Ideal Proportions for Reef

garrettm · 10/27/2006, 10:02 PM

I am in the market for a larger reef tank and can't decide on the size that I want. I know that I want a 110g-120g setup made of glass in the european design. I have been looking at a couple of options as far as dimensions go and have found myself leaning towards one that is 24x48x24. (and correct me if I am wrong but that is 120 gallons) The desing is very nice with a black back and center overflow. The dimensions prove that it is not your regular rectangular tank but it has a little more depth than usual. I like it very much but I am concerned that the depth is too much. Would these dimesions be good for a reef consisting of SPS corals with a metal halide setup. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

GM

old salty · 10/27/2006, 10:06 PM

I don't think there is such thing as too much depth (front to rear.) I only have 18 inches of it and kind of wishing I had more. One thing that I have noticed by looking at the Elos tanks is how much of a difference it makes when you can see the water line. It adds so much realism. Just keep in mind that whatever size you choose, you have to add lighting. Have a plan for this as well.

Oh, welcome to RC!!

garrettm · 10/27/2006, 10:09 PM

Thanks old salty. btw....I happen to see your current tanks....how do you like the Deltec Skimmer?

ACBlinky · 10/27/2006, 10:12 PM

To Reef Central

I think a 120g has nice proportions; a 48" x 24" viewing window is very visually pleasing, at least to me. It's the same as a standard 90g, but you have an extra 6" front to back to work with which is nice. If you're going with MH and want SPS I'd get at least 2 x 250W, but I'm no expert.

garrettm · 10/27/2006, 10:27 PM

I do know that I am giong to get 2 Halides to cover this bad boy. This is getting expensive....

ACBlinky · 10/27/2006, 10:31 PM

LOL tell me about it! I bought a MH fixture today, my husband is still wandering around the house muttering under his breath about how much the new tank is costing us

Slickdonkey · 10/27/2006, 10:38 PM

I have a 96x24x24. If I had it to do over again I would get 30" front to back. It's plenty deep and plenty long but I wish I had a little more surface area for aquascaping.

old salty · 10/28/2006, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by garrettm
Thanks old salty. btw....I happen to see your current tanks....how do you like the Deltec Skimmer?

I couldn't take a picture to save my life!! Deltec skimmer is a really nice piece of equipment. A bit pricey, but what else is money good for besides spending?

dippin61 · 10/28/2006, 03:59 PM

definately go with the deepest tank you can. i sure wish mine was deeper, so many more possiblilities, especially for a larger tank.

garrettm · 10/28/2006, 07:00 PM

I went and looked at it again today and now I am completely in love with it. Now it is time for me to shop around and find the best price. I will have to buy my equiptment one thing at a time because of money but I can't wait.
Also I have been looking at skimmer and what people think of them. I will probably end up going with deltec because that is what I have heard the most about. Thanks for all your help guys!!
I will have to start a post as soon as I get the tank and post my progress.

GM

Slickdonkey · 10/28/2006, 07:56 PM

Try the new ATI Bubblemaster skimmers. They are in-sump only but supposedly perform really well.

xtrstangx · 10/28/2006, 08:31 PM

More depth is better. Don't worry about the 24". It will be very nice. You can have interesting aquascaping (more than just a rock wall look) and still have room for fish to swim in front and all around.

scaryperson27 · 10/28/2006, 10:27 PM

I have an octopus that works great for me

http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...products_id=48

This would be great for your setup

I have this light on a 33 gallon cube and it is incredibly bright! two of these would be good for your 120. The pendent looks pretty really good. I decided to not even enclose it, i just hung it from the ceiling.

http://www.hellolights.com/25hlmhrekith.html

Are you going to set up your filtration in another room?

I think deltecs are really a good, and yes they are pretty repeatable, but i don't think the price signifies the performance you get out of them. The bank for the buck just isn't that great.

Have you thought of doing a external overflow?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

There are multiple ways of doing it. Is this tank going to be custom made?

Keelay · 10/28/2006, 11:11 PM

Yep I agree I have a 18" deep 100 Gal. I wish It was 24 inches. Way more aquascaping options.

Snausages01 · 10/29/2006, 01:02 AM

I've got a 120, and I'd never go with anything under 24" wide and 24" tall for a 'big' tank. I like tall and deep tanks. Beyond that the length would depend on how many halides I wanted to buy. I'd only buy an even length tank (two, four, six feetâ€¦) simply because a 5 foot tank would take as many halides as a six foot tank to light properly (halide ~ 2'x2').

