Is bigger really better?

[Mr_Banana_Pants]

Of corse it is lol [emoji13] But unfortunately we can be restricted by the available area and the weight allowed by the framing. I'm beginning to plan a long term project for me living room display tank. Going to start building the stand this winter and was debating on what size I am thinking of building.

So I have to throw out the question to the masses of people much smarter then I. What is your favorite size and dimensions for a reef tank?

 

[sa6hir]

Long and wide has possible but I wouldn't go higher then 3ft, otherwise it's difficult to reach the bottom! Then comes the question is bigger better! Not until you have a stable system! Until then it's a battle, well for me at least I have a 6x2x2.5, total water volume 220g! Been running approx 6 months! Good luck [emoji6]

 

[Cleverbs]

I wouldnt say bigger is better. I thought it was. I have a 220g that was a reef and ill tell you what while its amazing to have that size tank to keep some of the larger tangs its a stuggle in every other place. Yes its more stable but it cost more to keep stable, it cost more to stock, it cost more for everything. Think about the amount of money you need to spend to fill up a 6ft+ tank with coral I spent 1000's to do it with mine and the tank crashed and i lost it all. Just started a 93g cube and must say I LOVE the size of the tank. its easy to work in. Allows me to keep some of the larger fish I like and doesnt cost nearly as much. I built the whole system for the price of the light I had to buy for the 220g. And the new tank has better equipment and is nicer then the 220g by far.

Dont get me wrong I know all to well the desire to have a large reef tank!

 

[Antics]

I guess if space and budget weren't really a constraint (within reason) I'd probably say my ideal reef dimensions would be six or eight feet long and three feet wide. I would limit the height to eighteen or twenty inches. I think shallow reefs are much easier to manage and I don't think fish really need vertical height if the rock work allows easy movement through the tank.

 

[stylaster]

I like the wide and shallow tanks myself. Mine is 60"x60"x20" comes out to 312g cube.

 

[Cleverbs]

I guess if space and budget weren't really a constraint (within reason) I'd probably say my ideal reef dimensions would be six or eight feet long and three feet wide. I would limit the height to eighteen or twenty inches. I think shallow reefs are much easier to manage and I don't think fish really need vertical height if the rock work allows easy movement through the tank.

I couldnt agree more on shallow. 220gs are 31" tall and ill tell you what its a PAIN. I like shallow reefs with tall stands so that it puts the tank closer to eye level but allows you to maintenance the back of the tank.

As we all know to well in this hobby if something is difficult to do maintenance on we will likely skip it entirely

 

[sa6hir]

I wouldnt say bigger is better. I thought it was. I have a 220g that was a reef and ill tell you what while its amazing to have that size tank to keep some of the larger tangs its a stuggle in every other place. Yes its more stable but it cost more to keep stable, it cost more to stock, it cost more for everything. Think about the amount of money you need to spend to fill up a 6ft+ tank with coral I spent 1000's to do it with mine and the tank crashed and i lost it all. Just started a 93g cube and must say I LOVE the size of the tank. its easy to work in. Allows me to keep some of the larger fish I like and doesnt cost nearly as much. I built the whole system for the price of the light I had to buy for the 220g. And the new tank has better equipment and is nicer then the 220g by far.

Dont get me wrong I know all to well the desire to have a large reef tank!

This is all well said and 100% true! In the last 6 months of having my system up and running I have lost.

1x powder blue
2x Caribbean tangs
1x gold rim
2x yellow
2x clown
1x regal
1x banner
1x algae blenny

May others but I can't really remember now. It's a lot easier to have a smaller stable system then a larger 1. I Did water testing before I added fish, and while they was dying but everything was in check!