Show me the light

windowlicker916 · 10/10/2010, 01:34 PM

Kind of new to aquaria in general but I have succesfully gotten up and running a 125g planted aquarium that is heavily stocked using a wet/dry system as well as a 20g fresh water shrimp breeding tank to help keep my main tank stocked.

I plan on downsizing my 125g tank to like a 46g corner tank and placing a reef tank where the 125g is.

I have been doing a lot of reading and this is what I have come up with so far.

The tank will either be a 6ft or a 4 ft. I am torn whether to do a taller tank or a short tank (like 12"). What are the pro's and con's of using a tall vs short tank?

Also size is a huge consideration. how much does cost scale with size? I realize the substrate and rock add to the cost but what about the calcium reactor and such?

depending on the size of the tank I choose I am thinking a 30-40g sump with refuge. It backs to my garage so I will have storage tanks for RO water in there and plan a auto top off system. From my understanding you need a non salted tank and a salted tank in order to balance the salt content as evaporation increases the salinity?

Have tons to ask but this post is already long so there ya go.

Look forwarded to become as active in this community as I am on the PT.net forum I frequent for my freshwater!

muttley000 · 10/10/2010, 04:40 PM

The shorter tank is prefferable because you will have more water to air surface. If you have a 6' tank you will have a lot of more options for fish. Bigger will cost you more, but the $$ per gallon should go down with a larger tank if that makes sense. Also the increased real estate will give you more aquascaping options.

Dustin1300 · 10/10/2010, 05:58 PM

I'd go longer horizontally and keep it at 24-30" deep. Based on the depth and coral you want keep we can give lighting recommendations. I say longer so you can keep a lot of the tangs as they like lots of swimming room. I'd agree with Muttley000 as the cost does come down per gallon as you increase volume. Do you happen to have live rock lined up yet?

windowlicker916 · 10/10/2010, 08:42 PM

are there down sides to using a shallow tank? I have seen people with reef tanks 12" deep. seems like it's easier to work on but definently a completely different look.

10/10/2010, 01:34 PM	#1
windowlicker916 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Citrus Heights, Ca Posts: 938	Show me the light Kind of new to aquaria in general but I have succesfully gotten up and running a 125g planted aquarium that is heavily stocked using a wet/dry system as well as a 20g fresh water shrimp breeding tank to help keep my main tank stocked. I plan on downsizing my 125g tank to like a 46g corner tank and placing a reef tank where the 125g is. I have been doing a lot of reading and this is what I have come up with so far. The tank will either be a 6ft or a 4 ft. I am torn whether to do a taller tank or a short tank (like 12"). What are the pro's and con's of using a tall vs short tank? Also size is a huge consideration. how much does cost scale with size? I realize the substrate and rock add to the cost but what about the calcium reactor and such? depending on the size of the tank I choose I am thinking a 30-40g sump with refuge. It backs to my garage so I will have storage tanks for RO water in there and plan a auto top off system. From my understanding you need a non salted tank and a salted tank in order to balance the salt content as evaporation increases the salinity? Have tons to ask but this post is already long so there ya go. Look forwarded to become as active in this community as I am on the PT.net forum I frequent for my freshwater!

10/10/2010, 04:40 PM	#2
muttley000 MTS Sufferer! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,926	The shorter tank is prefferable because you will have more water to air surface. If you have a 6' tank you will have a lot of more options for fish. Bigger will cost you more, but the $$ per gallon should go down with a larger tank if that makes sense. Also the increased real estate will give you more aquascaping options. __________________ Next step on the system is adding A 90 gallon! Current Tank Info: 475 multitank system is now running! Several hundred gallons of additions planned!

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10/10/2010, 05:58 PM	#3
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I'd go longer horizontally and keep it at 24-30" deep. Based on the depth and coral you want keep we can give lighting recommendations. I say longer so you can keep a lot of the tangs as they like lots of swimming room. I'd agree with Muttley000 as the cost does come down per gallon as you increase volume. Do you happen to have live rock lined up yet?

10/10/2010, 08:42 PM	#4
windowlicker916 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Citrus Heights, Ca Posts: 938	are there down sides to using a shallow tank? I have seen people with reef tanks 12" deep. seems like it's easier to work on but definently a completely different look.