Tank dimensions - pros and cons

[reefin-in-ky]

This is my first post but I have been a regular follower on here for a while and what a great community.

I am looking to get back into the hobby and I've been out long enough that I'll consider my self a rookie again. Over the last several months I have been steadily picking up equipment and I'm finally to the point of getting my aquarium (I know I bought everything in the wrong order) but I have a question about tank dimensions.

I am looking in the range of 180 - 200 gallon DT.
The sizes range from (L x W x H):
96x18x25
60x30x25
72x18x31
60x24x31

I'm not sure I want an 8' tank even though I have the room for it although the extra length in the stand would allow for easier equipment placement. I'm concerned going from 25" to 31" deep will make it difficult to get enough light deep. Also Most lights are rated for 24" squares so wider than 24" may cause light issues too.

I'm planning a mixed tank and starting with less demanding corals and fish and working my way up from there.

I guess my first question is; is there an advantage to longer narrower tank or does the width help. Seems to me that longer tanks would allow for more/larger fish and give them more room to swim and I don't know any benefits to going over 24" wide unless it's just for aquascape.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Ps. Once I start putting all the parts together, I'll post plenty of pics and I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions.

 

[the_reef_keeper]

Personally, I would go with the 8ft tank just so I could get some larger active fish like blue hippo tangs and Naso tangs.

 

[reefin-in-ky]

Personally, I would go with the 8ft tank just so I could get some larger active fish like blue hippo tangs and Naso tangs.

Only being 18" wide won't cause any issues? Of course I could jump to 240 gallons and go 96x24 but that just seems huge

 

[the_reef_keeper]

I've never had a huge tank like that but since it is only 18 in wide your aquascape would have to be long rather than deep and I wouldn't let the rock sit on the back glass because it would get hard to clean.

Cool aquascape idea:
Aquascape your rocks on 2/3 of the tank and then have a open sandy bottom with shrimp gobies, plate fungia and other cool sand-dwelling inhabitants.

 

[Oceanwave45]

Personally if you have room I would go longer not deeper - too many issues with a deep reef tank in my opinion.
Mine 24 inch deep and I hate - it sucks to clean and it makes a mess you have to reach the bottom. But a deep tank does look better too!

 

[RyanCSGO]

24-30in wide tanks give you great options for aqua scaping. Personally I like the 20 in height for reasons mentioned above.
Realistically it comes down to what type of aquas ape you want and what type of fish you want to keep

 

[Maritimer]

Spent most of today aquascaping a 76x24x30. I'm 6'2", but dipped my nose reaching for a fallen frag . . .

~Bruce, just sayin'

 

[paphater]

Only being 18" wide won't cause any issues? Of course I could jump to 240 gallons and go 96x24 but that just seems huge

It doesn't have water in it yet but I went 96"x22"x22". With the 8' length it will give you the space to really create different scapes within the same tank. You still can't go crazy with with the fish though. I really struggled with wanting a naso but decided against due to the 22" width. It would have plenty of swimming room but as it matured it'd only have 4" to make a turn, and that's not taking in to account the rock work. For mine I don't plan on getting anything that gets bigger than 12". The tank is actually 24" tall and I can say I wouldn't want to reach in to anything taller or wider.

 

[reefin-in-ky]

At least it sounds like most agree with with what I was thinking. Seems like 24" wide and deep is the best range. I'm only 5'10" and I don't want to need a snorkel to reach the bottom. It's only $100 more to go from 6' 180 gallon to 8' 240 gallon but I'll have to weigh the cost of the additional rock, sand and especially salt with larger water changes. Of course I can always add more rock later.

Thanks for the suggestions.