Water Height / Depth, Ideal Tank height, best depth Options

[YLD]

Hi,

Anyone got any idea what the idea tank depth/ height for both top view and side view ranchu?

[awrieger]

I've read in CP's Beginner's Guide to Goldfish Keeping thread that 2 foot depth is fine for goldfish. Yet I just read a thread on arofanatics.com where 10 inches is recommended as the maximum.

Also, a few years ago, the old fellow running the shop where I buy my goldfish said they don't like more than 14 to 18 inches (we were discussing the big 4'x2'x2' display tank he had in his shop and why he was going to take it away). I respect his opinion and experience as he's the probably the only real expert on goldfish I've ever spoken to in person, but I haven't been able to find any scientific information to back it up, either in books or on the internet. In fact, I find many differing opinions about depth!

My question is because my Ryukins are getting large, and I want to give them at least 100 to 130 litres each of water so they keep growing healthily. To do this in the limited space I have, I can't go sideways by getting longer tanks, so I need to go up by getting deeper and higher tanks to give them more water volume. They're currently averaging about 40 litres each in the various smaller tanks they're in now, which is not nearly enough now they're reaching 4 to 5 inches or more in height (belly to back). It's too much work for me just to keep the water quality under control and there's no margin for error if I get lazy about it.

So I'd like to move three ryukins into my 4'x2'x2' tank (400 litres) which is currently a planted tank, to give them 130 litres each. Actually, the exact same size tank as the one the old fellow got rid of for being too deep! So I'm unsure if it's the right thing to do. I assume the pressure would be slightly more than a same-length 4' tank only 19 inches high and 14 inches deep, but would that be enough to make a difference? Does anyone know, or can point me in the right direction to find out? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

For your reference, here is an example of my situation. This is my largest when I first bought it in January this year, and then later this year. Also, a recent video if you're interested. I'd like to watch them grow even more, and not lose them in the process, so 40 litres per fish is not enough. I/they need more water. But how, if it's not a good idea to go deeper? Or is it?

[CP]

So I'd like to move three ryukins into my 4'x2'x2' tank (400 litres) which is currently a planted tank, to give them 130 litres each. Actually, the exact same size tank as the one the old fellow got rid of for being too deep! So I'm unsure if it's the right thing to do.

No problems housing these ryukins in 2ft depth water.In fact, very large ryukins actually needs deeper water.

I used to have large ryukins, and during water change,as the water level decreases during siphoning, these ryukins actually topple over when the water gets too shallow.