180 vs 220

[Steven91]

I need your help!

I am currently planning a tank upgrade sometime next year and am debating against a 180 or a 220. I am leaning towards the 180 due to its a little shallower (24in vs 30in) which is easier to get lighting (thinking AI hydra 26s) and easier to clean.

I currently have a 7 month old 120 that everything is going to be transferred from. Would upgrade pump and sump as well.

Suggestion, comments or concerns please post and help me decide

 

[Crabs McJones]

Suggestion: Send me the 120 when you're done

I would personally do the 180 as well for the reasons you listed

 

[Steven91]

Suggestion: Send me the 120 when you're done

I would personally do the 180 as well for the reasons you listed

Where you live, Im debating on if i want to try to convert it over to fresh (if i have the room) or to sell it or try and trade it towards my 180

 

[bdejong1112o]

I would go with the 220. I had the same debate recently. I was certain I wanted at least a 150 or a 180. That was the simple part. I ended up with a 220 out of luck and availability. I just recently started the aquascaping and this is where the added height is paying off. I wanted to be sure to provide plenty of swim room for my fish. The added depth is allowing me to have the tops of my rock structure right in the sweet spot of my lights and still have plenty of room for fish to swim above the corals without having to swim around all of them. This is how I have seen them while diving. They not only swim within the rock formations but also above them.

The extra 6 inches is valuable real estate for your fish. I don't think cleaning will be that much more difficult and I think the fish will appreciate me more. Lol

 

[Maritimer]

I just added fish to my 220 a few days ago. Now, part of this is because a lot of them are angelfish, blennies and gobies, and part of this may be because they're new and nervous ... but the top 6" of the tank are mostly just water.

Hopefully, when I add a few more dartfish, some wrasses, and a flock of anthias, that'll change.

Part of the equation hinges on what kinds of fish you're planning.

~Bruce

 

[Crabs McJones]

Where you live, Im debating on if i want to try to convert it over to fresh (if i have the room) or to sell it or try and trade it towards my 180

WI

 

[Steven91]

WI

Would be a little far to ship it, I'm in PA

 

[Crabs McJones]

Would be a little far to ship it, I'm in PA

Worth the try

 

[Steven91]

Worth the try

I hear ya, kinda how I got my 120

 

[tkiry1]

I have had the 180 and 220, get the 220..Better yet the 265!!!

 

[Steven91]

I have had the 180 and 220, get the 220..Better yet the 265!!!

I wish I could get a 265, though I think a 220 is the max I can currently do. I really got think about stocking either way, as currently all my fish, couple of mocha clowns, magnificent foxface, flame angel, tiger pistol goby pair, engineer goby, and a pair of pajama cardinals will all get transferred from my old 120 to it

 

[tkiry1]

I wish I could get a 265, though I think a 220 is the max I can currently do. I really got think about stocking either way, as currently all my fish, couple of mocha clowns, magnificent foxface, flame angel, tiger pistol goby pair, engineer goby, and a pair of pajama cardinals will all get transferred from my old 120 to it

265 is same dimensions as 220 except the extra foot of length.. 220 is awesome... I have fish only had 220 until July and transitioned to the 265.. Good luck with everything...

 

[oceanfreak09]

I say get the 180 because I have a 30 inch deep tank and it is a real pain to get to the bottom to scrape Coraline at the sand bed. [emoji4]

 

[Steven91]

I say get the 180 because I have a 30 inch deep tank and it is a real pain to get to the bottom to scrape Coraline at the sand bed. [emoji4]

That's part of the reason I am leaning the 180 is due to maintenance and with the stand I'm looking at it's puts the tank at shoulder level (I'm just shy of 6ft)

 

[oceanfreak09]

That's part of the reason I am leaning the 180 is due to maintenance and with the stand I'm looking at it's puts the tank at shoulder level (I'm just shy of 6ft)

Your armpit will thank you! Lol and same footprint as the 220 for awesome aquascapes!! The only other thing I would suggest is External overflow versus internal! A lot more tang swimming room if you know what I mean!!

 

[Steven91]

Your armpit will thank you! Lol and same footprint as the 220 for awesome aquascapes!! The only other thing I would suggest is External overflow versus internal! A lot more tang swimming room if you know what I mean!!

I think my armpit will thank me as well and I hope i can come up with some awesome aquascape for a 6' tank, though my only concern with an external overflow would be having a siphon issue

 

[Reefinny Verified Sponsor]

220 - for what you will go through to do the upgrade I would do the largest you can do.

 

[andrewkw]

I had a 180 and when I upgrade again that is the min size I will consider. A 180 is certainly easier, but a 30" tall tank looks so much bigger imo. A lot of people like the shallow tanks but a tall tank looks great. It does mean getting wet, and potentially a higher lighting budget depending on what you are going to keep.

 

[Steven91]

I had a 180 and when I upgrade again that is the min size I will consider. A 180 is certainly easier, but a 30" tall tank looks so much bigger imo. A lot of people like the shallow tanks but a tall tank looks great. It does mean getting wet, and potentially a higher lighting budget depending on what you are going to keep.

I dont mind getting wet, its the least of my concerns, and Im thinking for lighting doing 3 AI Hydra 26s LEDs which would get any 6' tank lighting though out the tank, though I do not know how well they would do in a 30" deep tank compared to a 24" deep tank. Mainly looking at keeping it a mixed reef with more softies and lps than sps

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

I dont mind getting wet, its the least of my concerns, and Im thinking for lighting doing 3 AI Hydra 26s LEDs which would get any 6' tank lighting though out the tank, though I do not know how well they would do in a 30" deep tank compared to a 24" deep tank. Mainly looking at keeping it a mixed reef with more softies and lps than sps

Keep in mind that the only difference in light penetration will be at the bottom 6" of the aquarium. 12" from the surface will be the same amount of light regardless if the tank is overall 24" or 64" inches deep...