am sure there are bigger show tanks and different shape...

Would have to say that it can be either glass or acrylic...

this is my experience and my only tank

[Rue]

Dunno...they look custom...I imagine they'd be acrylic, since it's stronger and lighter...

...the clearest options would be starfire glass...

[fins_n_fur]

ah...mts has already taken hold and you don't have your first tank set up yet :hmm3grin2orange:

[smaug]

My 58gal in an oceanic show tank.It 3/8th inch glass.

[Anja]

Is there anywhere in Canada you could get them, I wonder?
How much are they?

You can mailorder ADA Products from the US ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.]). I looked at their site a while ago after getting my hands on one of those beautiful books, but it's so utterly out of my price range that I never looked any further. ;o)

If you can get them in Canada, your end of the woods would be more likely than ours, I'd think. Have you tried the BCaquaria forum for local help?

[doug z]

ah...mts has already taken hold and you don't have your first tank set up yet

:)

I'll wait a bit..

But yeah, I wanna make an Iwagumi aquascape!!

Have you tried the BCaquaria forum for local help?

No.. Good idea!

[fins_n_fur]

LOL You're Amanoscapes post has already got my gears spinning for tanks # 2 LOL

[doug z]

I'd do it for my 1st tank, but it's a mass of contradictions (lots of "distracting" fish, like corys, more than 2 types of plants will be used, etc)..

Best I'll be able to do is a hybrid, that may not work..

We'll see..

[fins_n_fur]

Try it out...you may start the latest trend!

[doug z]

You'll see and judge for yourselves in a couple months.. :)

I'd jump in and do a straight up Iwagumi, and forget my community tank idea..

But those corys, otos and dwarf gourami are just too cute to pass on..

[jbeining75]

I don't have the time or the money right now for a show tank.

[jman]

everybody that has a tank on here/ has show tanks...naw just playing i'll post where the they sell them if i can find the site

[gm72]

Of course. All of my tanks are award winning show tanks.

No, kidding of course. No show tanks, just lots of happy fish in tanks.

[doug z]

So nobody has one of these?

[A340]

I don't have one. Would be nice to be able to find any tank in Canada without the stupid plastic edge around it. The new Fluval Osaka series are nice, but not enough sizes available.

[doug z]

The new Fluval Osaka series are nice

Yup, they're not bad..

[67GTO]

A show tank is tank that is narrower than normal (front to back) They essentially force the fish to swim in a narrow band so that they can be "shown".

Pro (I guess):
The fish is forced to be seen.

Cons:
The narrow profile ensures that there is much less surface area exposed to the atmosphere.
The fish are forced to be seen.
They are typically deeper so lighting requirements are increased.

They were somewhat derided in the late seventies to early eighties.

Now as for what a "show" tanks means these days... I'm sorry I don't really know.

[doug z]

Now as for what a "show" tanks means these days.

My meaning was more the low iron, high vis glass with the clear joins, like that pictured in my original post..

[Rue]

So you don't want an official 'show' tank? You just want one with starphire glass and no rim?

[doug z]

Well, I already have a tank..

But I was wondering if anyone had those fancy ADA ones (again, like in the picture in the 1st post, they top out at 40g or so..).

[Rue]

Okay...still confused...

You don't want a show tank, but you want to know if anyone has a show tank who uses it as a regular tank?

but if they're too narrow, no one would want to use it as a regular tank...

[doug z]

Okay...still confused...

Really?

Ok..

No, I don't have one..

Yes, I do want to know if anyone has one..

The ADA one in my original post doesn't look too narrow to me..

[Rue]

Well...just did a bit of research into fish shows. Seems like in North America most fish are shown in standard 10g tanks were possible.

If you want a modified show tank, you can easily have one custom made for you...or you can make your own. But I'm doubting anyone on this forum has one...

Now to prove me wrong...:hmm3grin2orange:

[doug z]

I'm not talking about showing fish..

I'm talking about the tank I showed in the original post..

If it's not a "show" tank, fine..

Whatever you call THAT tank..

Hope that's clearer..

[cocoa_pleco]

i think i know what you mean, you just want to know if someone has a tank that has no trim/braces so theres less emphasis on the tank itself, and plants look show quality, right?

[Rue]

Well now! If you wanted info. about a rimless tank, you should have say said so! :laugh1blue:

I'm not talking about showing fish..

