Im torn between 24-25 inch height and 30.

[yoboyjdizz]

I really like my 280 72x30x30 but looking to upgrade... I want to go 96x36-48width but with money being tight im torn on the height to save a little. I know the height makes it look more impressive but those of you with 24inch tanks how do you like it and would you go 30inch if you could do it over again?

 

[greennd79]

i would never do 30 as i had a 150 and was a pain to put things in and clean. I love my 24 high now easier to get in there to clean up and put corals on the sand floor. just my 2 cents :]

 

[Tangwich]

Don't do 30"...my tank is 30" tall and although I have fairly long arms, its still a PIA..I just redid my rockwork yesterday and had such a hard time reaching down to the bottom to set the foundation. My next tank will be 27" tall.

 

[Untamed12]

Yes....some compromise is best...go for 27" or so.

 

[porthios]

1. i would never knowingly argue with untamed12

2. i feel compelled to share that all of the builders i talked to for my tank came up with a price according to the amount of material used. since acrylic comes in 4x8 sheets, there should be no price difference between 27" and 30" high. there should be a price difference if you go 24" or less because you can get two sides from the same sheet, etc..

3. i don't really know anything about acrylic so if anything i've said is wrong (or if you're using glass!) please refer to point number 1.

fwiw, depth and accessibility are significantly affected by the depth (or absense) of the sandbed you plan to keep.

 

[waynem]

Go for 30

So you might get wet once in a while is that such a bad thing, You could if needed even just drain the tank 2 inchs before you did any work and fill it up agian when your done, call it a water change.

30 - sand = ? - drop when you turn off the recycling pump - water change = no problem.

 

[mcliffy2]

For glass on my tank, I could do 1/2" up to 26", and that is what I went with. I previously had a 30" deep tank, and I like the 26" a LOT more from a maintenance perspective, and visually I dont notice much of a difference.

 

[KRASHPD]

My tank now is a rimless 23.5 inch tall tank and it is perfect. I have had two tanks that were in the 30" category and they are fine if you don't have a canopy. Witha canopy, it is almost impossible to reach the bottom of the tank unless you are Ben Wallace.

 

[Tangwich]

I'm sorry Waynem, but your post makes absolutely no sense, we're talking about the actual tank, not the water level. YOu can completely empty the tank and that still wouldn't make it easier to reach to the bottom of it. It's a matter of the tank height being in the way of reaching in to do maintenance or placement of rock and corals, not water level obstructing your reach. :crazy1:

 

[RokleM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14276843#post14276843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Untamed12
Yes....some compromise is best...go for 27" or so.

Agreed. I'm pretty tall (6'4") and have one of the marineland deep dimension tanks (48x37x27). With a couple inches of sand, it's just enough to get my armpit wet when I really need to stretch to the bottom. In my opinion, 3" does really make a difference in height over 24 believe it or not, and 30" is the point where I would be using tongs or another grabber a whole lot more often.

Then again, if you're shorter or ok with using tongs all the time, 30" might work out well.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I understand the maintenance difficulties. I had an AGA 210 (72x24x29). Its was a bit of a pain now and then, but it looked great.

Also, if you plan on a DSB, stick with the extra height.

 

[waynem]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14278383#post14278383 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tangwich
I'm sorry Waynem, but your post makes absolutely no sense, we're talking about the actual tank, not the water level. YOu can completely empty the tank and that still wouldn't make it easier to reach to the bottom of it. It's a matter of the tank height being in the way of reaching in to do maintenance or placement of rock and corals, not water level obstructing your reach. :crazy1:

They I really don't why you have a problem. I am not that tall, my tank is deeper then 30, sure you have to bend or stand on something and lean in but I think its more then worth it. and I can only access one side of my tank. its 69Lx44wx34h

 

[yoboyjdizz]

i really like 30inches but if i did go lower it probably be 24-25.. Thanks for all the response i am tall with long arms don't have to much problem reaching the bottom but have to get my whole arm wet and can be a mess sometimes.

 

[lastlight]

If I stand on my step-stool i can reach the bottom of my 24" tall 225 in the front and I'm 6'2". I can already tell when this thing is operational that I'll need tongs or lean far across the bracing to reach things middle to back. That surprised me a great deal. I had a 30" tall 400 gallon built and while I never got it setup I was always dreading the day when I'd have to work inside it.

 

[paulthomas]

If you're using halides, you might have to go with 400W'ers on 27" and above. I went with 25" tall for that reason. I'd like to be able to stick with 250W MH's if I want. Also, the price was considerably more (~ 25-30% IIRC) because of the additional sheet of glass needed.

Paul

 

[tomasz]

Wow great debate everyone. My vote goes for 30". My tank is 30" and 42" deep build in the wall. I do have a cat walk around in the back and use step leather for the front. I do not have any problems to work in the tank. I think 30" gives you so many more options with the scape and most important more room for the fiskh. Couple pics.

Not the best picture of the cat walk, but you can see it above the skimmer.

 

[Chihuahua6]

I have a 29" tank, well 28.5" from top to inside bottom. I also have a ledge behind the tank to walk on so it's not too bad. Right now I have no sand.

If I were to custom build another tank I would probably go with 27"-28" just to make it a bit easier but I am very happy with my tank as it is now. I would not go with 24" on a 6'+ long tank as I prefer the look of a taller tank in this size.

 

[rydr119]

My tank is 24" tall and I love it. I wouldn't go any deeper b/c #1 I can reach the bottom of the tank with out a snorkel, #2 I was going for the shallow reef look and with my rock work the way it is thats exactly how it looks. #3 I don't really worry about my light penetration at the bottom of the tank. I run 1 400W metal halide and thats it.
Heres a pic about 3 weeks after I set it up

 

[yoboyjdizz]

96x48x24(450gal)starphire glass or couple hundred more 96x36x30 acrylic (480gal) if you had to choose one or the other

 

[our6pack]

I agree with the 24" for cleaning.