Upgrading tank, what size would you go with?

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I currently have a 24"T tank fully enclosed and like the way it turned out...
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In the future, I don't think I'll go with anything taller. On the other dimensions, I would go as deep (front-to-back) as you can since you'll have access to both sides since this adds so many possibilities with aquascaping. My tank is 60"L X 30"D X 24"T, so I couldn't imagine what I'd be able to do with something 40"+ front-to-back... that would be awesome.

Good luck!

-Chad
 
I had a 8x2x30 Fish Only tank. And reaching the rock work on the bottom meant lying on top of the tank and dunking myself.

My reef tanks have gone from 24" to 26" to 28.5" -- My current 400g.

In a reef tank, reaching the bottom is crucial for keeping it clean and my arms only reach to about 26". Hence why the bottom 3+" of my tank is coraline that I can't reach. My tank also has a steel rim top frame and an entirely open top.

Scrapers, extensions and tongs sometimes don't work when it comes to scraping and mounting corals.

I will agree with the poster that height adds alot to the visual appeal of the tank. And while the photo of the 60x30x24 tank looks good. When you get to an 8' tank at 24" it does look short and stubby. And when you add all your exquisite cabinetry its going to look even squatter.

So measure from the tip of your fingers to the armpit and build a tank to fit. The taller you go the happier you will be - as long as you can reach the bottom.

Dave
 
my 450g tank is 96"x40"x27"h ... I have 3 other 27"h tanks...got rid of my LAST 30"h 300g tank in 1991...this is a very 'workable' height for a reef tank, and IMO still looks good at 8' long.

this shows the tank without the canopy/light shield
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my 450g tank is 96"x40"x27"h ... I have 3 other 27"h tanks...got rid of my LAST 30"h 300g tank in 1991...this is a very 'workable' height for a reef tank, and IMO still looks good at 8' long.

this shows the tank without the canopy/light shield
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Great video....not to derail the thread but is that a black spot tang in there? I just got one from LA.
 
Great video....not to derail the thread but is that a black spot tang in there? I just got one from LA.
thanks...ACANTHURUS BARIENE...really nice fish...follows me around like a puppy begging for food!
 
thanks...ACANTHURUS BARIENE...really nice fish...follows me around like a puppy begging for food!

Awesome! mine is about 3" and just got him on Friday. Finally starting to eat.

Sorry to the op for going off topic....now back to the regular program.
 
Definitely go 48" if you have room to access it from both sides.

I'm with Dave M and geaux xman and think the deeper the better.
If it were me I'd have a hard time going from 36" down to 24" and I really like the idea of putting up cardboard or wood to see what it looks like. Keep it up for a week until you get use to the look and then take it down and see if you are really willing to give up the height for added maintenance.

I use to have a 36" tall cube and what I did was I built the rock up off the bottom and didn't have corals on the bottom 5-10". Although that may not look so good on such a large tank.
 
Thanks for the input guys and THANKS for the pictures/videos, they are awsome.

I've been doing some musings in my head and am think that if I go with a 30" tall tank, once the wood trim and all is up, that will give me a 24" viewing area. So I'm going to do what you guys sugested and block off some of my tank so that I have a 24" viewing area and see how I like that for a while.

Last night, I had the wife look into the tank from the end so that I could show here what a 48" wide tank would look like. She thought it was awsome so I got the go ahead for 48" wide.

I've also been doing some reading of plywood tanks and am thinking of building my new tank from plywood. By doing that, I can custom build to the size I want. May even be able to go with a 9 or 10' long tank. :) I'll have to see how it all fits in the room.

So maybe a 48" wide by 10' long by 30" tall tank is in the works. ;) That's almot 750 G. :)
 
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