I'm talking about the tank I showed in the original post..

If it's not a "show" tank, fine..

Whatever you call THAT tank..

Hope that's clearer..

Tsk...don't get grumpy...can't help get info. if you're asking for the wrong thing...

[Rue]

This place is in Edmonton, but they might have info. if you're looking into rimless tanks further...

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]%20AQUARIUMS

[Rue]

Also this link might be useful if you're thinking 'Amano'...

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[doug z]

Tsk...don't get grumpy.

Sorry... I just .. I dunno.. I thought I'd covered myself by including a photo of the kind of tank I meant LOL


you just want to know if someone has a tank that has no trim/braces so theres less emphasis on the tank itself, and plants look show quality, right?

That's correct.. :)

Thanks for the links, Rue..

But like I say, I'm just wondering if anyone on this forum has tanks like these..

By show, I meant aquascaping, not fish husbandry

(honestly never even considered that aspect.. LOL Do they have to jump though little underwater hoops? ROTFL)..

[swales]

Those ADA tanks are beautiful with price tags to match.

I de-rimmed 2 10g tanks from Wal-Mart recently. They look much better now.

[doug z]

Those ADA tanks are beautiful with price tags to match.

Yeah, you got THAT right.. :(

[Incredulous_Ed]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[cocoa_pleco]

This place is in Edmonton, but they might have info. if you're looking into rimless tanks further...

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]%20AQUARIUMS

i always go there for fish/corals, theyre pricey but good

[doug z]

Do they do freshwater tanks?

Are they ALL custom, or do they have stock sizes?

Low iron, "starphire" glass?

[cocoa_pleco]

Do they do freshwater tanks?

they make custom FW tanks and all of that, for FW livestock they dont have too much, they have about 25-30 tanks with basic fish like angels, tetras, loaches, oscars, and a couple of tanks with live plants. they mainly concentrate on SW, and have a 400g longish with corals, 300g corner with live rock, and about 40-60 fish/coral/invert tanks

i got my 90g for $90 there on boxing day

[doug z]

Do they use that low-iron, premium glass?

There are NO distributers for ADA in Canada.. >:(

Well, there's one, in Vancouver..

But basically all they have is the glass blown tubing, the powersand substrate, and some aquascaping tools (scissors, etc)

[fins_n_fur]

Some greating tanks on that website! :18:

Doug, it looks like there is the option for starphire glass, if you want it. For sure more expensive.

[doug z]

Yeah, I saw that, thanks..

Worth looking into, if I ever do get another tank.. :rolleyes:

[fins_n_fur]

Absolutely--wonder if you can get it in Europe--probably costs loads more :hmm3grin2orange:

[cocoa_pleco]

wish i saw your premium glass post before, i went there today for some corals and coulda asked

[doug z]

No worries..

I can always email them..

[Tolley]

theres some here

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[doug z]

Thanks, Tolley, but that outfit in Edmonton would be the closest..

Talked to some other fellas about the ADA distributor in Vancouver..

Another guy was saying you CAN get them to order in tanks.. >:(

I'll have to have another chat with the owner...

When I talked to him he was humming and hawing about ordering in SCIZZORS!!

[Adrian]

From my understanding, a "Show Tank" is a tank that is more tall than normal. Like my 37gallon tank for instance, It has the footprint of a 30gallon long, but is a lot taller, so you "see" more of it.

Those tanks by amano are gorgeous, makes me wonder if those are arcrylic tanks, as it would be a lot lighter, and a lot stronger than a glass tank. You wouldn't need much of it in thickness either. Acrylics can be made to be seamless, so you don't see any seams at all. But they are very very expensive. Great care must be taken when cleaning acrylics so as to not scratch them. One of the huge reasons I prefer glass tanks. More resistant to scratches.

[doug z]

Yeah, bad choice of words..

Rimless, aquascape-contest worthy is what I mean..

[hpt84]

Do they do freshwater tanks?

Are they ALL custom, or do they have stock sizes?

Low iron, "starphire" glass?
The iron cause glass to have a green tint to it, so low iron would mean no green tint

[doug z]

The iron cause glass to have a green tint to it, so low iron would mean no green tint

Yup, that's what I'm getting at.. :)

Low Iron = Better