aarrgghhh the tank sizes!

[bfng3569]

so i thought i was set on a 135 gallon tank, witch would be 72 x 18 x 25.

but the more i think, the more i like 24" wide as oppsed to the 18" wide...!

sooooo... here are the choices.....

72 x 18 x 25 Tall (135 gallon)
72 x 24 x 17 Tall (125 gallon wider tank)

or

48 x 24 x 25 Tall (120 gallons, wide and taller, but shorter....)

i need to make this decisions soon or miss my delivery date, but i am really leaning toward the 24" wide as opposed to 18 wide tanks.

and i am thinking the 17" tall will be easier to light and maintain.

when it comes to the health of the 'reef' though, does it matter???

everytime i think i am at a final decision, i think a bit to much more.....

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by bfng3569
72 x 24 x 17 Tall (125 gallon wider tank)

or

48 x 24 x 25 Tall (120 gallons, wide and taller, but shorter....)

I'll help you narrow it down

the 48"long 120 makes an excellent reef aquarium

[bfng3569]

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak
I'll help you narrow it down

the 48"long 120 makes an excellent reef aquarium

i'd like to think thats help...

but i bet they all do.....

so i know i am ovr analyzing a bit at this point, but thats only because i have to place my order tomorrow or friday at the latest.....

and once in, there is no turning back......

gotta get the tank size right!!! and do i want eruo bracing or rimless.... grrr grrr grrr!

and i thought this 90 gallon was big and heavy when i got it....

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by bfng3569
i'd like to think thats help...

but i bet they all do.....

untrue- not all aquariums make good reef aquariums.
A 4 ft. long 75 gallon glass aquarium is a "good" choice for a first reef aquarium but the 4ft. 120 is even better.

[bfng3569]

well yes, and i know bigger is better.

but iam waying the narrower deeper tank over a wider shallower tank.

for every reason, cleaning and maintenance, lighting (*i.e money) , and habitant happyness!

[1fishkeeper]

I have a 120gal tank and I love it.

[bfng3569]

Originally posted by 1fishkeeper
I have a 120gal tank and I love it.

its not so much the gallons (120 vs 135) as the difference in the height, iwdth and length at this point.

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by bfng3569
well yes, and i know bigger is better.

not true.


72 x 24 x 17 Tall (125 gallon wider tank)

or

48 x 24 x 25 Tall

both of these are the same width and either would be a good choice but for a first reef aquarium the 4ft 120 is a better choice.

[bfng3569]

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak
not true.


72 x 24 x 17 Tall (125 gallon wider tank)

or

48 x 24 x 25 Tall

both of these are the same width and either would be a good choice but for a first reef aquarium the 4ft 120 is a better choice.

why is that? maybe i am confused here....?

[Gary Majchrzak]

the aquarium itself is one of the least expensive components of a reef system. Assuming that you have zero zip nada nothing as far as equipment goes, you still need to purchase lights, plumbing, a skimmer, liverock, livestock, pumps, ELECTRICITY etc. (ie:thousands of dollars worth of stuff that it will take to set up and run your reef aquarium system.)
The price of lighting jumps significantly when comparing 48" long light fixtures to 72" light fixtures. More lighting will be required to illuminate practically the same volume of water in the two aquariums being compared. (48" long 120 vs. 72" long 135). The additional heat from more lighting/electricity can cause other problems such as the need for a chiller or plumbing the aquarium sump to the basement.
Through the years I've seen two things that drive people away from keeping a reef aquarium:
#1) nuisance algae
#2) the purchase of an aquarium that is too large to manage

I started with a 48" long 75 gallon aquarium and it was an excellent choice. The 48" long 120 is an even better choice- especially if you're going to place an array of T5's up on top.

[jettster]

depends on what light youre going to use 17 deep cp fl will work or t5 24 deep mh or t5 maybe but if 48x24x24 is good isnt 72x24x24 beter go 180

[Gary Majchrzak]

IMO in most cases a 180 is way too much for a newbie to handle.
Great size for an experienced reefkeeper, though.

[jettster]

true and as you pointed out 72 lights are alot higher than 48 inch

[Chihuahua6]

There won't be a tremendous difference in lighting each of the above mentioned tanks.

I think the most important thing in your situation is asthetics. Which size do you think looks the best and which one fits into the designated space the best? If it's a long wall the tank will be placed against, a six feet long tank may fit the space better than a four feet long tank. If floor space is tight, you may not like the look of 24+ inches sticking into the room. If you have high ceilings the 17" tall tank may look short and squat in comparison to the room.

I would tape out the footprint of the tank on the floor to get a better idea of which one I prefer.

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by Chihuahua6
There won't be a tremendous difference in lighting each of the above mentioned tanks.

