Questions on big tank

[anzai]

For a 6*2*2 ft tank w/ aro,

Can a braceless tank be used? Should it be used in the first place?
How thick should the tank be with bracing and without bracing?
Are the dimensions suitable for aro? The width has to be 2ft, otherwise I cannot reach the back bottom of the tank.

Thanks!

[vinz]

You can use a braceless tank if you want, but... how are you going to support the tank covers that prevent the arowana from jumping out?

Other then that reason, braced tanks are probably safer then an braceless one. A large panicked arowana can exert a lot of force against the glass.

If you are going to use a cannister filter, the pipes/hoses going into the tank will cause a gap in the covers... even if the gap is big enough for the arowana to just fit through, it CAN jump through that gap. It happened to me. So, make sure you cut the covers so that they can accomodate the plumbing and still reach the walls of the tank.

As for glass thickness, ask the tank maker. They will know what is safe for a normal (with or without braces) tank. To be doubly safe, and if you can afford it, ask them to make it thicker. It'll be cheaper if you get the braced tank and then ask for the glass to be thicker (braceless tank already use thicker glass and you ask them to use thicker... more $$$).

6'x2'x2' should last the arowana quite a number of years, but I often see people recommending 2.5' width to accomodate the older arowanas... which can exceed 2ft in length but seldom exceed 2.5' in length (unless they are really really old).