Folks with a 240......how do you feel about dimensions?

[mattsilvester]

Hi guys,

I've been trying to find pics of 240 (8x2x2) tanks..... FO / FOWLR / Reef / whatever.......

I'm going to be laying down the cash to order one this weekend and just want to see a few set ups to be sure I am ordering the right size, and configuration etc.

I'd particularly like to see tanks with / without DSB's........
While I am not a fan of DSB's in general, I have not counted one out...... and can't help but feel that 4" of sand = 20" of water, which is going to look very long and shallow...... maybe I need a 300..... hence the reason I would like to see pics... preferably lots of them.

And finally, I'd like to hear how folks feel about the dimensions of their 240's......

Thanks guys,

Matt

 

[anjhof]

I'll throw out my opinion. I have a 210 - just set up this month. The extra depth is beautiful to look at but a major pain to reach the bottom. I am 6' 2" and can barely reach the bottom while standing on a step ladder. Here is a picture before I finished the stand and canopy:

I know that most people that see a 210 freak out at the size. I can't imagine how big a 240 would look in a room. My family room is 19x20 and it definitely dominates the room. Also, keep in mind that the extra 2 feet will add another light, cause you to have to buy more rock, sand, and possibly pumps. Hopefully you have a dedicated circuit or two for all the electrical.

 

[Goldleaf Reef]

I Think a 240 is great, it's big but not tooo Big, If you plan to possible go bigger down the road, then I would go that route, Max out your space. I had a 240 acrylic loved it, I've had it for 5 years. But now I need (note the word need) a 500 to do what I want.

with your 240 running costs will be maniagble..

 

[HornetMech242]

I am about to order a 240 thats going to be 72x30x25. The 25 is not too tall to do maintenance and 30 wide gives enough space to do good aquascaping. I will also be able to use three 250 watt MH with lumenarc III's to save on some power.

Chris

 

[angelo68]

I just got my 240 last weekend. 72 x 30 x 25

So far I love it and can't wait to see it setup.

 

[tony13]

Well I'm close with a 210. It's 84" long x 25" high and 24" deep. It's also a flat back hex which means the front 2 corners are 45 degree angled. I'm happy with the length but wish it was 120" long. The height is good cause being 6' tall I just reach the bottom. The depth I had to settle for at 24", if you can go at least 30" I would do that, it would give you more aquascaping possibilties. I had to settle with the length and depth because of the location of the tank. The tank is also bare bottom so I'm getting the full 25" height.

 

[mattsilvester]

We thanks for the input guys. Unlike you 6' footers, I suffer from ducks disease (that is my butt is too close to the floor), and stand at a mere 5'8" or 5'9". So I suppose the 25" height is about the most I should go really.

I've been hearing allot about going deeper (as in front to back). I might push it out to 27", but that would be pushing my luck..... it is effectively going into an alcove, so I am restricted that way.... guess I'll get out the tape this evening and have another look to see if I could manage it.

Thanks for all the input folks....... my only other dilema now is where to put the overflows. They cannot be external, must be through the base, but I am very undecided whether to go for a large (12"x9") single over flow in the centre back, or in one corner, or whether to go for the stnadard overflows - 1 in each corner.

Thanks again guys, I'll post pics when all is done and dusted.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[hobogato]

here is my 240 from glasscages. it is the 8'x2'x2' version. i have it as a room divider so it is visible from both big sides. therefore, i have the overflows in the end

 

[mattsilvester]

nice tank hobogato - thankd for sharing - I like the "open" structure of the LR. You obviously like tangs .....

Having considered pretty much everything, I think I will go with the standard configuration of an overflow in each corner. my only problem now is what size to make them. Bigger is obviously better for servicing etc, but it also means less real estate.

So - if you have corner overflows, how big are they?

Thanks again to everyone.
Regards,

Matt

 

[Waxxiemann]

hey hobogato, I really like your tank. How many/what kind of lights do you have in that bad boy. What do you have for flow in such a long tank. You can just PM me if you prefer.

Thanks,
Waxx

 

[hobogato]

thanks for the compliments - my overflows are the "standard" size of the overflows that glasscages puts in 10" x 6.5" this allow for a drain hole and a return hole in the bottom of each. if i were doiing a tank viewable from one large side, i would probably go with a calfo type overflow on the back or on one end to conserve tank floorspace.

 

[Goldleaf Reef]

Angelo68 , is that 240 grom Glass Cages ?

short hijack, returning to seat

 

[mattsilvester]

Thanks again for the inputs people

hobogato - your the second person that said about one large overflow. If I were to go down that route, what size should I go for? I would realistically need to have 2 no. 2" drain holes - maybe 2 no. 1" return holes? What sort of chamber size is going to be needed to accomodate these features?

Cheers,

Matt

 

[reeferman75]

I have a 240 96x24x25 the only thing I would do different now is to go wider then 24" onther then that I love it

 

[rxinc]

2 no. 2" drain holes - maybe 2 no. 1" return holes?

Seems kinda big.

I have a 215 ( 72x24x29H) tank that after reading that oversized drains were the way to go - I had Oceanic oversize them to 1.5 in. on each of the two back -near corner- overflows which measure 5in. x 9in. each, it cost me an xtra 300.00 and wasn't worth it. I ended up putting a valve on the drains to slow down the flow b/c of the noise created when just gravity fed.

your the second person that said about one large overflow

I do think two sets of drains ( 1 in. or 1.25) and two returns ( 3/4 in. ) -even if you put them into one large overflow- is a good idea b/c of safety (ie. redundancy) concerns.

 

[rayman45]

8 x 2 x 2 is mint sizee

 

[hobogato]

i have two 2" bulkheads for drains and two 1" bulkheads for returns. the advantage to the 2" bulkhead is you can use 2" plumbing for your standpipe (i have home made durso type) and smaller tubing for the actual drain (i run 1 1/4" vinyl tubing) to keep the noise down.

as far as size, you could do an overflow that is 4' long but only 8" down from the top and 4" in from the back. have your drain holes drilled in the back. if i am not mistaken, the hole for a 2" bulkhead is 3", so it needs to be at least 3" from the top edge of the tank. it would look something like this one that i built attached to the back of the tank

 

[mattsilvester]

I won't have sufficient space at the sides or back to have the side walls drilled. Its got to come through the base of the tank - but thanks for the pics anyway hobogato.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9127250#post9127250 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hobogato
here is my 240 from glasscages. it is the 8'x2'x2' version. i have it as a room divider so it is visible from both big sides. therefore, i have the overflows in the end

This is BEAUTIFUL!!
My 240 is a FOWLR. 96x24x24. I prefer the longer length. Its funny, it seemed HUGE when I first got it but I would LOVE a bigger tank [like 800 gallons!] But for me, not possible. If you can go bigger, do it!
I am NOT going to post A pic of my FOWLR after this beauty was posted...puts me to shame!!

 

[hobogato]

thanks kim - ill bet yours is just as nice if not nicer