What tank size/shape would your ideal reef tank be and why?

[tt837]

Im looking to start my first reef tank and I want to buy a setup just once and have for a very long time. Thanks.

TT

[Bonneville08]

Just my opinion:
Buy a tank as big as you can afford. Consider lighting, chiller, skimmer, pumps, sump, calcium reactor, power heads and live rock. There is a bunch of other things but the cost of these is dependant on tank size.
Keep in mind you have to spend more money down the road on salt, lamps, electricity, supplements.
I would do a rectangle and consider lighting when choosing how tall. I would consider how many feet of wall space you have available.
Sorry for the long non answer, I have and enjoy a 50 gallon and most people would opt for larger.

[jbc123]

I'd love a big round one in the middle of a room with a huge pile of rocks in the middle with fish swimming around it. That would be awesome!

[seapug]

10 foot square, 20 inches deep. It'd give you a lot of room to create a variety of zones yet still be shallow enough to easily aquascape and maintain. And wade in.

[Linina]

When I set mine up I heard about how great a 90 is. I bought a 90 and its pretty good but being only 18" deep (front to back not tall!) it is VERY difficult to aquascape. If I could rewind and do that over, if buying a standard tank I would by a 120 gallon (24" deep)hands down (unless I had more than 4' of room, then longer).

If I could really really go back and had the money for it, I would likely build a custom 4' long by 36" deep or so, 20" tall (my 90 is 24" tall and IMO it's just a bit too tall), and EXTERNAL overflow. I hate my internal overflow box. If I did get an overflow box I'd prefer the corner instead of in the back so as to make aquascaping around it easier. (although if i had the 24" deep instead of 18 maybe it would't annoy me so badly)

Just my .02!

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by tt837
Im looking to start my first reef tank and I want to buy a setup just once and have for a very long time. Thanks.

TT

excellent question.
I'm sure you'll get a lot of conflicting responses.
IMO do not purchase the largest aquarium you can afford.
Aquariums are relatively inexpensive (when compared to lighting, pumps, skimmers, etc.) and one of the most common newbie mistakes is purchasing an aquarium that's difficult to maintain. Running costs go up exponentially with size.

A 72" x 24" x 24" 180 gallon aquarium is an excellent choice for a "large" home reef tank but this might be too big for many people to start out with.

A 48" x 24" x 24" 120 gallon makes an excellent reef aquarium for novice and pro alike. These would be among your best choices in most cases IMO.

[tt837]

thanks for your responses, as you all know this is a difficult decision to make. I am leaning towards one the new marineland marine series 36" wide and 27" high in lengths of 3,4,5 and 6'.

TT

[mike tv]

A 3 by 3 tank 24 tall is how I'd go. You'll save on lighting because you can buy 36 inch instead of 48. , assuming you're going t5, and you can usually have more fun with the aquascaping in a cube

I believe that's still 90 gal as well, so that's a big allowance for error

[A sea K]

Heed Gary's advice. IMO it is easier to set-up a smaller system, give yourself time to learn more about the hobby, and then design and set-up your larger system as you are ready.
I set-up a large system initially and if I was starting it now with what I have learned in the last two years it would be set-up quite differently.

[mightymouse]

personally i dont like your average long skinny tanks i prefer something thats not as wide but is deeper as in not as big [----] this way but goes farther back towards the wall. I have a 65 reef im about to get fired back up that i lost to a hurricane and i love it only downfall is it is very deep and hard to aquascape.

[masharp1126]

If you can afford it, I'd go with the 6 foot long tank. The other dimensions are great, especially the 36" from front to back. However, take the time to research everything before starting. You can do it right from the beginning, even as a newbie. Check out the large tank forum and look at some of the builds. They are loaded with information.

[Pulp Fishin]

I have had dreams about a "L" shaped tank that goes in wall.
The tank would have to be say 6" x 6" mabby 2 feet deep so that would put the tank arrounmd 450-500gallons.
Why would I want this tank most of all? It would make other hobbiest drool mostly but I would love the swimming room for keeping bigger fish. Not to mention it would be one sweet deco for the wall!

