200 vs. 220

[vetdog]

Looking to purchase a large tank soon. Stuck between these two tanks. 200 gallon : 48x36x27 or 220 gallon : 72x24x30 gallon. Both with starfire glass in the front. I know its mostly a matter of personal preference but what are some of the pros and cons? Thanks for your help!!

 

[Jflip2002]

Id go with the 200g personally, myself. I like the depth of a tank that goes back 36". That is the deciding factor, if I were to choose a tank. Though, if you are a huge fan of tangs, you may want to go with the 72" tank, to give them more length to zoom up and down.

I currently have a 24x24x24 60g cube, which I thought went back nice and deep. I also have a 60x36x24 190g tank, and youd really be amazed how much that extra 12" back really does for the tank's aquascape possibilities. Its the perfect sized tank for me IMO, Id just make it 4-10" taller if I could do it over.

Also, if you go with a 48" tank, rather than 72" tank, you can get away with running (2) halides with a good reflector, rather than the 3 you would need for the 72" tank.

The 200 gets my vote.

 

[Macimage]

I prefer the longer tank as it seems that larger active fish such as tangs have more room to swim.

Joyce

 

[ClownNut]

i will go for the 72LX30WX24H
for me longer & wider tank = better tank
you can use 5' T5 over the whole tank, no heat, less cost to run it, and only change light bulb every 18-24 months.

 

[Jflip2002]

The 200g is wider..... if its length, width, heighth. Either way, I think theyre solid. Kinda depends on if you want a bunch of tangs or not...

 

[vetdog]

I'm so torn...

 

[lowendmelody]

220!!!! for sure!

 

[ConcreteReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12423495#post12423495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ClownNut
i will go for the 72LX30WX24H
for me longer & wider tank = better tank
you can use 5' T5 over the whole tank, no heat, less cost to run it, and only change light bulb every 18-24 months.

T5's put off the same heat as any bulb that has equivalent wattage.
For instance- 5 x54w T5's will put out as much heat as a 250w MH (a little more actually, 5x54 =270 watts).. A watt is a watt-

Take it from me, I've recently switched from MH to T5's.


Go with the 200g, Those dimensions sound great!

 

[ClownNut]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12446152#post12446152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ConcreteReefer
T5's put off the same heat as any bulb that has equivalent wattage.
For instance- 5 x54w T5's will put out as much heat as a 250w MH (a little more actually, 5x54 =270 watts).. A watt is a watt-

Take it from me, I've recently switched from MH to T5's.


Go with the 200g, Those dimensions sound great!

it's 5 foot not 5 T5

i should have say it a little more clear, they put out the same amount of heat, but T5 not like MH, the heat separate out through the whole bulbs. instand the MH focus on one spot, so even with 80X6=480w, you wouldnt have heat issue like MH.

 

[package]

If my focus was coral I would go with the shorter tank.

If I was doing a reef but wanted it well stocked with fish particularly algae eating tangs - I would go with the 6'.

I went 6' and would have went 7 or 8' if it would have fit the area in my house - because my preference/focus was more fish (length for swimming) than coral. The deeper /taller tanks are much tougher for cleaning and landscaping.



short tank

 

[ConcreteReefer]

Does length matter when Fish swim? They are going to have 1728 sq. inches of swimming room either way..

The longer tank, the can swim back & forth.. The shorter, deeper tank they can swim in a continuous circle if you setup the rock right.

 

[Untamed12]

I like the 200. As long as you don't just pile the rock along the back wall, you'll have happy Tangs. The 220 would just look like a flat picture on the wall...the 200 will have more interesting depth.