36" or 48" wide tank-will be viewed front and back

[BradR]

Planning on getting a glass cages starfire tank built for the basement to separate the basement area into 2 "room" spaces. Probably a 130" or 96" long aquarium by maybe 30" tall.
My wife thinks 48" is too wide but I'm worried 36" won't be enough width to arrange the rock so the aquarium and coral can be viewed on both sides.
Any thoughts one which width would be best for this application?
Thanks for any recommendations!

 

[Nanook]

Depending on your budget, the 48" tank will require almost double the light of the 36" tank....if that is a factor.

I think the 36" tank would work more than adequately.

 

[swannking]

Go as wide as you can. You won't regret it.

 

[waynem]

IMO go wide !!

The extra depth will give u a lot more options on a tank with 2 side views

 

[coralreeffarm]

Brad,
IMO i would go with a 48'' wide aquarium on that length.Workable from both sides.....nice.My personal is 42'' wide.

Jeff

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I would prefer the wider tank, but Nanook has a good point. Look at your budget from both perspectives, set-up cost and long term operating costs. The extra width could have a big impact of both of those numbers.

 

[Reef Man]

Go with wider !!!!!

Sanjay has a tank with 48" wide and he is using just 3 MH !!

 

[Robb in Austin]

My opinion would be to do 36" on the 8 footer and 48" on the 10+ footer. I think the proportions work better that way.

Whatever you go with, we need a build thread!

 

[BradR]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. Plan to pull the trigger on a wide 8' long tank soon.

 

[porthios]

same exact situation for me. we compromised and went 42" wide.

good luck .

 

[Jar*Head]

If you decided to go with wider dimension, don't go with anything less than 30" tall. My tank is 96x48x24 and it looks like a giant frag tank from distance. Here is what i'm talking about....

I agree with nanook on the lighting. I am going to run 4x400w and 16 x 54w T-5 to be able to get the whole tank covered with light.....

 

[46bfinGA]

Well my tank is 8'x4'x30" and I will only be running 16-54 watt T5's using 2 -8 lamp Tek lights. So you can get by with less light IMO. You just have to position all the rock in the center of the tank.

I agree with Steve about the height of the tank. I sold my 500 gallon which was the same dimensions of Steve's for my current tank. The 30" height makes a huge difference on the overall look. It is harder to reach into but the overall look makes up for it.

 

[BradR]

Good point on the height. Thanks!