Cheers

[m_wonnacott]

my dream tank for our living arangments and where we keep the tank would be 5'long (largest that will fit) x 20" high (would never go taller) x 24

I say I would never go taller then the 20" hight because for me it is the perfect hight for working on and being able to reach the bottom when I need to. Had a 90 and sold it in part because I hated working on it. Keep that in mind when deciding your height and arm length will play a part in this as well

[kolosy]

large rim-less open-top cube that overflows through all sides into the pedestal it's on. saw that at an LFS... OMFG.

[spacepirate]

Hi.. I just started a tank and I heard that you spend 'twice as much as you think you will' and it was very, very, true.

Check craigslist and your LFS (see i'm already doing the jargon) for used tanks and equipment because they are out there and you can get a good deal. I got a damn good deal on my setup which was all used, of which I have spent far more on rock/sand/salt than the initial setup.

Also, I'm already thinking that my stand is too small because I want to add drip lines and other extras and the sump/fuge takes up all the room. I'd suggest just from my early opinions so far to either get a 100g or approx with enough size below for all your extras.. if better butt it up next to another room that you can use to house extras for expansion later.

[Kellie in CA]

Originally posted by kolosy
large rim-less open-top cube that overflows through all sides into the pedestal it's on. saw that at an LFS... ****.

a ZeroEdge Tank? http://www.zeroedgeaquarium.com/index.html

Very cool, I've never seen one in person.

[kolosy]

yes! they had it in the middle of the store under 4 MH pendants aranged in a spiral (one slightly higher than the next).

gorgeous. though viewing is optimal from above, which means fish would be a bit more difficult to see.

[GoBigOrGoHome]

3': 40Br or 50Br
4': 75g or 120g
6: 180g

Of course, these are the ones that are standard tanks and cost effective to purchase, start up, and run. I've had the 40,50, and 75, but my personal favorite out of those would be the 120, because it just looks so deep (only 24"), because the width is only 48". The height makes it so that halides are almost an absolute requirement though. If you don't want to delve straight into that, I'd go with a 75, because you can get away w/ Overdriven T-5, VHO's, Reg. HOT5's or even PC's, or the Coralife T-5s for a VERY low-tech, low-cost tank(in my opinion, the order of these lights is the order of photosynthetic effectiveness, with possibly a switch between HOT-5 and VHO, watt for watt).

I would think you could set up a decent, low-tech 75 reef w/ a decent skimmer, decent flow, and a decent light fixture, w/ about 75 lb of rock for <$1500. Then add other livestock!!

[savethereef]

i know you said you want to buy a tank you want to keep for a while. but here is my advice. when you are 1st starting your 1st tank. i would advice you to get a 24g nano cube and start from there. get used to tank maintenance and you learn more info. after a couple months of being on here and seeing build thread you can give your self an idea of what you want. this is the advice i was given planed my dream tank which is what i have now. Take it slow

[Rustylugnuts]

excellent question.
I'm sure you'll get a lot of conflicting responses.
IMO do not purchase the largest aquarium you can afford.
Aquariums are relatively inexpensive (when compared to lighting, pumps, skimmers, etc.) and one of the most common newbie mistakes is purchasing an aquarium that's difficult to maintain. Running costs go up exponentially with size.

A 72" x 24" x 24" 180 gallon aquarium is an excellent choice for a "large" home reef tank but this might be too big for many people to start out with.

A 48" x 24" x 24" 120 gallon makes an excellent reef aquarium for novice and pro alike. These would be among your best choices in most cases IMO.


Linina When I set mine up I heard about how great a 90 is. I bought a 90 and its pretty good but being only 18" deep (front to back not tall!) it is VERY difficult to aquascape. If I could rewind and do that over, if buying a standard tank I would by a 120 gallon (24" deep)hands down (unless I had more than 4' of room, then longer).

