72x24x24 or 60x30x24?

mc-cro

mc-cro

(macro)
Since our 17" Derasa Clam has outgrown the 72g bowfront, the wife has finally agreed its time to upgrade our tank. (about time, I have had the bowfront for 10yrs now):thumbsup:

Now I am trying to decide what size tank to get. The other day I tried to talk her into a 48x36x24, but once we mocked it up in the room, she completely nixxed that idea. The 3ft plus 6' clearance for plumbing behind the tank just put it too far into the room, plus with a canopy, it would have overpowered the room. I may have been able to talk her into a topless tank that size, but with a 4yr old and a 2yr old, I just dont think topless is a risk I can take right now. ( I tried for several days, but lost the battle, she does have a degree in interior design :rolleyes:) So I have it narrowed down to these 2 "approved" tank sizes.

72x24x24(25?)

Pros: great length, lots of room for a rock wall, shallow enough front to back so you can get up close viewing of even the smaller stuff on the back rocks. extremely common, could pick one up comparatively cheap.

cons: lighting, I currently have 2x250MH, would have to bump that to at least 3, and purchase 3 lumenarcs or something. Another con is there is not the sand bed area that I could get with a deeper tank. I like the look of a lot of open sand, and LPS placement.

60x30x24
pros: the front to back depth is great, aquascaping is opened up, I could do a couple of islands, allowing lots of open sand bed. Plus, with a 30" side, that really makes for a full 3 sides viewable. I think I can get away with 2x250w on this tank with a couple of good reflectors, so I would not have to upgrade my lighting. I may be over optimistic on 2 MH covering a tank that size.

cons: Not a common tank, may have to have one custom built, based on some quick surfing, I think that will about triple the cost of the actual tank. That is a major concern. The depth front to back, although it is very cool, its hard to see the details on the coral in the back. I already have forehead prints all over my 72g bf, and its only 18" at its widest point, I may get fustrated not being able to closely examine coral at the back of the tank.

Any words of advice or input?
 
Thanks Berkeleaquaman, I dont really want anything that deep, I have short arms, and I can barely reach the bottom of my 25".

Zsqure, why yes, that does sway my decision some. I have PM'ed him. If that doesnt pan out, is there any other input?
 
If you can do the 60x30.. why not then the 72x30? The 72" length opens up possibilities to appropriately keep larger fish..
 
I think ChuckG has a good point....

However, money wise a 180 drilled is very common and very affordable. I have a 180 and I think that the 24 depth is perfect. Think about the money you could save, that would easily buy you another metal halide set up and 3 reflectors....


Chuck also brought up the point that larger fish will most likely prefer the 6ft wide vs the 2 1/2 ft. deep.


Id go with the 72x24x24.... stay away from the higher 210's ......
 
While that is true, that's actually over the limit of how big I really want go. 180g is already pushing my own limits, especially when I add in the total volume of water, including the 100g sump, and 40g frag tank. A 220+ would be nice, but the cost to stock, ongoing maintenance, effective waterchanges, and equipment push the cost factor beyond my price. I also have a very expensive sportbike and trackday hobby that can burn up a some serious cash.

Although, it is very tempting. I dont envision having too many large fish, maybe a tang or two. I would rather have more smaller schooling fish than a couple of larger fish. but, I may change my mind once I have the room for them.
 
Maybe you should give us an idea of what you want to stock fish and coral wise. I see you like clams and therfore I assume that is why you like the open sand Idea. I like the size of the custom one but thats me I like 3 viewing sides. You could do a fake back wall which could give you room to place corals and not need as much live rock on the sand bed. Where is it going in your house? Is there room for a peninsula type tank, b/c they make a great room divider (for your interior designer wife) you could rip out a non weight bearing wall and put a tank in its place.
 
I dont really have a fish list compiled yet. I usually just keep stuff like clown fish, cardinals, goby's, all small fish. (you cant fit much in a 72g) I keep a mixed reef, SPS and a few nice LPS as well. And of course, my one big clam, I have had him for 7years.

In the past we discussed the room divider for a peninsula tank, but the way our house is laid out, the only walls that it would work on were both load bearing. I know it can be done, and I even had the plans drawn out to put one in the kithen with a breakfast bar around it. That was back before kids, and clearly my objectives changed. So we scrapped that idea.

The tank is going in our den, and 6ft is the limit of length, as well as 30". She really only wants 24", but I think I can "surprise" her with a 30.

