240 vs 300 vs 360 gallon reef tank - advice needed!

[mcurtis]

Ok i am in need of some advice here. I am debating between a 240 gallon (96x24x24), a 300 gallon (96x30x24) or a 360 gallon (96x30x36). This will be a reef tank with fish. I rather have alot more smaller, different corals and such vs a few of really large corals. I really don't want people to say get the biggest tank, just because its the biggest tank and big tanks are cool I am looking for bang for the buck vs wow factor here. I have been giving this alot of thought and now i'm in the planning stages of this. I didn't know if it got WAY more expensive the bigger i got or what. Any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[huge1day]

Everyone seems to be voting for the 300 gallon. But I would make one more suggestion. A tank that is 96x30x30. You would get the depth and height that would allow for a nice aquascape.

Bart

 

[Kreeger1]

I have a 360 and love it

 

[eisaiasjr]

Shallow

Shallow

Hello:

I personally like the shallow tanks if you are going rimless, shallow (24 inch) rimless tanks allow you to view it from the top. If you are not going rimless then get the deepest tank possible.

 

[jmigchelbrink]

the shallower the tank the easier to light the bottom.


but bigger is generally cooler

 

[sfsuphysics]

While I really dislike the issues of a tall tank with cleaning inside it, I do have to admit those who do have them really do look quite impressive in person... I just don't want to think about cleaning them

That being said if possible I'd go for the widest front to back depth you could, trading off against height. But that's not an option in your choice

 

[BigJay]

It depends on what you want to keep and what you have to spend.

240 is obviously the cheapest in lighting, filtration, salt cost, replacement RO water, heating, cooling, etc. But you won't be able to keep some of the larger tangs due to the limited front to back spacing and the liverock. The other tanks will let you keep a better diversity of fish and corals, but at a significant greater cost.

 

[Theron]

If my math is correct a (96x30x36) tank is 448 gallons. Did you mean (96x30x30)?

My Tank is 48 inches deep front to back. I love the depth and if I was going to do a large tank I would do no less than 36 if I could fit it in the space.

My tank is 30 inches tall. I would not want to go 6 inches shallower. It can be a pain to reach the bottom, but I work around it. I might even try 36 inches if I were to do it all over again.

So I guess what I am saying is I would rather give up some tank length for more depth and height.

Theron

 

[LOTUS50GOD]

I think 30" tall is the highest you want to go in a reef.
I would vote for get the longest and widest tank your budget and wife allow... LOL....

My next build is probably going to a 72x72x30 or an 84x84x30.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Wow your wife will let you have that? Does she have a sister? (shhh don't tell mine I said that)

 

[mcurtis]

Ack good catch Theron.. 96Lx30Dx24T and 96Lx36Dx24T. Now i can always switch the dimensions around to be 24 wide, etc.. these are some basic ones i am throwing out to you guys. I am just not sure how much more for example a 240 vs 300 vs 360 would be.. if its a crap ton more, or if its marginal.. for example.. i have to buy pump A for the 240 well for 60 bucks more i can have a pump that will work for the 300.. to me thats marginal... now filling it on the other hand Also what about the lighting.. if i do 24" T do i do 250 MH lighting.. what if i step up to 30" T can i still do the 250 MH or do i need to step upto 400 MH at that point... i know it depends on what im keeping. I understand maintenance will be more, salt, chemicals, food, etc.. just didnt know if there was a size and price vs wow point that says.. well the best bang for the buck is ___. The difference in a 240 vs 300 is about this much approx in setup ____ and maintenance will be approx this much more____.

 

[Jflip2002]

36" would be hell. I voted the 300g. Id rather run 250w halides instead of 400w. If I had it my way though, Id make it deeper front to back. Id go 36" front to back, thats what mine is, and I love it. Looks like your mind is set on a 8 footer, though.

 

[mcurtis]

So 24" tall should allow me to use the 250 MH? What if i did a 30" depth? Ya, i really like the Length of a 8 foot tank.. something about it just screams "HEY, im a serious reefer head" I think i have it narrowed down to the 3.. just not sure which one due to TOTAL price consideration...

 

[Jflip2002]

72X36X24 saves you an entire halide, so you only need 3 as opposed to 4. And its still ~270g.

 

[marinelife]

The more water the better, I voted for the 360.
My current tank is 8 foot and I only use 3 MHs
My next tank will be 8 foot as well but I am going with 4 MHs just so I can have a variety of bulb colors.

 

[happyclam]

As a general rule, I would always reccomend having the tank wider than taller- gives you more aquascaping possibilities. Like you said- 8' tank definately cool. Look up Reef Eds new 295 gal tank- it is only 27" tall and looks pretty classy with the height, so I think you wouldn't need to go any taller than 30", with a 36" lenght be pretty cool.

 

[Kreeger1]

My tank is 8 foot long 24 inches tall and 36 wide, a little different then the 360 you had in mind

 

[mcurtis]

Ya i think my dimensions were off.. do u have pics of that tank by chance?

 

[Tangwich]

How about 8 feet in length by 36 in depth by 27 in height? Oh wait, that's MY next tank. lol

 

[Jflip2002]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13210328#post13210328 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kreeger1
My tank is 8 foot long 24 inches tall and 36 wide, a little different then the 360 you had in mind

Now THATS an awesome size.