some quick questions

[shaneh]

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on my 180 bow I have a few quick questions that i am trying to make the best decisions.

My stand it 32 inches tall and my tank is 30 inches tall. for a total of 5'2 or 62 inches. I have to stand on 2 steps to reach the bottom already but I have seen a lot of tank stand as high as 40 inch. What do you guys think is the best height for a tank?

Also i am trying to decide if i should use socks or not in the sump. I did at the beginning of my 55 bow front but learned they clog quick and need to be cleaned. So i took them out and have never ran them again. Are they a problem on a bigger tank?

last question- did you put foam under your tank and stand? It is close to level but not exact.

last comment- DO NOT GO TO SF DURING THE WEEK DURING COMUNTE TIME UNTIL THE BAY BRIDGE IS FIXED. I will not go to work until that thing is fixed, it took 3 hours today and the last two day to go from sf to Petaluma!!! It was a parking lot on 101!!!

 

[northbay-reefer]

I like the tank stand taller so I dont have to bend down to view it

Filter socks will help keep your tank clean ... but maintaining it will be a little chore

No foam is needed

Luckily I don't have to work in the bay area

 

[Reef Bass]

My lps tank stand I recently built is essentially 36.5" tall. The tank itself is only 12" tall, which makes for easy "arm in tank without stepstool". I do bend over a bit when I want to examine things closely. I was a bit leary of going much taller, as the tank is only 2' wide, and I didn't want a tall, narrow, easy to tip over tank stand. And the convenience of access is delightful.

My 24" tall sps tank sits on a counter which is also 36" tall. I have to use a stepstool to reach the bottom of that tank with my fingers. From an access standpoint, I wouldn't want that tank any higher.

From a visual standpoint, I can understand wanting a tank at eye level. However, my eye level is not the same as my kids' eye level and I appreciate their sharp little eyes pointing things out that I may miss.

I don't use a filter sock all the time. I use one when I know I'm going to be taking pictures (to remove as much marine snow as possible), stirring things up, rearranging rocks, or "dusting" the tank (blasting rocks with a turkey baster to blow off detritus and algae). I can clog a clean 100 micron sock in 15 minutes when I fog up the tank with stuff. 200 micron socks are mostly worthless in my mind, as they allow many fine particles through.

I did not place foam under either tank. Both are sitting on plywood.

That's brutal about your commute! Thanks for the info / warning. I just picked up a new client in Napa who wants me onsite and while that's a lot more driving than working from home, at least I'm not crossing any bridges.

 

[shaneh]

Thanks guys for the input I ordered all the plumbing form BRS and marine depot....

I think i leave the tank at the stock height.

I'll skip the foam

I'll keep the option for socks.

FYI TO ALL: Hayward will/ is changing the length of their bulkheads to make them 2+ inches longer. As a result BRS will no longer carry them, they are replacing them with a rounded head sch 80. But this is not the HEX heads that are great if you ever need to get them off. Any one know where to get the old style of Hayward’s?