Opinions on a shallow tank...

drama07

drama07

New member
Hey,

I have been planning for quite some time now on a custom tank. My current plan is for a 36x24x18"H braceless, cornerflow. However I'm thinking on whether to reduce the height to 16" and increase the depth to 26". What are some of your opinions on this idea?

Thanks
 
haha I just don't have space for a depth of 36". I saw some tanks that were 36" in length and 24" in height and I hated the ratio.
 
I think the more depth you have the better, and the height isn't going to matter (lighting wise) between 18 and 16 very much
 
Well reason is because I want the cost to stay the same. My dealer charges by the gallon. I hope that's how every company does it :confused:

To show you the difference, a 36x24x18 cost $150 and a 36x24x20(had an idea) costs about $220 when I asked for a quote.
 
a lower, wider tank is preferable to a tall, narrow tank, IMO. If nothing else, it's easier to reach the bottom in a shallow tank. That can be a huge help when it comes to cleaning and aquascaping.
 
Yeah I do hate those tall and narrow tanks. I guess they make those to help customers save space within their home.

I feel i should lean closer to a 36x26x16 :p Puts me at 65G
 
Are you considering aspect ratios or just having a shallow tank effect on corals?
That would make my tank a supershallow one as I'm getting a 70x22x24 it is 8 inches taller than your tank but its double the length. Sorry don't have any pics of it yet but will post some soon on my build thread.
 
i say go with the shorter and deeper tank. i think that this will give the fish that much more room and give you more places to put coral. i have really always liked the tanks that have a large overall footprint, almost like the sides are another "front" of the tank.
 
I have a custom tank from great lakes aquariums that is 36x30x20 with a center overflow and absolutely love it. I wouldnt do less than 20" tall...wish mine was 22", but the 36x30 footprint is awesome. And yes it has more or less 3 front viewing panels
 
I'm guessing its the aspect ratio and also the shallow effect on the corals. I had thought about going 20" in height but decided to reduce it to 18 and now 16 inches.
 
measure the comfortable distance for your arm reach to the deepest part of the tank you'll have to get to. thats a good judge on height for you. especially if its just in the 16-18 range
 
Unless you're considering seahorses, I don't believe depth has much of an effect on the fish. Less water means that your lighting won't need to be as intense, but 2" won't make a huge difference. Honestly, I think shallow tanks just look better. But I have a thing for long-wide-shallow aspect ratios.
 
I hate almost getting my armpit wet when working on the tank. My next tank will be a little shorter in height but have an increased front to back measurement combined with a much higher stand.
 
i had a 29G once with height of 18". When I reach for the sand(1") the water line ends up close to my shoulder. Also the idea of a shallow tank on a very tall stand actually, IMO, makes the entire setup look strange(think tank height to stand height ratio). It shows that there is more furniture than the tank itself.
 
Alright its final, no more wasting time thinking about my dimensions. I have decided for a 36x26x16 65G custom made tank.

However I'm open for any rebuttals :D
 
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