planning my new 500-600 g tank

[delosa]

I have all the ingredients to build my dream reef tank. Originally I was planning on building a 600 gal 96" length x 48" wide x 30" deep but then I thought maybe 48" may be too wide so I wondered if 500 gal 96 X 30 x 40 would be better.

I'm unsure of what lighting I want to use, but I'm leaning toward Solaris LED.

Any thoughts that would help me decide what size to build?

 

[Ken Sellick]

Access

Access

It's a question of access. If you can access the tank from both of the long sides then the width is acceptable.
I have been working on a 144"L x 72"W x 30"H display myself and took that issue into much consideration

 

[delosa]

I'm also thinking of separating the tank into three sections; a two foot section (125 gal) at both ends for aggressive/non reef fish, and a four foot (250) reef tank section in the middle. The sections will be screened off to allow for good water movement but I will be able to keep the fish seperated to have a bigger selection of fish. I've always wanted a lion, trigger and puffer.

Anything thoughts on this plan?

 

[spazz]

keep your fish seperate in different tanks. dont have a divider in there. if the divider ever fell down or a small fish got through it then it would end up fish food. build a 300g tank in one area and then an agressive 250 in another area. alot of the agressive fish im sure you would like are the bigger ones. so a big tank is needed to house those fish.

 

[delosa]

I'm ready to start this build and I don't want to get half way through building my dream tank and realize I didn't do something right. I know there is more than one way to skin a cat but what are the most important things to remember?

 

[spazz]

for the tank i would make it as big as possable now. if you have access from the front of the tank and the back of the tank there is no reason not to go 96" x 48" x 30" high. if you dont plan to have access to the front of the tank then i would make it 96" x 30" x 30" deep because maintence would be alot eaiser with the smaller tank.
you need to tell us alot more about this system other than its size.
how do you plan to have this in your house? in wall or out of wall with a satelite fish room? how big of a space do you have for the fish room and tank? how do you plan to ventelate the room to prevent moisture buildup. whats your plans for heating and cooling? there is alot here that we have to guess at that answers cant be given unless a better discription is given of what your planning.