I looked at 75s and 90s before I got the 120 but went with the 120 because beyond the cost of the tank, the setup cost was pretty much the same for all. All used about the same equipment and needed the same lights.

nyvp · 10/29/2006, 06:33 AM

i like the 24 wide but like 30 high if your going custom

chesapeake · 10/29/2006, 07:06 AM

i have a 120 and its perfect for a reef nice and wide 24'' makes the depth perseption look good.and gives plenty of room for reef

garrettm · 10/29/2006, 07:56 PM

Scaryperson,
Filtration will be in the same room under the stand....I think, space permiting. As far as overflow, call me crazy but I like the look of the black overflow box in the back of the tank.
I don't know if I would have to get this one custom made or if it is a desing that a company does often. I have seen one at a store called Reef Collection in costa mesa that is absolutely the exact thing that I want. They said it was made by LeeMar (I think this is the right spelling)

curtisc63 · 10/29/2006, 08:37 PM

Yes, deeper is better. I wish I had more in mine as there is not much room front to back once you add in some rock for aquascaping.

scaryperson27 · 10/29/2006, 08:49 PM

I know all glass aquariums and perfecto sells 120's with megaflow overflows in them. I think Oceanic also sells them the same way too.

Yeah, i though the same thing about the boxes. I have a megaflow overflow (which is pretty quiet) in my tank. I don't dislike the look of it, i just with it didn't take up the real estate. It's a popular tank size. there is also a 150 (48x24x30tall). I wish i had my 65 gall custom made. I would have gotten three sides starfire, a closed loop system, external overflow... ehh maybe on my next tank.

garrettm · 10/29/2006, 10:36 PM

So here is another little afterthought. I was thinking of not putting a canopy over the top and just using a coralife mounted light that has two halides and actinics on it. I like the open feeling where I can see the surface of the water but I don't know if this can work. Do any of you have any suggestions for this?

scaryperson27 · 10/29/2006, 11:04 PM

Make sure you don't buy any jumpers. I would take a couple pieces of acrylic, which lets i think 94% more light through then glass, drill some holes for ventilation in them and use them like you would a glass canopy. You could allways resort to egg crate if you wanted to but you would loose light towards the side of the tank.

lessthanlights · 10/29/2006, 11:21 PM

I just had a 90 gallon 36x24x24 built with external overflows and closed loop. It looks AMAZING but if I were to do it again I would have built it 36x30x18 for the extra front to back depth. If I had the space would consider a 48x30x24 for about 150 gallons. My kitchen tiles are exactly 12x12 and I often map out my next tank's dimensions on the floor and I don't even have water in the 90 yet!

scaryperson27 · 10/29/2006, 11:35 PM

do you have any pics?

lessthanlights · 10/29/2006, 11:59 PM

The beer bottle is for reference. I'll be starting a thread soon with all the details- don't mean to hijack.

10/27/2006, 10:02 PM	#1
garrettm Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 222	Ideal Proportions for Reef I am in the market for a larger reef tank and can't decide on the size that I want. I know that I want a 110g-120g setup made of glass in the european design. I have been looking at a couple of options as far as dimensions go and have found myself leaning towards one that is 24x48x24. (and correct me if I am wrong but that is 120 gallons) The desing is very nice with a black back and center overflow. The dimensions prove that it is not your regular rectangular tank but it has a little more depth than usual. I like it very much but I am concerned that the depth is too much. Would these dimesions be good for a reef consisting of SPS corals with a metal halide setup. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks all. GM

10/27/2006, 10:06 PM	#2
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	I don't think there is such thing as too much depth (front to rear.) I only have 18 inches of it and kind of wishing I had more. One thing that I have noticed by looking at the Elos tanks is how much of a difference it makes when you can see the water line. It adds so much realism. Just keep in mind that whatever size you choose, you have to add lighting. Have a plan for this as well. Oh, welcome to RC!! __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

10/27/2006, 10:12 PM	#4
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	*To Reef Central* I think a 120g has nice proportions; a 48" x 24" viewing window is very visually pleasing, at least to me. It's the same as a standard 90g, but you have an extra 6" front to back to work with which is nice. If you're going with MH and want SPS I'd get at least 2 x 250W, but I'm no expert. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

10/27/2006, 10:31 PM	#6
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	LOL tell me about it! I bought a MH fixture today, my husband is still wandering around the house muttering under his breath about how much the new tank is costing us __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

10/28/2006, 03:59 PM	#9
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	definately go with the deepest tank you can. i sure wish mine was deeper, so many more possiblilities, especially for a larger tank. __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

10/27/2006, 10:09 PM	#3
garrettm Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 222	Thanks old salty. btw....I happen to see your current tanks....how do you like the Deltec Skimmer?

10/27/2006, 10:27 PM	#5
garrettm Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 222	I do know that I am giong to get 2 Halides to cover this bad boy. This is getting expensive....

10/27/2006, 10:38 PM	#7
Slickdonkey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 375	I have a 96x24x24. If I had it to do over again I would get 30" front to back. It's plenty deep and plenty long but I wish I had a little more surface area for aquascaping.

10/28/2006, 07:00 PM	#10
garrettm Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 222	I went and looked at it again today and now I am completely in love with it. Now it is time for me to shop around and find the best price. I will have to buy my equiptment one thing at a time because of money but I can't wait. Also I have been looking at skimmer and what people think of them. I will probably end up going with deltec because that is what I have heard the most about. Thanks for all your help guys!! I will have to start a post as soon as I get the tank and post my progress. GM

10/28/2006, 07:56 PM	#11
Slickdonkey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 375	Try the new ATI Bubblemaster skimmers. They are in-sump only but supposedly perform really well.

