do the 96x30x25 of course lol. My tank is a 120x24x24 and for me its the perfect height and depth where I can get my arm in the tank and pretty much reach the back. The more depth you add the more difficult it will be to maintain, unless you have access from both sides. I only have access from the front.
See this is what I believe would be a major factor in keeping me away from that length of tank. If I could use some pumps on the sides and back wall. With the back wall helping to create flow in the middle of the aquarium that would be my ideal situation. Those abyzz pumps have a crazy price tag. Which whole this isn’t the cheapest hobby it’s waaaaaay cheaper than my previous one lol
Sump will be in the basement. I had a 29" tall tank once and working in the tank was a pita so I won't go taller than 25".
Gyree will get you whatcha need.. I run 2 mp40’s at 75% and two ice cap 4k gyres at 40% they move a ton of water! If I get up to 100% on the gyres it’s a crazy mess in my tank lol..
My prior tank was 96x33x28.5. From that I went to a 120x30x36. This was the most beautiful looking aquarium. But it was absolutely impossible to work on without have a maintenance person with gorilla length arms.
I loved the look but hated the tank. After a crash wife said order what you want and so we got a 120x48x30.
WIth what you mentioned, it's going to be a custom tank. Custom at the size you're talking about is not any more expensive than a stock sized tank. It's just getting a tank built to suit your situation. If you want a 96x36x25 then order one up. Get the overflow just the way you want. Get the hole sizes cut and placed where you want. Get what you want.
As for flow. 8' of flow is pretty easy to handle. 10' of flow is an amazingly and exponentially harder issue to handle. And - I have (2) Abyzz Flow Canons and a Panta Rhei ECM63.
A flow cannon for an 8' tank is way overkill. For me it's important that the equipment of the tank is as minimally in view as possible. Having 3 bigger oversized pumps to keep out of view rather than a dozen inadequate pumps, that in the end cost the same amount and are not near as effective.
With an 8' tank in the dimensions you are pondering there are reasonably priced pumps that will handle the water movement you want/need. I will tell you that all water movement values printed are not the same. A small Panta Rhei ECM42 will move more water than a physically larger Jebao with a higher listed output - and for less energy consumption.
Dave B
I went with 72x30x28 euro braced. If I would've known that the wife was going to go against the tank being inside the house, I would have gone with a 96x36x30(H). Now the tank is going inside the garage, luckily, I had a 2ton mini split installed. So go with the bigger tank, you'll love it.
I’m going to check out that thread. Do you have a build thread or plan on making one for yours?I'm in the same boat. I have an aging 180 and want to move to an 8' tank. Actually I have wanted to for years but now is starting to feel like the right time. If I do it I'm going with custom build from glass cages. Mine will be 96x30x25high with an external overflow on the short end so the tank can be placed closer to the wall and have plumbing in a corner. I'm using @Lost in the Sauce build as a plan but mine will be backwards
