Looking for Ideas for a New Tank

[diamond4100]

I am looking for some ideas for a new tank that I want to start setting up. Pretty much going to purchase everything new and start fresh since I sold off quite a bit of my old equipment. Here is what I am thinking at the moment and I wanted to get some feed back from people that have had similar tanks that are all sps.

Tank Rimless:

30x30x16 70 gallon

30x30x24 100 gallon

I am undecided on the size of tank that I would like based on the height of the tank. I don't want to go to deep and have lighting problems for deeper corals. Might order from Glasscages and have it all pre drilled with a stand.

Lighting:

Maxspec Mazarra P-series with 2 LED Panels and Controller

Looking for lighting that looks minimal and clean and very functional with controller that supports dimming and weather control. Money isn't a huge issue but don't want to get in much over 4k before the stocking process.

Thanks for any ideas to help me on the deciding process.

 

[MammothReefer]

I wouldn't go 16" that's to shallow imop. I've got a 36x24x18, and a 20"x20"x10" tank I think I would have been happier with 20", and a slightly taller frag tank (not much though) You loose about an 1.5-2" to water level, and then 1-3" for sand if you go SSB.

 

[aqua80]

30x30 is not easy to light ! but it is a great size !
For sps I don't think 2 mazzara modules would be enough... more likely 3 or 4... or 2 radions, but it depends on your aquascaping...
for me after trying leds (reefrepublic) and MH (lumenmax elite) I think I have found a great fixture in an ATI PM 8x24w... great coverage for my sps !
I would also go for 20" or more for height...

to give you an idea:

here is my tank (30x30x24) with 22x16" led reefrepublic fixture :

with 250w MH (20k new plusrite bulb on lumenmax elite reflector) + par38bulbs :

and with PM 5" above the water :

 

[diamond4100]

Yea I don't think I am going to get 4 Maxspec panels over top of that tank. I just don't see there being enough space even with 2 bars to hold the panels.

The Ecotechs are definitly nice and being able to manage the vortech's and lighting all the same would be pretty nice. Just can't get over the price of the panels. 2 panels being $1500 that gets pretty pricey quick.

 

[Neoferdina]

Trust me, don't go higher than 20". Go measure you arms, I'll wait... see? It's like 24" to your armpit! I'm pretty sure your fish aren't going to want that beastly armpit of your dipping in the tank everytime you have to go chasing after a frag.

If you aren't planning on wave makers, you can get away with the water level being .5" to 0.75" from the rim. Are you going internal or external overflow?

The LEDs are nice but I've found the best way to light up the big cubes it with a halide and a square reflector. You'll get great distribution and penetration and you'll save yourself about $1000. You can put that toward the energy bill =P

 

[aqua80]

The LEDs are nice but I've found the best way to light up the big cubes it with a halide and a square reflector. You'll get great distribution and penetration and you'll save yourself about $1000. You can put that toward the energy bill =P

or for a lower energy bill t5ho will cover even better than halides on 30x30 with higher PAR and nicer on a open top than a big reflector (but depends on your tastes !)

for height I have long arms (5'11) so 24" is just perfect for me but I wouldn't go deeper than that... 20" should be nice too

 

[MammothReefer]

My old tank was 60x36x24. reaching the back was a little tough but doable. 90% of the time I pair of tongs did the trick so I wouldn't worry about the arm pit scenario unless you have a fear of these things... ...that translates over to aqua tongs.

 

[krshlln300]

Maybe oyu could meet in the middle and do a 20" deep tank, glasscages does custom work so they may do it for ya. Then you would have a deep enough tank to aquascape, not enough depth to worry about lighting so much, and the same horizontal dimensions to work with cube wise.

 

[diamond4100]

My last tank was a standard 125 gallon tank that I had to take down do to a move and just never set it back up. I had 3 - 250 MH and the tank looked great but I will never do MH again. My energy bill was retarded almost an extra $100 a month due to lighting and the chiller. I don't want a chiller again and I don't want to get energy raped again. I would rather take my chances on 2 ecotech LED's at $1500 than spend money on MH again.

Not against the ATI T5's as long as I don't run in to the energy issues and heat problems.

btw my arm pit to hand is 30 inches I am a tall guy.