10/28/2006, 08:31 PM	#12
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	More depth is better. Don't worry about the 24". It will be very nice. You can have interesting aquascaping (more than just a rock wall look) and still have room for fish to swim in front and all around.

10/28/2006, 10:27 PM	#13
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	I have an octopus that works great for me http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...products_id=48 This would be great for your setup I have this light on a 33 gallon cube and it is incredibly bright! two of these would be good for your 120. The pendent looks pretty really good. I decided to not even enclose it, i just hung it from the ceiling. http://www.hellolights.com/25hlmhrekith.html Are you going to set up your filtration in another room? I think deltecs are really a good, and yes they are pretty repeatable, but i don't think the price signifies the performance you get out of them. The bank for the buck just isn't that great. Have you thought of doing a external overflow? http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1 There are multiple ways of doing it. Is this tank going to be custom made?

10/28/2006, 11:11 PM	#14
Keelay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 783	Yep I agree I have a 18" deep 100 Gal. I wish It was 24 inches. Way more aquascaping options. __________________ MobiLinc, a new way to experience your home. Visit the MobiLinc Store for low prices and the best quality on INSTEON home automation gear. Current Tank Info: 100G Custom Acrylic, 40 Gallon Sump, DIY Gravity Assisted Protien Skimmer, ATO, 2x175W MH + 1x96W VHO Actinic

10/29/2006, 01:02 AM	#15
Snausages01 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 739	I've got a 120, and I'd never go with anything under 24" wide and 24" tall for a 'big' tank. I like tall and deep tanks. Beyond that the length would depend on how many halides I wanted to buy. I'd only buy an even length tank (two, four, six feetâ€¦) simply because a 5 foot tank would take as many halides as a six foot tank to light properly (halide ~ 2'x2'). I looked at 75s and 90s before I got the 120 but went with the 120 because beyond the cost of the tank, the setup cost was pretty much the same for all. All used about the same equipment and needed the same lights. __________________ -Chris

10/29/2006, 06:33 AM	#16
nyvp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hollywood Florida Posts: 3,633	i like the 24 wide but like 30 high if your going custom

10/29/2006, 07:06 AM	#17
chesapeake Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 231	i have a 120 and its perfect for a reef nice and wide 24'' makes the depth perseption look good.and gives plenty of room for reef

10/29/2006, 07:56 PM	#18
garrettm Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 222	Scaryperson, Filtration will be in the same room under the stand....I think, space permiting. As far as overflow, call me crazy but I like the look of the black overflow box in the back of the tank. I don't know if I would have to get this one custom made or if it is a desing that a company does often. I have seen one at a store called Reef Collection in costa mesa that is absolutely the exact thing that I want. They said it was made by LeeMar (I think this is the right spelling)

10/29/2006, 08:37 PM	#19
curtisc63 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Columbia MD Posts: 49	Yes, deeper is better. I wish I had more in mine as there is not much room front to back once you add in some rock for aquascaping.

10/29/2006, 08:49 PM	#20
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	I know all glass aquariums and perfecto sells 120's with megaflow overflows in them. I think Oceanic also sells them the same way too. Yeah, i though the same thing about the boxes. I have a megaflow overflow (which is pretty quiet) in my tank. I don't dislike the look of it, i just with it didn't take up the real estate. It's a popular tank size. there is also a 150 (48x24x30tall). I wish i had my 65 gall custom made. I would have gotten three sides starfire, a closed loop system, external overflow... ehh maybe on my next tank.

10/29/2006, 10:36 PM	#21
garrettm Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 222	So here is another little afterthought. I was thinking of not putting a canopy over the top and just using a coralife mounted light that has two halides and actinics on it. I like the open feeling where I can see the surface of the water but I don't know if this can work. Do any of you have any suggestions for this?

10/29/2006, 11:04 PM	#22
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	Make sure you don't buy any jumpers. I would take a couple pieces of acrylic, which lets i think 94% more light through then glass, drill some holes for ventilation in them and use them like you would a glass canopy. You could allways resort to egg crate if you wanted to but you would loose light towards the side of the tank.

10/29/2006, 11:21 PM	#23
lessthanlights Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 606	I just had a 90 gallon 36x24x24 built with external overflows and closed loop. It looks AMAZING but if I were to do it again I would have built it 36x30x18 for the extra front to back depth. If I had the space would consider a 48x30x24 for about 150 gallons. My kitchen tiles are exactly 12x12 and I often map out my next tank's dimensions on the floor and I don't even have water in the 90 yet!

10/29/2006, 11:35 PM	#24
scaryperson27 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cape Coral, F.L. Posts: 2,106	do you have any pics?

10/29/2006, 11:59 PM	#25
lessthanlights Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 606	The beer bottle is for reference. I'll be starting a thread soon with all the details- don't mean to hijack.