Can't decide ! A 24 or 30 tall tank ?

[cracker]

Good Evening, So my old 220 is all drained and ready to go as it developed a leak. So Do I want a 180 which is 24 tall or another 220 which is 30 ? Other than my water changes need to be a little bigger and I can barely reach the bottom A 30 tall just looks better to me. What other factors am I missing?
Thanks

 

[Mandrew]

More flow and less light penetration are the only things I can think of! Good luck deciding

 

[Kershaw]

Light penetration and gas exchange. I would go 20 tall if you have the option. But I like the shallower look. My tank is 48x30x20
One day I want 72x30x20
Also I had a 180 it was nice tank. 30inch tall would be a pain to clean or reach something that falls

 

[CastAway]

If I ever have a second tank, I'm thinking 18"! All about the light to me.

 

[Mandrew]

Also in order to get corals closer to the light you'd have to stack rocks taller and that could be a pain too.

 

[Catchemall]

Well and being able to reach the bottoms of the tank easily would be nice too with coral placement and just general maintainance. Just aggravating with a tall tank.

 

[cracker]

I'm coming to the same conclusion also. I'm not spring chicken anymore and I'm tired of ladder work andwet shirt sleeves ! But, there is more room in there ! LOL

 

[Kershaw]

Go longer or deeper

 

[jwilliams860]

I think length and depth is better than height. I've got long arms and I hated trying to reach anything in the back of my old 220. With length and depth you can get some better aquascaping too.

 

[Catchemall]

I think length and depth is better than height. I've got long arms and I hated trying to reach anything in the back of my old 220. With length and depth you can get some better aquascaping too.

No kidding mine is only a 90 and there's a place in the back corner I can't get too

 

[cracker]

Ok let me throw in this factor. In the back somewhere is the desire for a fish dominant tank. There are a lot of nice fish that aren't reef safe. I have a 75 I can keep a reef in.

 

[Kershaw]

There is no reason you can't get a 30 tall tank. You just have to be willing to deal with the inconvenience that could arise.
Light - may need to use MH to get the penetration if you decide to add coral later. Or stick with deeper water corals
Gas exchange- can be handled in sump maybe using a much higher flow return
Maintenance -get long glass scraper and Tongs for reaching things that fall or die.

 

[Kershaw]

I think you should just go 300 gal 96x30x24

 

[cracker]

300 ! OK no factors LOL Thanks again

 

[PatW]

I have a tank with a 27" height and it would be easier to handle if it was 24". It has a depth of 36" which I really like. The depth really opens possibilities for aquascapes. I agree, a 96"x30"x24" is a very nice configuration.

 

[becks]

i have a 30" height tank and the depth is a pain at times but light penetration is fine even with leds, if anything it's better to place lower light corals. But the best thing in my view is the ability to create nice aquascapes with lots of room for corals to grow, you can also keep a healthy swimming space above your corals for fish who swim above the reef and dive down for cover ie regal tangs. So many people quote tank length as the only factor in deciding what fish to stock but rarely do people consider the actual swimming space inside the actual tank, rock walls or lots of live rock with lots of corals, atleast you can still stock a tank heavily with coral and still enable lots of swimming space above them.

 

[saltyhog]

My tank is one of the DSA tanks, it is 72x24x21 and I think the height is perfect. My next tank is going to be a 96x30x21 or 120x30x21 custom.

 

[cracker]

Thank's Salty! I just saw a pic of a very nice 30 tall ! Your 24 tall looks very nice also ! So Your next tank will be even shorter?

 

[saltyhog]

Thank's Salty! I just saw a pic of a very nice 30 tall ! Your 24 tall looks very nice also ! So Your next tank will be even shorter?

I'm not sure of the convention, I was trying to convey my tank is 72" long, 24" front to back and 21" water depth. So my next tank will be the same depth as my present. The deepest I think I'll go is 24"

 

[cracker]

Yes Salty I meant to say "not as tall". So I'm going for the 24 inch tall tank. I can still have plenty of fish easier to work on my 40gl water changes will be more effective etc. Thanks for the op's !