Opinion on tank size needed!

Lostmind · 11/13/2006, 02:15 AM

Hey All!

I am moving to a new house anyday now, and the wife has approved a new tank! Unfortunately, I am kinda limited in space and yet, I want to create the illusion of a bigger tank. So I've come up with the following:

60" long
30" deep
18 or 20" tall

Tank would be barebottom, lit by my two 250w de pfo pendants... I have an asm g4 skimmer, but I may or may not use it. Water movement is still kinda up in the air, I have a bunch of tunze's but really like the vortech's... I also have an oceansmotions 4way...

I'm a huge fan of fish and sps. Which is a combo that doesn't go well together when you want a low maintenance tank. But anyways, my hope is to build a smallish tank with some depth and to fully maximise the light's I currently have. The two 250w de pfo pendants lit the 120g tank up very well. I think they'll be fine in a custom tank this size, although I am definitely stretching it.

Comments appreciated!

Thanks

aquarius77 · 11/13/2006, 03:25 AM

Thats a 5 foot tank, from what i understand metal halides cover about a 24 inch square area so if centerd you will have 3 inches on either side and 6 inches on either end of the tank where your lighting might be pretty weak. But do you really want to pile rock on your glass?
i think a nice clean 4 walls and a more central rock structure in that tank with the outer edges not so bright could make for a beautiful reef.

Its all a matter of what you want. Take your time im sure it will be awesome however you do it

nyvp · 11/13/2006, 06:13 AM

60" long
30" deep
18 or 20" tall

>>>why cant you go taller like 60x30x30? That will almost double your tank volume by going from 18-30 inches

Tank would be barebottom, lit by my two 250w de pfo pendants
>>> put them in lumerac or lumenmax reflectors. they cover 3x3 areas. if you go they extra depth put your high light users higher up to compensate for the depth. The corals don't know if they are 18 inches from the light if there is more water below them.

Water movement is still kinda up in the air, I have a bunch of tunze's but really like the vortech's... I also have an oceansmotions 4way...
>>> all good going to be up to you on this one

I'm a huge fan of fish and sps. Which is a combo that doesn't go well together when you want a low maintenance tank. But anyways, my hope is to build a smallish tank with some depth and to fully maximize the light's I currently have. The two 250w de pfo pendants lit the 120g tank up very well. I think they'll be fine in a custom tank this size, although I am definitely stretching it.

>>> you can always upgrade the skimmer and overskim to try and strip the water a little more for the sps.

Lostmind · 11/13/2006, 11:48 AM

Thanks for the input!

I don't want to go taller for a few reasons. I can't reach the bottom of a 30" tank. On my friends 30" tank, even zoa's and xenia have a hard time growing on the bottom and he runs 400w mh's. And finally, being on the second floor, I am a little concerned about having such a large tank setup - would hate to have something crash through the floor

I didn't know lumenarc/lumenmax reflectors handled DE lights. I'll have to read up on that!

11/13/2006, 02:15 AM	#1
Lostmind Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 270	Opinion on tank size needed! Hey All! I am moving to a new house anyday now, and the wife has approved a new tank! Unfortunately, I am kinda limited in space and yet, I want to create the illusion of a bigger tank. So I've come up with the following: 60" long 30" deep 18 or 20" tall Tank would be barebottom, lit by my two 250w de pfo pendants... I have an asm g4 skimmer, but I may or may not use it. Water movement is still kinda up in the air, I have a bunch of tunze's but really like the vortech's... I also have an oceansmotions 4way... I'm a huge fan of fish and sps. Which is a combo that doesn't go well together when you want a low maintenance tank. But anyways, my hope is to build a smallish tank with some depth and to fully maximise the light's I currently have. The two 250w de pfo pendants lit the 120g tank up very well. I think they'll be fine in a custom tank this size, although I am definitely stretching it. Comments appreciated! Thanks

11/13/2006, 06:13 AM	#3
nyvp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hollywood Florida Posts: 3,633	Re: Opinion on tank size needed! 60" long 30" deep 18 or 20" tall >>>why cant you go taller like 60x30x30? That will almost double your tank volume by going from 18-30 inches Tank would be barebottom, lit by my two 250w de pfo pendants >>> put them in lumerac or lumenmax reflectors. they cover 3x3 areas. if you go they extra depth put your high light users higher up to compensate for the depth. The corals don't know if they are 18 inches from the light if there is more water below them. Water movement is still kinda up in the air, I have a bunch of tunze's but really like the vortech's... I also have an oceansmotions 4way... >>> all good going to be up to you on this one I'm a huge fan of fish and sps. Which is a combo that doesn't go well together when you want a low maintenance tank. But anyways, my hope is to build a smallish tank with some depth and to fully maximize the light's I currently have. The two 250w de pfo pendants lit the 120g tank up very well. I think they'll be fine in a custom tank this size, although I am definitely stretching it. >>> you can always upgrade the skimmer and overskim to try and strip the water a little more for the sps.

11/13/2006, 03:25 AM	#2
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	Thats a 5 foot tank, from what i understand metal halides cover about a 24 inch square area so if centerd you will have 3 inches on either side and 6 inches on either end of the tank where your lighting might be pretty weak. But do you really want to pile rock on your glass? i think a nice clean 4 walls and a more central rock structure in that tank with the outer edges not so bright could make for a beautiful reef. Its all a matter of what you want. Take your time im sure it will be awesome however you do it

11/13/2006, 11:48 AM	#4
Lostmind Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 270	Thanks for the input! I don't want to go taller for a few reasons. I can't reach the bottom of a 30" tank. On my friends 30" tank, even zoa's and xenia have a hard time growing on the bottom and he runs 400w mh's. And finally, being on the second floor, I am a little concerned about having such a large tank setup - would hate to have something crash through the floor I didn't know lumenarc/lumenmax reflectors handled DE lights. I'll have to read up on that!