455cutlassdave
New member
I just got a 200g acrylic 72 x 18w x 39T, even with a DSB the tank is very deep. Does anybody think this will be a problem? I am planning on mostly corals and 2 400w halides. Any setup advise would be welcome
New tank dimensions ?s
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455cutlassdave
New member
50 views and just 1 reply "thanks corn" I thought this was the large tanks forum, is this one not big enough??? I am hoping to set it up soon and want to fix any problems I may run into in advance. How would you set it up???
tom obrecht
Active member
Think you need to give us more info. What type of corals ect. Alot of people are going to tell you to purchase a wet suit for at 39" deep it will be dificult to reach the bottom of the tank. 18" width won't give you many options for aquascaping either.
2-400 watt halides should be ok as long as you put your sun lovin corals towards the top.
Just my $.02
2-400 watt halides should be ok as long as you put your sun lovin corals towards the top.
Just my $.02
455cutlassdave
New member
I was thinking some SPS at the top 1/3rd, LPS in the middle, and softies in the bottom. I figured the aquascaping would be a challange but am thinking of making agaracrete wall sections that I could place against the back and side wals of the tank, what do you think. The tank also is set up for a closed loop in addition to the overflow. For the sump, I am planning on 4chamber, flow will first go to a fuge which will flow into a coral propagation tank, which will flow into a tank with the return pump. From the other side I will have some flow routed to a chamber for the skimmer which will also overflow into the chamber for the return pump. I was thinking about 2400 gph for the return pump and the same for the closed loop.
Can you cut out a panel, cut the panel down to 18" and reglue.
Then you'll have a 72x39x18. This will be much easier to aquascape, and would look stunning imo.
If not, you'll have to go tall and thin.
Go for whips and fans to accentuate the height. Don't try to pile up rock, it will require too big a foot print. Tall sarcs would look good too.
SPS would be tougher, but doable. Bear in mind that the SPS will tend to grow outward more than upward, to maximise their light exposure. They will then shadow whats below.
I once saw a tank similar to yours in a pet shop overseas. It was only 2/3 filled with water. On one side, the rockwork was piled up to the surface of the water. Inside the rockwork was a claear plastic shelf covered in sand/mud. A few magroves were planted, as well as a couple of other shoots. Mudskippers wallowed in it, and I thought it looked pretty cool. Quite different.
Then you'll have a 72x39x18. This will be much easier to aquascape, and would look stunning imo.
If not, you'll have to go tall and thin.
Go for whips and fans to accentuate the height. Don't try to pile up rock, it will require too big a foot print. Tall sarcs would look good too.
SPS would be tougher, but doable. Bear in mind that the SPS will tend to grow outward more than upward, to maximise their light exposure. They will then shadow whats below.
I once saw a tank similar to yours in a pet shop overseas. It was only 2/3 filled with water. On one side, the rockwork was piled up to the surface of the water. Inside the rockwork was a claear plastic shelf covered in sand/mud. A few magroves were planted, as well as a couple of other shoots. Mudskippers wallowed in it, and I thought it looked pretty cool. Quite different.
455cutlassdave
New member
I was kinda worried about the SPS's blocking light. I have to keep the tank tall due to my room restrictions wont allow for a 39 wide tank. I would have preferred a wider tank but for 300.00 I cant complain. Whenever I create the rocks for the tank I will design them to work with what I got. How deep of a sand bed is safe? I could just add extra sand to shorten the depth to the bottom a little, but I dont want more than 6 inches due to cost of sand, plus I think it would start to look a little funny.
You can have a sand bed any depth you like. I agree that 6" is the max you want to go uniformly..
I think you really have a chance to get creative here. How about a sloping sand bed?
Start up in a back corner maybe 10", then run it down and along to 2". Use rockwork to support the sand and give it structure. The tank can then look like a reef wall descending down to the bottom. Stick some nice montis on the wall, and run some zoos, or grenn star polyps or morphs in between. That way they keep to the shape you want. As the rock starts flattening off add your xenias, clavularias etc. When you get to the flat sand at the other end put down your euphyllia, cats, trachies and your whips.
Effectively your display will look like the letter L but with a more curved back.
Could be really amazing, and different!!
I think you really have a chance to get creative here. How about a sloping sand bed?
Start up in a back corner maybe 10", then run it down and along to 2". Use rockwork to support the sand and give it structure. The tank can then look like a reef wall descending down to the bottom. Stick some nice montis on the wall, and run some zoos, or grenn star polyps or morphs in between. That way they keep to the shape you want. As the rock starts flattening off add your xenias, clavularias etc. When you get to the flat sand at the other end put down your euphyllia, cats, trachies and your whips.
Effectively your display will look like the letter L but with a more curved back.
Could be really amazing, and different!!
I Really like massman's idea, but how about a V shape? Start at both sides with a really deep sand and slop to a shollow one in the middle. I my tank I have the rocks hanging via black zip ties from the top, then attach the top one to another one below that, and so on. You could do this at the two ends. If you get to chose your rock chose ones with holes through them or use conga coral that is longer and leaner, like your tank. This is a great oportunity to do something very different. People who do not like your tank shape probably have 55s. 
I Really like massman's idea, but how about a V shape? Start at both sides with a really deep sand and slop to a shollow one in the middle. I my tank I have the rocks hanging via black zip ties from the top, then attach the top one to another one below that, and so on. You could do this at the two ends. If you get to chose your rock chose ones with holes through them or use conga coral that is longer and leaner, like your tank. This is a great oportunity to do something very different. People who do not like your tank shape probably have 55s.
