stand height question

[anjhof]

I am setting up a 210 in the next 2 weeks - but first I need to build a stand. Any input on height? Is 30 inches high too short? Should I go to 36? I don't think I want anything taller.
I am 6' 2" so I can reach my arm over the top of the tank if the stand is 30." Is it worth it to make it 36" tall though? All opinions are welcome.

 

[jski711]

i would go 36". i have a 75g and i have a precision marine 36g sump/refugium underneath and it was hard to fit in there. you are going to have more room from side to side than i do but depending on the skimmer height it might not fit. 36" is a little higher than i wanted to go but i would not have been able to fit anything underneath. hth.
jake

 

[carpediem360]

I have an aga tank and stand. The stand is 28" high and the tank is 24" high. I am 6' and I need something to stand on to get to the bottom of the tank. I'm in the process of building a 500 gallon tank and for me it's going to be a preference of how I wish to veiw the tank. I was going to make the stand 45" high. The tank will be a fowlr and in the wall. I'm sure that changes things Personally I'd rather have the tank more eye level then bending over to look at it. Plus I'm hoping to put a bar in front of the tank.

 

[glbtrottr]

36 min

 

[JeffReef]

I was just looking at some 210g tanks today on a 30" stand and I thought it would look better if it were only a little higher.

30" stands are fine for smaller tanks. But for a 210g, I'd opt for a 36".

 

[reefkeeperrut]

my 180 sits on a 42" high DIY stand. I would have went a couple inches higher if the basement's drop ceiling allowed.

 

[svb57]

To me there are two things to take into account:

How are you going to "normally" view the tank?
I am 6'4" and have to "duck" down to look into my 125...so on the new set up I am going to go with 40" tall stand. If the "normal" viewing is going to be from a sitting postion then shorter stand is better.

How much room do you have at the top to get work done?
With the 40" stand I know i will be using a step stool to get into take but I think that will be okay.

My thoughts
Jim Mc

 

[rickyb]

I preffer to not look down to see the tank... I rather get on a step stool to work on the tank, + if all is working good, you should not be putting you hands in there much and you will have more time to view your tank.

 

[Tabeaubi]

The stand on my 300 gallon is 40" tall. I prefer the taller stands, I'm 6'1" and hate having to bend over to look at the back of the tank. Getting up on a stool is a small price to pay to be able to view the tank more easily.
JMO

 

[pk1]

My stand is 44 inches, it has it's pro's and con's.

pro-easy to view for adults, easy to fit equipment under the stand.

con-PITA to work on, I'm only 5'10 so imagine that. Kids have a hard time seeing the tank, I have 2 youngsters, the oldest has to stand on a chair and still can't see much. The most important Con in my book though is the viewing angle of the corals-SPS especially, look much nicer when looked at from the top down. That is even more apparent when sitting down on my couch, nothing like staring at the ugly underside a SPS coral, when you know the top and tips are so beautiful!

PK

 

[carpediem360]

I have been reading some threads in the large tank forum. I thought this might be of intrest to you http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=730564&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

 

[anjhof]

Interesting idea, but I just started building the stand in the more traditional wooden fashion. I did make the stand 36 inches high. It looks good, but I don't think I would want it any higher. I agree with PK1 that the corals look nicer when looking down on them. Hopefully this won't be too high. Any shorter though, and I am afraid I won't have the amount of space I desire under the tank. Hopefully I can finish up the frame for the stand tomorrow - I'll post pictures of it, but I copied the frame's design off others on RC - so nothing new here.
Thanks for everyone's input - it was very helpful.