Deciding on how tall... help

[jeremyjoslin]

I'm planning my dream DT and looking at the wonderful selection and prices of tanks on glasscages.com compared with a stock Marineland 300dd.

The Marineland is almost out of the running because I really don't like the corner overflows and getting a moddded tank from them feels like an exercise in futility. I really like the size though.

Glasscages has a few similar sizes and I can mod the overflow locations sooo easily (like on one end of the tank like I want).

My question is how should I decide on a tank height? GC offers several tanks in the 72" x 36" footprint with various heights. I LOVE the look of a taller tank, but the extra height has some disadvantages in my mind. Am I thinking too much?

- need stronger lighting
- can't reach down into tank
- extra weight on floor

Here's the way I explain these away:
- I plan on mounting AI Sol's in the canopy. High requirement corals can be located directly under lights at appropriate depth on LR islands.
- do people really use a mask and go under water when tending to a deeper tank?
- I have a contractor coming to do whatever it takes to reinforce the floor where the tank is going. His work will be guided by an appropriate engineer.

Background: tank will be an open reefscape with a few coral islands. Lots of room for fish predominant tank. Several, but not primarily, SPS. Lots of LPS.

The choices are 25" tall, 30.5" tall, and 36.5" tall. Are these difference even significant besides the better look?

 

[kalgra]

I know this in no way answers any of your questions but you should also consider Miracles in glass if you are going custom. I have had both Glass Cages and Miracles custom tanks. Miracles wins hands down for quality and customer service. I do recall they are slightly more expensive but IMO the extra cost is negligible in comparison to what you get.

I personally Like a tank that is about 30" tall. Seem like a happy medium.

 

[gveng]

how tall are you and how long is your reach?

also decide how wet you want to get when doing tank maintenance; e.i. 25" = only arm wet, 30" = arm and arm pit wet, 36" = snorkel with upper body wet.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

how tall are you and how long is your reach?

also decide how wet you want to get when doing tank maintenance; e.i. 25" = only arm wet, 30" = arm and arm pit wet, 36" = snorkel with upper body wet.

I'm 5'9". I like to stay out of my tank as much as possible.

 

[gveng]

I'm 5'9". I like to stay out of my tank as much as possible.

my height, I would definitely not suggest anything over 30" then.

 

[Capt_Cully]

This is certainly a powder keg. I have heard horrible things about GC. Randy O out of Buffalo, owner of A Reef Creation, has had SEVERAL mishaps as well as complaints about quality. He has had many many many tanks made by Miracles in Canada and is their biggest champion in our local circle. I've seen their work. Its nice.

My personal tank is a Marineland that I had pulled off the seduction line PRE overflow installation. I don't know how much of a struggle it was, and can't recall if it cost more OR less to do it. I had someone fashion an overflow box out of black acrylic. I drilled it. I installed it using a "beananimal" overflow system and it truly is whisper quiet.

I'm 6'1" and if I try to place a coral towards the back of the tank, we're talkin' shirt off, arm, face, nipples, in the water. I can't fathom (pun is intended) a 36 inch deep tank. If I had it to do over, and could afford custom, I'd want maybe 2 inches shaved off the height. BUT overall, I'm happy.

I think the only way I'm going to be of any meaningful help, is for you to come by and see it for yourself. Bring 2 shirts.

 

[dave.m]

If you look a few pages past you'll see this question comes up often, and the replies are much the same. The taller the tank the more important it becomes that you have top access from as many sides as possible, as the farther it is for you to reach from side to side plus depth can make a lot of trouble for you. You can get long reaching tools to keep a lot of yourself out of the tank but if you can't even see the far side to know what you are doing with the long tools you are constantly going to have difficulties.

All that said, I agree that a taller tank looks great. A good ratio is that the tank should be no taller than it is wide on a rectangular tank. A wider tank will always appear to have greater depth of field.

Dave.M

 

[jeremyjoslin]

This is certainly a powder keg. I have heard horrible things about GC. Randy O out of Buffalo, owner of A Reef Creation, has had SEVERAL mishaps as well as complaints about quality. He has had many many many tanks made by Miracles in Canada and is their biggest champion in our local circle. I've seen their work. Its nice.

My personal tank is a Marineland that I had pulled off the seduction line PRE overflow installation. I don't know how much of a struggle it was, and can't recall if it cost more OR less to do it. I had someone fashion an overflow box out of black acrylic. I drilled it. I installed it using a "beananimal" overflow system and it truly is whisper quiet.

I'm 6'1" and if I try to place a coral towards the back of the tank, we're talkin' shirt off, arm, face, nipples, in the water. I can't fathom (pun is intended) a 36 inch deep tank. If I had it to do over, and could afford custom, I'd want maybe 2 inches shaved off the height. BUT overall, I'm happy.

I think the only way I'm going to be of any meaningful help, is for you to come by and see it for yourself. Bring 2 shirts.

Thanks. Meaningful advice. Looks like the "tallness" of your tank is 27"... so you would advocate for the 25" option I mentioned?

I'm just infatuated by the response and customer care from GC. I went to their website, clicked some box, and they emailed me in hours with a full quote by a human being. After weeks of trying to get a meaningful quote on a marineland (with mods) I'm still not sure where the price will land except that it will be "about a thousand" more than production.

I'll give Miracles a try by email...

 

[jeremyjoslin]

If you look a few pages past you'll see this question comes up often, and the replies are much the same. The taller the tank the more important it becomes that you have top access from as many sides as possible, as the farther it is for you to reach from side to side plus depth can make a lot of trouble for you. You can get long reaching tools to keep a lot of yourself out of the tank but if you can't even see the far side to know what you are doing with the long tools you are constantly going to have difficulties.

All that said, I agree that a taller tank looks great. A good ratio is that the tank should be no taller than it is wide on a rectangular tank. A wider tank will always appear to have greater depth of field.

Dave.M

I've been enjoying this forum, but missed those threads. Will take a further look.

 

[Capt_Cully]

The hidden bugaboo of the Marineland is that there is a 2" trim piece on the top and bottom of the tank. This makes it stand higher. But it also makes the advertised depth of 27" actually 29" when reaching over the top down to the floor of the tank. Id love that to be 27" overall. The actual profile of the tank, including trim is 31" if I recall correctly. Mine cleared by MILLIMETERS when we moved it into the house. The advertised depth and actual profile differ by about 4". Fairly significant when referring to the rigid measurements of doorways.

Why not let ABC or the shop of your choice do the dirty work and make these calls for you. I know ABC doesn't make much if anything on tanks. They make money when you fill your tank with salt and livestock. They got my tank for me. It was cheaper than Miracles as I recall, BUT, had I the means, I would have liked a shorter tank.

You really need to see one in person before you pull any triggers. My 200 is HUGE in person.