Pros/Cons to a tall tank?

Pros: Tall front glass gives you a large amount of space that can be more easily viewed at one time compared to long tanks.

Cons: Very hard to reach the bottom of the tank, place rock, pick things up, etc.
 
Pros: Tall front glass gives you a large amount of space that can be more easily viewed at one time compared to long tanks.
.
-1 ??? usually not a problem, if you can turn your head side to side
Cons: Very hard to reach the bottom of the tank, place rock, pick things up, etc.
+1...IME, 27" is max., anything taller becomes a problem.
 
Pro:

-Tank looks awesome

Cons:

-Requires thicker glass and possibly Euro-Bracing (more expensive)
-Difficult to clean
-Need higher wattage lighting for SPS


....... IMO I don't care how many cons there are. I love a tall tank and none of my tanks are less then 30" tall. I wanted to go taller bu for the design I got my tank built it wasn't a possibility. If you love the way it looks enough you wont mind paying a little more to get what pleases you most.
 
Pros: Looks Sweet

Cons: Requires powerful lighting to get Good PAR readings throughout the tank.
 
LEDs can fix the light penetration problems. With the advances on LEDs, having a tall tank is more then possible now. But like others have said, the reaching in and cleaning sometimes is a mission.
 
-1 ??? usually not a problem, if you can turn your head side to side

+1...IME, 27" is max., anything taller becomes a problem.


Well Played! I probably worded that poorly, I just know when I had a 150 tall, I loved sitting back and taking it all in at once.
 
LEDs can fix the light penetration problems. With the advances on LEDs, having a tall tank is more then possible now. But like others have said, the reaching in and cleaning sometimes is a mission.

I disagree, in a tall tank halides are a must... And even more so for SPS tanks. You can use LED in addition to halides but I would not use only LED. That's just my opinion.
 
I have a 30 inch tall tank and it is hard to reach the bottom. I run 2-250 watt mh's and keep sps fine. You don't need 400 watt as previously stated. I think a tall tank looks nice though.
 
Con: can't touch the bottom I seen a video of a guy trying to reach the bottom of a tall tank and he used a mask and stuck his head in. I think the worst part of that is his arm pit was in the water too so that can't be good.
 
One more Pro:

Have it deep enough and you might have the option of actually getting inside your tank and swimming around haha
 
Pro:

-Tank looks awesome

Cons:

-Requires thicker glass and possibly Euro-Bracing (more expensive)
-Difficult to clean
-Need higher wattage lighting for SPS


....... IMO I don't care how many cons there are. I love a tall tank and none of my tanks are less then 30" tall. I wanted to go taller bu for the design I got my tank built it wasn't a possibility. If you love the way it looks enough you wont mind paying a little more to get what pleases you most.
+1, except I'm not sure I agree about needing 400W's.

My last tank was 30" tall. I had it for 10 years. When I bought my new tank (72x28x30) I got it custom in large part so I could keep the 30" tall.

For lighting, I'd just say to get quality reflectors. My Lumebright 3's are putting tons more light into my tank compared to my spiderlight reflectors. I'm sticking with 250W's.

Lastly, if you are considering a DSB, it chews up a lot of vertical viewing space. Yet another reason to go with a tall tank.
 
+1, except I'm not sure I agree about needing 400W's.

My last tank was 30" tall. I had it for 10 years. When I bought my new tank (72x28x30) I got it custom in large part so I could keep the 30" tall.

For lighting, I'd just say to get quality reflectors. My Lumebright 3's are putting tons more light into my tank compared to my spiderlight reflectors. I'm sticking with 250W's.

Lastly, if you are considering a DSB, it chews up a lot of vertical viewing space. Yet another reason to go with a tall tank.

I agree... for my tank at 30" I don't need 400W lights but I plan on going bigger and badder for my next tank and wanted to go 3 feet or taller so I would need 400W lights. I figured instead of buying them again for my next tank I would buy them now and use them and just transfer them over.
 
I agree... for my tank at 30" I don't need 400W lights but I plan on going bigger and badder for my next tank and wanted to go 3 feet or taller so I would need 400W lights. I figured instead of buying them again for my next tank I would buy them now and use them and just transfer them over.

You'll need scuba equipment to clean your next tank!
 
My current build is at 38". I do plan to don a mask and snorkel for those rare occasions I need to adjust something on the bottom.....

Just have to remember, no hair gel, no cologne, no deodorant etc when working on the tank....

Plus I can't wait to see my tank from that perspective....

Pros: looks really neat

Cons: lighting needs are boosted, pita to clean. Thicker material adds cost.
 
Cleaning is the main thing. Tank husbandry would be another. Everything else you can work around if truth be told.

I've been thinking of picking up a 60" tall tank. Space wise it makes sense. Lighting isn't a issue. My only concern is cleaning it. More so when I'm out of town and someone else has to do it.
 
Cleaning is the main thing. Tank husbandry would be another. Everything else you can work around if truth be told.

I've been thinking of picking up a 60" tall tank. Space wise it makes sense. Lighting isn't a issue. My only concern is cleaning it. More so when I'm out of town and someone else has to do it.

Long tongs, long tubes, magnetic glass scrubbers. What's there to be concerned about? :D

60"!! Awesome! Like a picture window into thr ocean!
 
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