If I could really really go back and had the money for it, I would likely build a custom 4' long by 36" deep or so, 20" tall (my 90 is 24" tall and IMO it's just a bit too tall), and EXTERNAL overflow. I hate my internal overflow box. If I did get an overflow box I'd prefer the corner instead of in the back so as to make aquascaping around it easier. (although if i had the 24" deep instead of 18 maybe it would't annoy me so badly)

Just my .02!

+1
Those 2 are my favorite sizes. Wide enough to get creative with the rock scape, deep enough that a DSB doesn't crowd and shallow enough for T-5's to punch through. I'd lean towards the 72" length just because I'd be able to reuse my 36" T-5 HO's. The 140 square (36x36x25) another one I'm seriously considering.

[crvz]

Originally posted by tt837
thanks for your responses, as you all know this is a difficult decision to make. I am leaning towards one the new marineland marine series 36" wide and 27" high in lengths of 3,4,5 and 6'.

TT

I think you'll like the width, but I don't like really tall tanks. If I could do mine at 20" instead of 24 I think I'd be happier. I imagine my next one will give more more depth, but there's no way I'd go over 24".

[GoBigOrGoHome]

Originally posted by crvz
I think you'll like the width, but I don't like really tall tanks. If I could do mine at 20" instead of 24 I think I'd be happier. I imagine my next one will give more more depth, but there's no way I'd go over 24".

True. A 27"-high tank is going to necessitate the use of 250-watt MH at a minimum, and probably 400-w to get significant PAR all the way to the bottom of the tank.

[tt837]

Great points. I am starting to rethink the 27 in. high tanks. lighting is very expensive i am learning. thanks

TT

[dots]

At first, when getting into it most think of a "reef tank" as just like a freshwater tank, but with salt in it. This can't be farther from the truth.

The real questions lie in the ones, you havn't even begun to experience. What kind of tank? Not so much what your wallet can afford.....but your life.

This hobby can be very casual, say just a Fish Only tank which would greatest resemble the freshwater world. Or, could be the most demanding, expensive, consuming thing that can be downright devestating, where being "lazy" for a few days could cost you literally tens of thousands of dollars and years of work as can be seen in some of the high end SPS tank disasters.

Regardless, rarely is the tank you have your "last" tank so #1, don't worry too much about what you choose....odds are anyways what interests you will change as well, so new equipment will be needed.

I recommend starting slow, and conservative and don't get into a large complex, system with all the bells and whistles you may neither need or want in the long run.

Depending on your wallet or interests, I would suggest a nano cube first which will show you the basics, are cheaper to fill than a larger tank, and are literally "plug and play", giving you time to figure out what you either "want" or "need" equipmentwise and can be very confusing and daunting when starting. If you decide quickly you want a bigger tank, no harm no foul, others often will buy them quickly but you should keep it yourself as they make great QT tanks.

Don't get hung up in all the "tech" talk, don't get over your head, into the rare/expensive SPS coral or fish, saving all of this for your next tanks and giving you something to aspire to.

If you are looking for a "middle of the road" tank, 75g-125g will be big enough without being too big, and allow you to keep 100% of what you should be buying, even some of the more difficult and frustrating ones you shouldn't be, put an average skimmer in a sump underneath it, and a set of t5 lights overhead, which will potentially avoiding a costly chiller that often is needed with Metal Halides.....which you probably wouldn't need as I would stay in the LPS/Softy range, avoiding things like anenome/clams/SPS for a year or so until you figure out what you are doing. Avoid the 55g, they are just too narrow in the end and a hassle.

For me my next.......will be a 42Lx42Wx24H, with everything I want....and nothing I don't need.

[ReefNutPA]

Originally posted by Bonneville08
Just my opinion:
Buy a tank as big as you can afford. Consider lighting, chiller, skimmer, pumps, sump, calcium reactor, power heads and live rock. There is a bunch of other things but the cost of these is dependant on tank size.

Very valid point. The cost of lighting, a good skimmer and chiller on a 120+ gal system can run well over $1000-$1500 alone! Not to mention the electricity to run the halides and chiller.

Tom