PlanetCatfish.com

I really want to do this river tank with a pair of Chaestomas. The problem my college has a rather draconian 10 gallon rule. The obvious answer is a custom acrylic tank of 10 gallons. The way to keep the tank low on gallonage is to go with a low height.

How low can I build this without running into problems? The only one I can really see is fitting the powerhead under the water level. Additionally, I wonder how much a large powerhead would warm such a small tank by volume.

According to my calculations I could do 48x 8 x 6 inches. Go shorter and wider? What about powerheads? I have no idea what would be suitable since it would be such an odd size.

I would build the tank a little bigger... build it so it is around 13 gallons. Maybe something on the size of 8"wide *11high *22 long. you then could run a powerhead on one end and then setup a return end on the other side of the tank.
See this link http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9408

Good luck.

If I were to do that, that is almost a standard 10 gallon, which I was assured would not work and create a directional current.

And the size is the limiting factor, I have a 20 long, but i can not use it due to school regulations. They may not notice, but it wouldnt be fun if they did.

11 inches tall seems a waste of space for a pair of plecos too.

You can set up a river tank in a 20 long pretty easy. It would totally work. The dimensions I gave you where a little smaller than a 20 long and a little narrower. I am in the process of setting up a 20long to bred L46 in.

Are you limited by tank capacity, or actual water volume?

The acrylic tank can be drilled so I would look into drilling each end, installing fittings and using external pumps or canisters which would also add to your water volume without making your tank any bigger than the official allowed size,this would also leave more living space for the fish in such a small area.

Birger