1st post - advice on tank: wider or taller?

scerdoc · Dec 30, 2013

Hey everyone - 1st post. Am a long-time scuba diver and recently became aware of how advance the saltwater aquarium world has become! I have been doing a lot of reading over the last 5 - 6 weeks, visits to LFS, and have decided to take the plunge and start up. I am aiming for a general mixed reef tank with some smaller fish, LPS and SPS. I plan to start slowly and build the tank up over the coming year - no rush on my end, want to do it right instead of quickly. I was initially looking at a 65 gal tank, but have decided to go a little bigger from the start to maximize the room I have to work with.

The first question of many to come: I am trying to decide between the DSA 100 (dimensions: 48 X 20.5 X 25.5) or the 105 (48 X 24.5 X 21.5)...

So same volume, the 100 is deeper/more narrow and the 105 is wider/shallower. My first instinct is for the wider one as it gives more "surface area" overall in the tank to work with, but wanted to get opinions from those with experience.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Lilmatty5dimes · Dec 30, 2013

your absolutely correct. wider is better. lol between the two you have above get the 105. a wider stance on bottom will make it a lot easier with you aquascaping. you'll have more of a base. plus, if you shorter it'll be easier to reach your hands in the bottom of the tank without a step laddar.

Lilmatty5dimes · Dec 30, 2013

welcome to the forum.

don't hesitate to ask question about equipment or anything else for that matter. it'll save you money because you won't have to buy something over again because its a point of sale. lol

gfox · Dec 30, 2013

Welcome to the site.I just set up the DSA 105 and I love it.For a reef tank wider is better,the 105 being 21 high lets me reach into the tank and touch bottom easy.

scerdoc · Dec 30, 2013

Great! Do you have any pictures of your set up? Two quick questions for you - I plan to put a refugium underneath - a 40 gal breeder or 35 gal custom acrylic. Did you have any problems fitting a tank in the cabinet? Also, if you have a canopy I am thinking of LED lights and wonder how they work out there...

scerdoc · Dec 30, 2013

Thanks! It's nice to get my instincts confirmed before I commit any $$!

AwesomeDempseys · Dec 30, 2013

Lilmatty5dimes said:
your absolutely correct. wider is better. lol between the two you have above get the 105. a wider stance on bottom will make it a lot easier with you aquascaping. you'll have more of a base. plus, if you shorter it'll be easier to reach your hands in the bottom of the tank without a step laddar.

Well said.

Coraloliseffect · Dec 30, 2013

Wide also if looking for reef as less light needed to reach bottom.

LPSGUY · Dec 30, 2013

I like wide. That's a nice size for a starter tank. Decent water volume and manageable. Good luck

Fin · Dec 30, 2013

Another vote here for wider. My 140 is wide, short and high - 48" x 24" x 29" high. I hate the height of my tank, but didn't have room for more length. You will enjoy the extra room to create your aquascape.

twelvefive · Dec 30, 2013

Definitely agree that wider is better. I have a standard 125g and I really wish it was more wide.

McAllyn · Dec 31, 2013

I'm a Long and Low kind of guy for two reasons. (1) With a deeper tank, it's tricky to get the lights at the right height so that the stuff at the bottom doesn't starve while the guys at the top are getting cooked. (2) I cannot reach the bottom of my tanks without a ladder and a wet sleeve. (3) All the fish I like are mid to low swimmers, so the top middle of my tank is usually just open empty water... nothing to look at.

Neither of my current tanks fit into the Long and Low category, but my at the next house I'm going to build in a 96x24x21 (200 long).

Mac

shred5 · Dec 31, 2013

Agreed wider allows for better aquascaping, more room for corals fish and better penetration for light.

scerdoc · Dec 31, 2013

Clear consensus then - wider it is!

Thanks everyone.

revhtree · Dec 31, 2013

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scerdoc · Dec 31, 2013

Thanks Revhtree - I will start a build page when I actually get the tank, lol. I have been reading a lot, but I know I will have some questions on skimmer choices, plumbing, etc in the near future. Great to have somewhere to work this through.

benny z · Dec 31, 2013

idk, the popular trend is clearly wider.

but i've been to a rather old-school shop in terra haute, in (inland! duh(?) haha), which has a few refrigerator-shaped tanks (no lie) that are pretty incredible. i'd say (based on memory) that they are approximately 3x3x7ft tall. one houses a large achilles tang and at first i thought it was pretty ridiculous seeing the fish going up-and-down v/s side-to-side, but after watching it for some time it was pretty natural-looking in its grazing. this tank has one simple halide above it and the diversity of life at every portion of the deep narrow tank receiving various intensities of light is pretty amazing.