Based on all the factors, I am deciding between the sizes I posted. both have their plus and their minus.

I am really looking to hear what other people do or do not like about those 2 general tank sizes.
 
I would personally go with the 72" but in reading your posts it really seems like you want the shorter and deeper tank. If your not going with a lot of big fish, then maybe you should stick with the 60". If you're in the habit of keeping your tanks for 10+ years than I think you should spend the extra $ on a custom tank anyways. Go with options like an external overflow to gain very very valuable real estate in the tank.
 
The link that was posted earlier is a very nice tank. 180g, 60x26x24, 3 sides Starphire, PVC bottom, external overflow, and its only an 1hr away from me. I am seriously thinking that is the tank. Its still a lot more money than a typical garden variety 180g, but like Sedor said, if I am going to keep a tank for another 5-10yrs, then maybe I should spend a little more cash upfront.

Do you think 2 250W MH with lumenarcs could cover a 5ft tank?
 
i didnt priced any 60x30x24 with external overflows, but if you're going eurobraced, you can get that size(w/internal overflows) for less than 2K new. 3sided starphire.


~$1845 shipped from Miracles
60"x30x24(tall) 3-sided starphire and Euro Braced. I understand euro
braced can use 1/2" glass.
Click to expand...
 
Just a suggestion in another direction: perhaps you should move the new tank to another room that has more space to accommodate your preferred tank size (if possible) instead of trying to jam it in where there really isn't sufficient space.

Dave.M
 
mc-cro said:
The link that was posted earlier is a very nice tank. 180g, 60x26x24, 3 sides Starphire, PVC bottom, external overflow, and its only an 1hr away from me. I am seriously thinking that is the tank. Its still a lot more money than a typical garden variety 180g, but like Sedor said, if I am going to keep a tank for another 5-10yrs, then maybe I should spend a little more cash upfront.

Do you think 2 250W MH with lumenarcs could cover a 5ft tank?
Click to expand...

That tank is a tremendous value.. I am pretty sure at that price he is including the metal stand made by AGE as well so I'd imagine the warranty might be extended to the buyer.

I took a nice hard look at it but decided if I was going to upgrade.. I needed the 72" length only because of the fish I want to keep..
 
dave.m said:
Just a suggestion in another direction: perhaps you should move the new tank to another room that has more space to accommodate your preferred tank size (if possible) instead of trying to jam it in where there really isn't sufficient space.

Dave.M
Click to expand...

Thanks for the alternative option, we did consider other rooms. This is not a decision we made quickly, we have been talking about a tank up grade in this house for the last 5yrs. We even mocked up physical life size models in other areas of the house , but again, all things considered and evaluated, the tank is going into this room, and this is about the size tanks we are considering.
I would like to know if anyone can think of any major plus or minus that I am not considering on these 2 options.


That tank is a tremendous value.. I am pretty sure at that price he is including the metal stand made by AGE as well so I'd imagine the warranty might be extended to the buyer.
Click to expand...

It does include the stand. I'm known to my friends as a cheap SOB, but I may be able to part with some of my stashed cashed for a gem like that.
 
If your known as the CHEAP guy then your going to have to go with the 180.....

There are no standard tanks anywhere close to the size that you want except for the 180 that im am aware of.

Custom ='s big bucks


got my 180 perfecto with overflows, glass canopy, pine stand, 40g breeder/sump all for a very good packaged price. id call the LFS for a quote-
 
QUASIMOTO said:
I think ChuckG has a good point....

However, money wise a 180 drilled is very common and very affordable. I have a 180 and I think that the 24 depth is perfect. Think about the money you could save, that would easily buy you another metal halide set up and 3 reflectors....


Chuck also brought up the point that larger fish will most likely prefer the 6ft wide vs the 2 1/2 ft. deep.


Id go with the 72x24x24.... stay away from the higher 210's ......
Click to expand...

Since you're putting this much thought into it, you could plan around a taller tank. For example, build a shorter stand and get a 4-5" sand bed that you could always cover up and still have 25" worth of glass. This is nice if you like critters that like to burrow such as jawfish or wrasses. Of course this depends on where your sump and other tanks are.
 
Berkeley-has another good point.... I would have liked the 30 or even 36 wide, however there are no standard tanks that size. I too think that deeper is better than length. Again, those are going to cost him tho-and he has already stated that money IS an issue.
 
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