New tank but what size?

[silverfly]

Ok, decided today to decorate the living room-dining room area which means a tank move BUT .....my wife has agreed on a new tank
Now the idea is to build a brick base and have the new tank as a room divider. I can get it set up and then transfer the old inhabitants over and lay my new wooden or laminate floor around it.
Now heres the thing-my mh lights are a 4ft unit and i dont want to buy a whole new unit. How long could i go tankwise? I thought i might go wider than usual also. Would this be ok? Its an arcadia series 3 pendant with two 250w mh and two fluorescents.
Could i do 5ft long and 2.5 ft wide? Any ideas on dimensions? Would i need more light?

Thanks

 

[silverfly]

Also i liked the idea of a rimless tank. Doesnt have to be though.
Thanks!

 

[silverfly]

Any ideas guys?

 

[Ehaze]

nice man, what is your budget?

 

[silverfly]

No figure really. Could my old 125 become a new sump?

 

[silverfly]

Just wondered if a 4ft light would be ok for a tank longer than 4ft. You know-if i went 6ft for example would i need 3 mh lights(a 6ft unit). I also like the idea of a wider tank as i can get at it from both sides and have a central reef.

 

[noahm]

I would go 4' x3' x 24" or 5x3. nice aquascaping footprint. Check out the marineland deep dimension.

http://www.marineland.com/sites/Marineland/products/productspotlight.aspx

 

[silverfly]

Nice, i like the 5x3 idea. I am thinking rimless would be cool though . I'll get a custom build i think. Is starfire really that great?

 

[lougotzz]

^I just got my tank set up with starfire glass on the front. To be perfectly honest I had to really look to even see the difference. I do see a more green tint on the sides as opposed to the front, and I would get starfire glass again after seeing the difference. But if you arnt used to it I would just get regular glass to save some money. Especially if your tank isnt going to be on a wall, than youd prolly want it on all four sides which would cost more.

 

[Jflip2002]

For a room divider, Id go 60x36 (30 would be ok too) by however tall you want, Id stick to 24.... LIke already said. Itd be a waste to go any less than 30", you wont have much room, since your remaining space is virtually cut in half.

 

[silverfly]

Thanks!
Do you guys think the two 250 mh unit would be ok for 5ft then?
Or even 6ft?

 

[freddy4130]

^^^Sure, depending on your reflectors. A couple lumenbrights would work like a champ over a rimless tank of those dimensions. And you hang them high.

 

[silverfly]

So you reckon i could go 6ft? Imay be putting the 120 underneath as a sump. Now i have to decide if its on bricks or i custom build a wooden base..........

Thanks!

 

[mcrist]

I don’t see any problem getting a larger tank than your light. You obviously won’t be able to keep SPS under the unlit sections but there are plenty of corals that will thrive in the darker areas. Plus the added bonus of less algae in those areas.

 

[Mouse]

Go as WIDE as you can
Remember, you will now have 3 sides to aquascape

 

[djcoralife]

125 is good

 

[silverfly]

Aquascaping will be a couple of central islands. Should look cool!

 

[JasonD]

Very impressed after checking out marineland deep dimension tanks. Just would prefer it to be 24" tall instead of 27"

Jason