Upgrading: What tank size?

[d0m1n4t3]

I have 2 tanks... one a 48x18x30 (tall) tank. Looks nice for a primarily fish only, but reaching the bottom is REALLY hard... might be easier if your stand is a bit on the shorter side. I would NOT want coral in that thing, at least if you ever want to reach them.

My other tank was recently upgraded from a standard 75 gal 48x18x20 to a 150 gal 60x24x24. I REALLY like that size... the footprint isn't drastically bigger from the 75, but WAY more space for rock, corals, etc, and much easier to get in it to work, reach the bottom, etc.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I have 2 tanks... one a 48x18x30 (tall) tank. Looks nice for a primarily fish only, but reaching the bottom is REALLY hard... might be easier if your stand is a bit on the shorter side. I would NOT want coral in that thing, at least if you ever want to reach them.

My other tank was recently upgraded from a standard 75 gal 48x18x20 to a 150 gal 60x24x24. I REALLY like that size... the footprint isn't drastically bigger from the 75, but WAY more space for rock, corals, etc, and much easier to get in it to work, reach the bottom, etc.

I will be on the lookout for a 150 for sure.

 

[JustAnotherReefer]

currently have a 75 gallon

when I upgrade the one I have in mind is a long 500 gallon 12 feet by 3 x 2

I like the look of the long low tanks I think they flow better than the tall tanks

 

[ReeferReefer]

currently have a 75 gallon

when I upgrade the one I have in mind is a long 500 gallon 12 feet by 3 x 2

I like the look of the long low tanks I think they flow better than the tall tanks

I would consider going bigger like the 500 gallon but my concern is on the sweet spot of cost and maintenance. My 90g doesnt cost much more than my 10g did really. The upgrade to a 120 should be pretty cost effective also as far as operating costs go.

When you go much bigger, you need to get an engineer involved to see if the house can even support the weight. Pretty intimidating!

I am also concerned about moving a big tank like that, once you set it up, its pretty much going to be there forever!

 

[JustAnotherReefer]

I would consider going bigger like the 500 gallon but my concern is on the sweet spot of cost and maintenance. My 90g doesnt cost much more than my 10g did really. The upgrade to a 120 should be pretty cost effective also as far as operating costs go.

When you go much bigger, you need to get an engineer involved to see if the house can even support the weight. Pretty intimidating!

I am also concerned about moving a big tank like that, once you set it up, its pretty much going to be there forever!

The Maintenance isn't something I am looking forward to, the plan would be to have it near a window or a drain to make water changes easier, the equipment aspect of it I figure I can piece it together slowly

 

[ReeferReefer]

The Maintenance isn't something I am looking forward to, the plan would be to have it near a window or a drain to make water changes easier, the equipment aspect of it I figure I can piece it together slowly

Yeah, a lot of the maintenance can be made easier with that sort of set up. Water changes are the killer thing with a huge tank like that. You are pretty much forced to get a water mixing station. Right now I am still using trash cans and the ro unit on my back porch.

 

[ZoWhat]

180
6ft

hardly any limitations on anything you buy

....and when you die, your wife will bury you in it

 

[Pntbll687]

Yeah, a lot of the maintenance can be made easier with that sort of set up. Water changes are the killer thing with a huge tank like that. You are pretty much forced to get a water mixing station. Right now I am still using trash cans and the ro unit on my back porch.

Nothing wrong with using trash cans!

My 190 is set up between my kitchen and family room, with the ro unit about 30 ft away in the laundry room. I just mix the the water in the laundry room and wheel it out next to the tank for water changes. I did add a pipe going through the wall to outside so I can easily drain the water.

Most of what I see on larger tanks are minimal water changes once the tank is established. Most rely on good biological and mechanical filtration to keep the water clean and clear.

 

[Captain Quint]

Depending on my age when asked the question of ideal tank size always influenced my answer. lol At one time I would have said my 300g, another point would have been a 14g BioCube...eh lol

Seriously though after nearly 46 years of keeping salt tanks my favorite is 120g would have to be the ideal tank. My old AGA 120g was awesome and fantastic to operate and keep almost anything I desired safely in it.

