Tank Height - Need suggestions

[Norstar]

I am looking at getting a new tank. I am switching over from fresh to salt - so I need a little advice.

The tank will be 96" long (8 feet) and 30" or 32" wide. My dilema is the height. I know 24" is standard, but would 30" be too high (at twice the cost of the 24" high tank) ? Would I have to get extra lighting for the extra 6" ?? Any drawbacks to a 30" tank?

What to do - what to do?!?!!?! HElp!

 

[hatfielj]

30" or more would require much more powerful lights to fully penetrate the water (400watts instead of 250). You'll be saving yourself a lot of money in lighting costs along with the tank in my opinion. Plus, 30" is very difficult to clean with out getting your entire arm and shoulder in the tank to reach the bottom. Just a thought. I have a 24" tank and think that the height is perfect. Just get a taller stand if you want the tank more at eye level. I have a 36" stand and it is perfect imo. Good luck deciding.

 

[asnatlas]

Re: Tank Height - Need suggestions

Norstar
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

 

[asnatlas]

Do you plan on having a DSB ??
Do you plan on keeping SPS, LPS, Softies ??

I have a 96x48x30 and I am only running 4x 250s (and some T5s) over it... It's a mixed reef with like 70% LPS, some softies and a few SPS... I plan on keeping the SPS near the top and the LPS in the middle and the softies at the bottom...

If you are not planning on keeping 100% SPS then you can get away with 250s (may need some T5s or VHOs to fill in a little)... You could also do 250s and 400s... There is so many things that can be done, it's up to you with what you want to gain with the tank...

 

[Norstar]

Thanks for the replies!

I was kind of hoping to get a little bit of everything. So the more I talk to people, the more I am inclined to get a shorter tank. It all gets so complicated

 

[nyvp]

120x36x30 with 4 -250's in lumenarcs. Hind sight i would have 32 or 34 with sandbed

 

[frazier]

I think if you go over 24" it's harder to reach in and more things that are out of place or you just like moving stuff..lol now the size tank you are think of getting would look much better as deep as you can afford..... a double edged sword IMO looks or easy to work on...

 

[Norstar]

Well, if I went to 400w MH, would the perating costs be significantly higher??

 

[uztaryn]

I have a 30" and have 4x 400w lights with HQI ballasts overdriving 400w SE bulbs. I think total I have about $1300 in lights and run NO T5 or VHO or PC. 30" is hard to reach the bottom though. I have pinchers I use to pick stuff up with.

Lighting wasn't such a big deal. Reach is the hardest part IMO. 28" seems like it would be just right.

I also have a Mixed reef and have sps lps fish leathers, the works.

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9383436#post9383436 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Norstar
Well, if I went to 400w MH, would the perating costs be significantly higher??

I am in Ohio and the electricity is about $0.08 per KWH...

4x 400w @ 12hrs a day would be like $46.72 a month...
4x 250w @ 12hrs a day would be like $29.20 a month...

That is a differance of $17.52 a month for a total of $210.24 a year...

400w bulbs are more exp then 250w (about $5.00)...

MH 250W 14K BULB - HAMILTON - $59.95
MH 400W 14K BULB - HAMILTON - $64.95

400w ballasts are more exp then 250w...

IceCap 250W Electronic MH & HQI Ballast - $115.00
IceCap 400W Electronic MH & HQI Ballast - $195.00

Another thing to take into account is heat... 400w puts out more heat then a 250w... 400w may (will prob) make a chiller (if you have one) run more then if you had 250w...

 

[Muligan]

I would go with 30 inches.

My current tank is 27" and I still need to use tongs as the rock work will make it hard to reach all areas by hand.(even in a 24")

Plus on any tank by the time you figure in euro brace and bottom pane of glass and some sort of sand bottom or starboard you lose a few inches of viewing.

The new tank I'm in the process of upgrading to is 31" tall.
and by the time I deduct for euro brace, overflow, bottom pane and sand I'm left with 26 1/4"

 

[nyvp]

I think also that 24" looks very squat at 8' The tank looks very short and long like its not even dimensions.

 

[clayspst]

34"

 

[NICERICAN4YOU25]

I HAVE A APPROX 600GAL 10540x30 ,SOLUTION 1000W HALIDES THEY PULL 9 AMPS I USE 2 OF THEM. I DUNNO Y PPL RUN THEIR LIGHT FOR SO LONG I RUN MINES 5-6 HRS A DAY , EVEN IN MY OLD 210 I HAD 3 250MH FOR 5-6HRS A DAY CORAL GROWTH WAS PHENOMENAL WE ALL KNOW ISNT ALWAYS BOUT HOW MUCH U RUN THE LIGHT. JUST MY 2CENTS
TY

CARLOS

 

[cyberdude47]

I have a 36" deep and it isn't as bad as everyone thinks with a 3" sandbed and the water being an inch and a half down from the top I can reach the bottom and I'm only 5'10 tall. I use 4 400 icecaps and xm 20ks and I love the look of a deep tank plus I get some very natural behavior out of the inhabitants.

 

[moonpod]

I have a 10x3wx2h. I stopped at 2h b/c well, frankly, I'm 5'6" and my arms can't reach any longer easily.....I think if I had the option I would have gone 30" tall and 4' front to back.

 

[reefadict05]

Dont mean to change subjects but moonpod I just had to tell you your pic looks almost identical to my pelvis! lol

 

[crescent1]

my last tank was 32'' tall, you can see it in my gallery pics, never again.

It was a real pain in everywich way.

my next tank wich will be here in may is 120''36'' 24''