33.3% difference. Call it whatever you want. Roughly 1/3rd more expense, 1/3rd more heat produced.
to simplify my illustration, say for example that you illuminate each aquarium with 250watt SE halides. Each halide is designed to illuminate a 24" x 24" area:
the 48" long 120 will require two bulbs.
the 72" long 135 will require three bulbs (keeping intensity equal with the above tank along the full length of the aquarium.)
it's easy to see there's a big difference. What's the average price of a 250w SE lamp nowadays... $60-$80 bucks (each)? What about the cost of electricity to run two vs. three 250w lamps over the course of a year? What if the heat produced by the extra bulb causes need for a chiller. Price out chillers. Ouch. It adds up quick. Of course, to some people this extra cost is insignificant.

related reading- this 48" long 120 was TOTM on RC twice:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-02/totm/index2.htm

[Lotus99]

I personally prefer wider, shallower tanks. I find it a lot easier to do maintenance on them, and I find them easier to aquascape in a more pleasing way.

I have the additional problem of being short. The only way I can reach to the bottom of my reef tank is standing on a stepstool and reaching all the way to my armpit. It's not fun.

You also have fewer problems with lighting on shallower tanks.

[bfng3569]

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak
33.3% difference. Call it whatever you want. Roughly 1/3rd more expense, 1/3rd more heat produced.
to simplify my illustration, say for example that you illuminate each aquarium with 250watt SE halides. Each halide is designed to illuminate a 24" x 24" area:
the 48" long 120 will require two bulbs.
the 72" long 135 will require three bulbs (keeping intensity equal with the above tank along the full length of the aquarium.)
it's easy to see there's a big difference. What's the average price of a 250w SE lamp nowadays... $60-$80 bucks (each)? What about the cost of electricity to run two vs. three 250w lamps over the course of a year? What if the heat produced by the extra bulb causes need for a chiller. Price out chillers. Ouch. It adds up quick. Of course, to some people this extra cost is insignificant.

related reading- this 48" long 120 was TOTM on RC twice:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-02/totm/index2.htm

sweet!!!

these are exactly the items i was hoping someone would talk about!!

very very informative.

another question then is the pre-plumbed with internal overflow vs an 'add on' overflow? And rimless or euro braced? (the eruo braced i have the only thing i like about it is the extra 'shelf' around the top, but its a pain for any external plumbing coming into or out of the tank)

lighting and maintenance are important, so it sounds as if the 48" long is an easier less expensive way to go. (i am not trying to pinch pennies, but the money tree isnt exactly blooming yet either....)

[kzickovich]

it also depeds on what kind of fish you wamt to keep. If you want a tang in there go with the 72" they need the swiming room

[Chihuahua6]

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak
33.3% difference. Call it whatever you want. Roughly 1/3rd more expense, 1/3rd more heat produced.
to simplify my illustration, say for example that you illuminate each aquarium with 250watt SE halides. Each halide is designed to illuminate a 24" x 24" area:
the 48" long 120 will require two bulbs.
the 72" long 135 will require three bulbs (keeping intensity equal with the above tank along the full length of the aquarium.)
it's easy to see there's a big difference. What's the average price of a 250w SE lamp nowadays... $60-$80 bucks (each)? What about the cost of electricity to run two vs. three 250w lamps over the course of a year? What if the heat produced by the extra bulb causes need for a chiller. Price out chillers. Ouch. It adds up quick. Of course, to some people this extra cost is insignificant.

related reading- this 48" long 120 was TOTM on RC twice:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-02/totm/index2.htm

You are correct however there are many ways to stretch your dollar where lighting is concerned. The use of high quality reflectors for example can allow you to use two bulbs instead of one in some applications. I will be doing this on my next project while keeping corals away from the sides of the tank where illumination will not be as intense.

There are many other ways to save on lighting if you get creative.

[Chihuahua6]

[QUOTE
these are exactly the items i was hoping someone would talk about!!

very very informative.

another question then is the pre-plumbed with internal overflow vs an 'add on' overflow? And rimless or euro braced? (the eruo braced i have the only thing i like about it is the extra 'shelf' around the top, but its a pain for any external plumbing coming into or out of the tank)

lighting and maintenance are important, so it sounds as if the 48" long is an easier less expensive way to go. (i am not trying to pinch pennies, but the money tree isnt exactly blooming yet either....) [/B][/QUOTE]

Yes and no. See my response above.

Absolutely go with a predrilled tank. Add on overflow boxes are an accident waiting to happen.

When you mention rimless or eurobraced are you referring to an acrylic tank? Most standard glass tanks have the plastic trim around them, no eurobracing. What brand is the tank you have now?

[bfng3569]

woops

[bfng3569]

currently i have a 90 gallon glass from glasscages.com (see above pic with turtle) and its got the euro bracing (you can see in the picture if i am describing it worng?)

and i am planning on glass, with possibly starfire for the front or sides.

(and funny, but i just found a few posts were glass cages isnt spoken of to highly......)

[bfng3569]

bumping for myself!