Who in the world wants a hot firebox sticking out 3 and a half feet? Really makes it impractical to feed and maintain a fire at that depth. Building a square box from plate will allow you to size it properly for better aesthetics, functionality and usability. If you are doing a quality build and plan on using it for many years, I think you will be happy you went to the extra effort.
If this is a budget build, the small tank will work, won't be ideal in any aspect.