We all have our favorite sized tank as it should be and there is no wrong answer.

Just my

 

[Pntbll687]

Depending on my age when asked the question of ideal tank size always influenced my answer. lol At one time I would have said my 300g, another point would have been a 14g BioCube...eh lol

Seriously though after nearly 46 years of keeping salt tanks my favorite is 120g would have to be the ideal tank. My old AGA 120g was awesome and fantastic to operate and keep almost anything I desired safely in it.

We all have our favorite sized tank as it should be and there is no wrong answer.

Just my

^^ Some good advice right there.

Personally I prefer tanks that are either as tall as wide, or wider than tall. The extra space front to back provides lots of room for fish movement. Tanks that allow fish to swim front to back always seem to have something extra when looking at them.

My tank is 60 x 27 x 27 and if I could I would find a deep dimension tank to replace it.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

I might just pump the breaks for a week or two. I have a tendency to jump into things. It is clear with my market research that my area regularly has large reef tanks up for sale on the second hand market. I am in 3 active conversations with 3 different sellers of 120 gallon reef ready tanks in my area. I am going to take the next few months to keep saving up and expand my budget.

My gut is pushing me towards the standard 120 so that is what I will be actively searching for.

Any comments on tank size or dimensions are still appreciated as no concrete decisions have been made yet.

I just setup a 150G cube and while most don’t like 30” tall tanks the other specs are great 39” wide x 31”deep (front to back) which allowed me to use the center and build three large caves for my fish.

 

[tjp123]

I general rule of thumb I like to use is the same way I chose my last television:
Do all of your reading, research, etc., to properly, intelligently select the size you want.
THEN, go one size larger. ;-)

 

[theMeat]

I like standard 180 best

I also like chocolate

 

[ReeferReefer]

I just setup a 150G cube and while most don’t like 30” tall tanks the other specs are great 39” wide x 31”deep (front to back) which allowed me to use the center and build three large caves for my fish.

Is it tough to light such a deep tank?

 

[Pntbll687]

I general rule of thumb I like to use is the same way I chose my last television:
Do all of your reading, research, etc., to properly, intelligently select the size you want.
THEN, go one size larger. ;-)

I agree with everything except the one size larger.

I hastily took on a 190g used tank from my mother in law. It fit's the space I have, but that's about it. The sump is too small for the system but is too big to fit out the door of the stand, there are scratches on the glass, the tank is set up as peninsula, but does not have the overflow on the short side.

If I could do it again, I would go with a new 120 from marineland with one corner overflow. It might be smaller, but I could correctly size the sump and have full viewing from 3 sides.

I would go with the tank that fits the space you have without detracting from the room.

 

[Pntbll687]

Is it tough to light such a deep tank?

My 190 is 27 tall, but with the top fram and glass top I use the lights sit at 33" from the bottom. I have basic 48" marineland "reef" lights and they grow any LPS and softy I want at the bottom of the tank. I know i lose some par with the glass top, but I needed to cut down on noise and evap.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Is it tough to light such a deep tank?

I haven’t checked it with a PAR meter but with my canopy I built my lights are 33” from the sand bed and seems very well lit. So far my coral are responding well but I will know for sure in a couple days as everything is still acclimating to the new tank. I have two Mars Aqua black boxes over mine (budget). My goal is to upgrade to Kessil after Recovering from Xmas.

 

[Aquavaj]

My standard 120 is only 4 months old and I'm already wanting to go bigger. If going standard, a 180g (72x24x24) would fit the bill but those dims in 30" depth would be my dream.

 

[theMeat]

My standard 120 is only 4 months old and I'm already wanting to go bigger. If going standard, a 180g (72x24x24) would fit the bill but those dims in 30" depth would be my dream.

Standard 180 and standard 220 has same footprint. The only dif is height. While the taller tank is nice to look at, it makes it harder to reach the bottom

 

[Aquavaj]

Standard 180 and standard 220 has same footprint. The only dif is height. While the taller tank is nice to look at, it makes it harder to reach the bottom

I would never go 30" high. The 24" with canopy is already hard enough to work with. I would trade the 30" height in depth instead but I doubt you can find that without going custom, especially if you want frameless.