Would you ever consider a cylindrical tank?

[clifg]

Thinking long long in the future about my second tank and have just been browseing. Some of these cylinder-shaped tanks are intriguing to me.

Anybody ever had one? What are some possible pros and cons?

What other unique tanks shapes are out there?

Post pictures if you have one! I know @uniquecorals had one at some point, not sure if it's still up:

 

[shwareefer]

It would probably be the strongest tank configuration. Do they distort the view like fisheye? If yes that's the deal breaker for me. I know I hate bowfronts for that reason.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

I dont like them, they distort the view and are much harder to clean.

 

[Midrats]

$$$$$$$

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Jellys!!!!!

 

[Snoopy 67]

NO WAY JOSE!
I've had to work on them large & small, short & tall.
PITA & no room underneath.

 

[Alaeriel]

Honestly, I'm down for any secure box that's full of water. If it's a large enough cylinder, I'd get small rays.

 

[Supa]

I just haven’t seen a round tank that didn’t give that distorted view

 

[Frostblitz20]

Would be a pain to clean the glass

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Well... I mean... Oh, who am I kidding?? I love tanks of all shapes and sizes!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I find them unique and intriguing.

 

[DC Reefer]

I have 1/4 (155g) and a 1/2 (105g) cylinder tanks. The issues I have had with them is flow and lighting. You have to get very creative on both to make them work. Some mention cleaning the glass, I use the Algae Free magnetic cleaners (wooden on the outside) and go the next size up from what is recommended for my glass thickness and it works pretty good. Go through the blades a little faster than on a flat tank. You do get some distortion of the view, but the larger the tank, the less distortion you see. I have found the flow is a lot easier on the 1/4 than the 1/2 and the lighting is easier on the 1/2 than the 1/4. I also figure I use about 2 times the # of power heads compared to what I would need on a rectangular tank of the same water volume to eliminate the dead spots.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I would but don't think it could be a coral tank due to the distortion. . I would love to se a planted macro tank in one of these.

 

[Spieg]

Been there - done that. Won't recommend to anyone. Huge PITA to light and clean.

 

[N.Sreefer]

Id have one with moon jellies but like others have said no coral.

 

[albano]

Not even slightly interested…don’t like them at all!

 

[TCoach]

I have a 92 corner. I love the tank, but would not rebuy it.

Issues:
Limited space under tank. It is very tight and lots of wasted space)

Distorted viewing. Some area are hard to view due to the distortion. Can be hard to photograph too.

Hard to light. Is I was going to grow SPS, I would probably need 3 lights for a tank that would only take 2 in a rectanglular tank.

Hard to reach into tank. Due to being a 3’ radius, always getting wet if I have to reach the overflow.

Waterflow is hard. Seems to take extra wave makers to make sure I have ok flow.

———

Honestly, we are having to replace the floors where my reef is. If I could find a good buy on a 120, I’d switch in a heartbeat and make the corner freshwater. It’s a beautiful tank. Just the curve shape does not lend to efficient reefing.

 

[DC Reefer]

I have coral in both of my tanks. The 1/4 if a full cylinder would have an 7' diameter and has much less distortion than the smaller 1/2 cylinder. I think for full cylinder to work well and to minimize the distortion you have to go big- I would think 8' + diameter and then it gets kinda pricy and you might have to build the room around the tank to get it in.

 

[fachatga]

I’d love one for the looks but hate the curve on my bow front. I’d go crazy cleaning one of those. Maybe there’s a trick to it and I’ll change my mind. But that’s my initial reaction

 

[USCfan]

If I got a good deal on it sure. I would go old school with closed loops to hide the pumps.

I would take this type of tank over a narrow long tank.

I have a 92 corner. I love the tank, but would not rebuy it.

Issues:
Limited space under tank. It is very tight and lots of wasted space)

Distorted viewing. Some area are hard to view due to the distortion. Can be hard to photograph too.

Hard to light. Is I was going to grow SPS, I would probably need 3 lights for a tank that would only take 2 in a rectanglular tank.

Hard to reach into tank. Due to being a 3’ radius, always getting wet if I have to reach the overflow.

Waterflow is hard. Seems to take extra wave makers to make sure I have ok flow.

———

Honestly, we are having to replace the floors where my reef is. If I could find a good buy on a 120, I’d switch in a heartbeat and make the corner freshwater. It’s a beautiful tank. Just the curve shape does not lend to efficient reefing.

Alot of this is true. I used a bowfront shape sump to max out the space. Really only sump shape that will work. 28 gal bow-front fit like a glove.


I have this same tank. Let me know if you need any help with lighting. I use a single Philips coral coral care lighting mine now. Have it mounted inside my hood about 6 inches from water. It really cover the tank well. Used t5s before that.