Tall vs long tanks?

[cornraker]

I'm shopping for a new tank. Whats the differences between long or tall tanks? do the fish have a preference?

 

[davocean]

I prefer longer to tall for more surface area, and it's better for swim space, also easier to reach down and clean.
Deep front to back is easier to scape.

 

[RcToners]

Depends on your plan for the tank. Lighting becomes a bigger issue with very tall tanks depending on what you plan to have. Tall tanks are also harder to clean and get things from the bottom.

 

[cornraker]

Ok cool. Man i've learned alot already from this site. Thanks a ton guys.

 

[neoalchemist74]

Long tanks are better for most fish as they typically swim side to side, as a matter of fact tangs arent recommended for any tank under 5' in lenght. But it really depends on the fish you chose. Another benefit of longer tanks is they provide more surface area which provides for better gas exchange and helps to keep the water oxygenated.

 

[BSamuelson]

I am in the minority here, but I went with a 150g xtall (48"L x 24"D x 30" high). I prefer the height, the longer tanks always look cramped to me. If you are going to pile rock the entire length of the tank then maybe the longer is better, but if you try some kind of landscaping you may have more options with the taller tank.

 

[cornraker]

What about depth. Not tallness but width from front to back. I feel that 18" for a 150 is really cramped. In other words, is length more important than width?

 

[cholo900rr]

width

width

I pefer a little wider tank so you dont have your landscape all up against the front glass. either way longer or wider you will have the same surface area so that is a non issue.

 

[2Addicted]

What size tank are you thinking of? Maybe we can help you find one that you will like. I prefer long tanks because of all of the reasons the people listed above.

 

[mtaswt]

I am in the minority here, but I went with a 150g xtall (48"L x 24"D x 30" high). I prefer the height, the longer tanks always look cramped to me. If you are going to pile rock the entire length of the tank then maybe the longer is better, but if you try some kind of landscaping you may have more options with the taller tank.

I don't have an aquarium yet, but I'm leaning the same direction.

How about some pics of the two designs?

 

[Palting]

What about depth. Not tallness but width from front to back. I feel that 18" for a 150 is really cramped. In other words, is length more important than width?

It depends on your budget and taste. For my budget, I could get a 48" long, 36" wide 200 gal tank, or a 72" long 18" wide 150 gal. I went with the long rather than the wide.

 

[Mavrk]

What about depth. Not tallness but width from front to back. I feel that 18" for a 150 is really cramped. In other words, is length more important than width?

A lot of it comes to personal taste. When I personally (along with many others) see a tank that I really like, it always ends up being wide. Having more floorspace to play with is really cool.

However, as stated above, the length can often dictate what fish you can keep. If you want adult tangs, then you need longer tanks.

 

[geaux xman]

i'm set on rimless, but i really want a 5ft tank. But all the 5ft tanks i've found are Eurobraced.

i want 60x24x20, but i've not seen anyone make that rimless without eurobrace.

so if i cant get that, i'm shooting for 48x30x20.

It depends on your budget and taste. For my budget, I could get a 48" long, 36" wide 200 gal tank, or a 72" long 18" wide 150 gal. I went with the long rather than the wide.

 

[steelhead77]

48x24x24 - 120 gallons is a popular size. It gives plenty of depth (front to back) and is not so tall that your armpit is in the water when you need to reach the bottom. The next size up: 72x24x24 - 180 gallons, is what I have and I love it. 6 foot is the right length for larger fish to swim in and the depth gives plenty of open sand space in front.

 

[Mavrk]

48x24x24 - 120 gallons is a popular size. It gives plenty of depth (front to back) and is not so tall that your armpit is in the water when you need to reach the bottom. The next size up: 72x24x24 - 180 gallons, is what I have and I love it. 6 foot is the right length for larger fish to swim in and the depth gives plenty of open sand space in front.

I think a width of at least 24" is great. Combine that with 6 foot length, and I can see why you love the 180. I think that might be my tank when I move in a year or two. Although a 270g (72L x 36W x 24H) would be awesome if I had that kind of space.

I have a 90 gallon, and the 18" is not that impressive to me. On the other hand, my 40 breeder that I am setting up is 18" wide and is more impressive because it is so much smaller in length and height.

 

[streak]

Tall=more watts to get to bottem to feed corals from what i understand shallow makes it easier.. so unless you want heat of hqi metal halited or 6mill led costs go with the shallow tanks i guess is the best answer from what i have been reading. I tried to justify my 75 gal build with 48 led banks and i could buy 6 400 mh complete systems for the cost of just the diy stuff so i dono... I have asked and asked about lighting on the lighting fourm about about it and its already on the 8th page i bumped it to the top 5 times so im loosing cofidencen that no one helps on here.. i guess ill just ask at my local reef club..

 

[cornraker]

I'm leaning towards a 180 gallon long because its long enough for fish likes tangs (I think) yet still wide enough for my liking. I think the dimensions of a 180 wide is 6'x24"x24" tall if that sounds right? I initially was looking at 125 and 150 gal tanks but I couldn't really find one with dimensions that i liked. I love the 120 size 4"'x2'x2' but I feel that it's a little too short but I don't really know anything about this gig. There was a 150 made by glass cages that seemed pretty sweet with dimensions 48"x30"x25"tall. Only drawback is i've read that tangs need at least 5' of length and I love tangs so I'm just not sure. Hence why I came here to ask. Thanks everybody.

 

[Rancherlee]

the 180 is an awesome size, 6'x2'x2'.... The wife doesn't know it yet but that will be my next build after I get the 58g up an running. Its the perfect tank for a peninsula/divider in the basement.

 

[DeadDuck]

We have 2 allardi clownfish and a 6-line wrasse and they seem to spend most of their time in a certain horizontal "band" in the lower-half of the tank. They don't seem to swim up to the top unless they spot me and they're hungry.

I would agree that it's definitely a matter of personal taste and how you plan to rockscape. However, the longer tanks do have some advantages which people have listed here.

 

[reelfishy]

Personally I love cubes or semi cubes. But if I had to choose between the long and tall I'd go with long. As someone mentioned have more surface area for fish to swim and also for better rockscape.