It's been a really long time since I had my last tank and I stopped lurking these forums. (At least 15 years). My youngest son recently started his own aquascaping project and while driving him around to a few shops, I just fell in love again with the idea of a new tank now that the wife and I have more time on my hands.
We have a 16ft living room wall and I will remove the TV so this will be the masterpiece of the room. This being said, I have been doing my "homework" and notice that technology has changed dramatically over the past couple of years.
I was looking at an 8ft tank and thought that a 30" wide and probably 30" high would be a nice looking size, but it seems that everyone recommends a 25" high in order to be able to work with the tank and reach the bottom. (Both the wife and I don't have long arms. We are just 5'9").
I checked the planet aquarium website and see their tanks. 96"x30"x25" which I assume is 30" wide and 25" high, so I have a couple of questions for you to help me make a decision.
1) Should I stick with a 25" high tank or is it OK to go higher? I guess at that point it will have to be a custom tank, right?
2) Before you ask: I plan on reef & some fish.
3) I know that a lot of people prefer external overflow, but with 30" wide and I know the wife wants the tank as close to the wall as possible, will internal overflow work or should I just stop whining and go for the external?
4) Their Crystaline series does not have a 96x30x25, but their Mega-Matrix does. I assume I want the crystal front glass?
5) I have been reading a LOT over the last two weeks or so, but I will probably post a few more questions about what other gear should I get for the system (Skimmer, Pumps, Sump, Etc).
I will appreciate any help you can provide.
We have a 16ft living room wall and I will remove the TV so this will be the masterpiece of the room. This being said, I have been doing my "homework" and notice that technology has changed dramatically over the past couple of years.
I was looking at an 8ft tank and thought that a 30" wide and probably 30" high would be a nice looking size, but it seems that everyone recommends a 25" high in order to be able to work with the tank and reach the bottom. (Both the wife and I don't have long arms. We are just 5'9").
I checked the planet aquarium website and see their tanks. 96"x30"x25" which I assume is 30" wide and 25" high, so I have a couple of questions for you to help me make a decision.
1) Should I stick with a 25" high tank or is it OK to go higher? I guess at that point it will have to be a custom tank, right?
2) Before you ask: I plan on reef & some fish.
3) I know that a lot of people prefer external overflow, but with 30" wide and I know the wife wants the tank as close to the wall as possible, will internal overflow work or should I just stop whining and go for the external?
4) Their Crystaline series does not have a 96x30x25, but their Mega-Matrix does. I assume I want the crystal front glass?
5) I have been reading a LOT over the last two weeks or so, but I will probably post a few more questions about what other gear should I get for the system (Skimmer, Pumps, Sump, Etc).
I will appreciate any help you can provide.
