Better to have a deep tank or wide tank?

[Capsle]

Hey Reefers,

So I'm preparing a new build, 180g 8' tank.

My plan is to go 96x24x18. My question is should the tank be wider or deeper? Does it really make a difference with these dimensions? I could also go 96x24x24 and bring it to 240g.

I know most of you will say go for the 240g just wondering what your thoughts are.


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[jacob.morgan78]

I've read that it's better to have more surface area. It should be deeper from front to back than from top to bottom if that makes sense. The closer you can get to that, the better.

 

[scooter31707]

I am cycling my 240 upgrade now. I really think a wider is better, it makes the aquascape much better with more options.

 

[Geissijs]

I've got a 110, its 30" deep. I'm 6' tall, I DO NOT like getting my whole arm wet to reach the bottom when something falls down. I believe most fish would like to swim the distance left to right rather than up and down.

 

[gone fishin]

I would prefer width to height. I personally would not go over 24" height. My reasons are, over 24" it gets really tough to do maintenance and the deeper the tank the harder it gets for lighting to penetrate to the bottom.

 

[hartin461]

Had a 180 open on both sides and it definitely was better than the 125 I have now. It was 24 wide and scaped down the middle, looked much nicer.I`d go the 18 deep and 24 wide, and go as long as you got room...lol

 

[GimpyFin]

I think pretty much everybody will say go as big as you can (Length and width), within practical limits. I have the same 110 tank as Geissijs. It's tricky reaching to the bottom when I need to, but I do like the look of a taller tank. Since I only could go about 18" wide and 48" long due to space constraints, I went tall. Several of my smaller fish like to use the space up top to swim rather than down in the rocks.

 

[nereefpat]

There are some fish that would need a tank that is taller than 18", especially if you add sand. Sailfin tangs and batfish for example.

Tall tanks look bigger/better to the untrained eye.

 

[mcgyvr]

For the most part is personal preference..

 

[kyle.nagel13]

Having bought a 6' 125g, I wish I would have gone with the 180g. The narrow width was a pain.

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[anthonys51]

just go 24x24. i have learned when it comes to tanks, go as big as your space and bucket will take. if you go 96x18x24 or 96x24x18 you will wish down the road you went bigger. i would go 96x30x28 if its in your budget.

can i ask how is making your tank and what they charge. i am in the process of buying a big tank, probably go with the stock 265 just because its the biggest you can go stock. dont like the 300 dd too deep.

 

[MarkW64]

There are a number of trade-offs between width and height, and much of it comes down to personal preference. Also, it is not always an either/or decision between the two. Sometimes we first decide on our "footprint" (lenghth and width), and then decide high high to go.
I recently replaced my old 180 which was 6'x2'x2'. I couldn't change the footprint since it had been designed into our custom floorplan and custom cabinentry. I could, however, change my height. I ended up with a 230g which is 31'' high. I much prefer the extra height, mostly because I view my mixed reef as a model of a real reef: the extra height gives more room for sloping my aquascape from reef crest all the way down to sandy bottom. It doesn't bother me that strong light doesn't penetrate to the bottom, in fact, I dont want it to! Sure, it's harder to reach the bottom, but I can deal with it. It helps that I'm 6'2'', and I save some of my work for when I've dropped my water level 6 inches during a water change.
Of course in my case, since adding height was the only way to expand, did I really have a choice? How many of us want to replace a tank and not "go bigger"? :rollface:

 

[anthonys51]

^

Why 28 inches deep? Has it got any special advantage? 18-24 is more than enough.

nope 28 inches in what i can reach the bottom of the tank with my arm.
lol so its the most height i can go without a step stool
but perosanlly i think 18 inches in a 8 foot tank might not be tall enough imo, and 18 deep limits your landscaping imo also

 

[MarkW64]

Also, another way of thinking about height:

I think of my tank as a living piece of art. Even though depth front-to-back has all sorts of implications for aquascaping, surface area, etc., it's the dimensions of the primary viewing surface of the tank that determine the shape of the "art". To me, even though "long and low" is interesting, I prefer tanks with more height.

 

[aznflyfisherman]

Depends on your preference..but .shallow n wider tanks makes it easier for aquascape n maintence.

 

[Capsle]

just go 24x24. i have learned when it comes to tanks, go as big as your space and bucket will take. if you go 96x18x24 or 96x24x18 you will wish down the road you went bigger. i would go 96x30x28 if its in your budget.

can i ask how is making your tank and what they charge. i am in the process of buying a big tank, probably go with the stock 265 just because its the biggest you can go stock. dont like the 300 dd too deep.

I'm getting the glass cut at a local shop and will be assembling it myself. Depending on the size I'm looking at around 500-700$.


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[anthonys51]

I'm getting the glass cut at a local shop and will be assembling it myself. Depending on the size I'm looking at around 500-700$.


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your going to glue a 180 or 240 gallon tank yourself your braver than me. i would have 200 gallons of water all over my floor

 

[Capsle]

your going to glue a 180 or 240 gallon tank yourself your braver than me. i would have 200 gallons of water all over my floor

I will obviously test it outside before bringing it in but I'm not too worried about it.


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[anthonys51]

I will obviously test it outside before bringing it in but I'm not too worried about it.


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Good luck


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[Ron Reefman]

Cap, I had a 180g (6'x2'x2') and now I have a 125g (5'x2'x20") and I like the shallower tank much better.

Have you ever built a tank before? Are you putting anything besides wet silicone between the panels? Are you setting the side glass on top of the bottom glass or on the outside of the bottom glass? Are you using a frame or euro bracing or just thick enough glass to go rimless?

I've built 5 tanks over the last 4 years and doing one that big still scares me. I'm just finishing a 2'x2'x20" 50g tank and in the past I've done 3 for me and 2 for friends. I have an old 180g that leaked and I'm planing to tear it apart, clean it up and reassemble it with a euro brace.