Tank Height

[whyamisofly]

I keep going back and forth with myself on the height of my next tank. 30" is my max, but keep going back to 26".

I will be going the custom route and the dimensions set in stone are 60" x 36" x ?

I had a standard 180g previously at 25" tall and had no issues, but had about 4" of sand. This time around, I plan on using starboard on the bottom and no sand.

I'm 6'1" so reaching the bottom of a 30" tank shouldn't be an issue, but looking for the opinion of people with tall and short tanks.

Thanks in advance!

 

[OurCoralReef]

Tank Height

I feel short
first for ease of access not everything is straight down you sometimes need to reach a bit
Also for light penetration the deeper the tank the harder it is for the lights to penetrate

 

[MarylandTang]

A 30" tank is doable to reach straight down. That works for tanks that are 18" wide, but once you go bigger than that, you are reaching across a great distance too.

28" would be my ideal height.

 

[whyamisofly]

I feel short
first for ease of access not everything is straight down you sometimes need to reach a bit
Also for light penetration the deeper the tank the harder it is for the lights to penetrate

400w Halides will be used (3-4 of them).

 

[OurCoralReef]

400w Halides will be used (3-4 of them).

So then the reaching thing if that doesn't bother you do the taller

 

[AxidentalReefer]

Have a 30" deep setup w/ 3X 250W MH

Would suggest you go in the 26 - 28" range for several reasons:
-Ease of access during maintenance
-Tank integrity

Height of the stand should put the upper third of the tank at eye level

 

[Dmorty217]

When I had my 220g I built the stand to have the tank at eye height. I hate when you have to bend over to view anything in the tank. It makes getting in the tank more difficult but the ease of viewing tank inhabitants much better IMO.

 

[whyamisofly]

Thanks for the responses thus far!

 

[alanbetiger]

I’m 6’0” on the dot. My tank is 28” deep and 30” wide. My sand is about 2-3” deep. I can’t reach beyond about 5” of depth without a tool. Having said that, I personally want even a deeper tank because I like look. At 36” deep even at 26” tall you probably can’t get to some of it so I’d go the deeper the better. 28” was my tallest I could go without swapping to 3/4” glass that would of doubled my cost.

 

[ace_92101]

No 33" or 36"? Personally, I prefer deeper tanks. They look much more natural. Beginning at about 3', there are a lot more more fish that one would see in the aquarium trade.

 

[ca1ore]

No one answer, obviously. I think I answered you on that other site. I prefer a taller tank. My current one is a 30" tall 265 and I am switching over to a 30" tall 450. Yes, it can be a pain to reach the bottom, and on my new tank (36" from front to back) getting to the bottom at the back will be neigh impossible. BUT, how often to you really need to get back there, or down to the sand at all. Much more space for fish and for coral growth. I set my 265 up four years ago with almost 18" from the top of the rocks to the water surface. It took about 2 1/2 years for the coral to grow to the surface.

If you go 30" tall, invest in a set of stainless surgical tongs.

 

[ReefMaster48]

I voted 26, only because there was not a 18. lol

I prefer a really shallow tank. 18-24 inches. But what I lose in height, I like to gain in length. JMO, but I like a looong, short tank.

 

[whyamisofly]

Yes, it can be a pain to reach the bottom, and on my new tank (36" from front to back) getting to the bottom at the back will be neigh impossible. BUT, how often to you really need to get back there, or down to the sand at all.

I'm not concerned about placing corals and such on the bottom, more of a glass cleaning concern.

 

[whyamisofly]

I'm 6'0" on the dot. My tank is 28" deep and 30" wide. My sand is about 2-3" deep. I can't reach beyond about 5" of depth without a tool. Having said that, I personally want even a deeper tank because I like look. At 36" deep even at 26" tall you probably can't get to some of it so I'd go the deeper the better. 28" was my tallest I could go without swapping to 3/4" glass that would of doubled my cost.

Being a 60" long tank, I can use 5/8" glass for anything from 24" - 30".

 

[alanbetiger]

Being a 60" long tank, I can use 5/8" glass for anything from 24" - 30".

Yeah my tank is 8ft long. I was only saying it to give the reason I personally didn't go with a taller tank. But I'm still wishing I had gone with taller instead of longer. I figured it was to do glass thickness why you would top out at 30"

 

[James404]

I had a 29" (225g) deep tank and never again. It really made stuff difficult like placing coral frags and stuff that may drop. 26" is my vote.

 

[dave.m]

It really depends on the individual. If you're the type that can't keep his hands out of the tank you will want a shorter tank. Sure, it looks squat and ugly, but it is easier to maintain and to play in all the time.

However, if you are looking for a showpiece tank and can manage keep tank intrusions to a minimum, the taller tank is surely the way to go. I like a 36" tall tank and damn the inconvenience. Get some long-handled grippers to help in maintenance tasks.

Dave.M

 

[outy]

I'm 6'1" so reaching the bottom of a 30" tank shouldn't be an issue, but looking for the opinion of people with tall and short tanks.

Thanks in advance!

I have a 30" and at 6' I'm ok provided the canopy is not on, with canopy you will be limited unless your doors are at tank height.


30 is definitely max id go and 28 is much easier to work with