Advice from big tank owners 150+

harryk · #1 12/11/2007, 11:55 PM

I am currently in the planning stages of upgrading my 75 to a 150 or 180 not sure yet, but i have some questions and a little apprehension. I had dimensions in my mind and size that i want. I know i want 72" in length and 24" depth and the perfect height would be 20" which would make it 150g. The only problem is that this size only comes in acrylic which isn't really a problem because it's at the top of the list anyway. now the dilemma. I got quoted what i think is a great price on an all-glass 180 RR which is 72x24x24 (180g) with the nicer stand (not pine). The tank is taller than i really wanted and i'm paranoid of splitting a seam in a glass tank that big. is it rational to be paranoid about splitting a seam? Tons of people have tanks that big with no issues. I wanted to stay in the 150 range and 30g doesn't seem that big a deal but i'm not sure. I checked out the 2 main acrylic tank manufacturers and the dimentions i want 72x24x20 is standard. At one the 150 72x24x20 RR is $1,071 and at the other the plain 72x24x20 is $1,105 plus freight ofcourse for both. I have to figure in the stand which i could build so that wouldn't cost me much at all. I could always go 125 which is 72x18x20 it has the length and height but too narrow for rockscaping IMO and not as big as i wanted. any insight or opinions with my dilemma from large tank owners would be appreciated. I have to make a decision very soon.

thanks
Harry

dkuster · #2 12/12/2007, 11:34 AM

I have a 180 that I've had for about 10 years now without issues.

I am beginning to wonder how much longer the silicone seams are going to last. I'm hoping that the trouble will start with only a small leak (not an entire seam blowing out).

Actually, in retrospect I regret going with a tank this big. The amount of supplies, equipment, pumps, lighting, and the cost of the electricity to run everything seems to go up exponentially with bigger tanks.

Plus I'm not convinced that "bigger" necessarily equals "prettier".

hyperfocal · #3 12/12/2007, 11:37 AM

Yeah, but that 6' length sure does bring a lot to the table...

NYIntensity · #4 12/12/2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hyperfocal
Yeah, but that 6' length sure does bring a lot to the table...

You mean by covering the whole thing?

I can't wait to go bigger...much bigger.

tkeracer619 · #5 12/12/2007, 11:45 AM

I would get the glass tank at 72x24x24. When you factor in sand and space above the water line you will be close to only 20" of water.

No problems with breaking a seam if the tank is level. If its wracked, its going to break, just a matter of time. Silicone can last a very long time. I busted a seam due to my 150 being wracked, it was 16 years old and had the center brace removed sometime during that period..... had the oem silicone. It would not have broken if the carpet had not squished different over time or I had taken the time to fix it after noticing it had come out of level.

corals b 4 bills · #6 12/12/2007, 11:50 AM

You will hear very few people wish they had gone with a smaller tank, do a poll, 2/3 of the pollers will suggest the 180. I like glass because it is much easier to clean, the equipment cost between 150 and a 180 should be little if any. If you stay in this hobby a long period time you will find yourself selling corals because of not having enough real estate in the tank for newly aquired corals or frags.

harryk · #7 12/12/2007, 12:02 PM

i'm seriously leaning towards the 180, and i'm seriously considering Oceanic but they are crazy expensive and basically only doing custom now. I'm not really all that concerned about the $$$ it will cost to maintain the tank. i already figured that in. thanks for the input everyone

Harry

WarrenAmy&Maddy · #8 12/12/2007, 12:26 PM

good luck w/ your decision!

the 180 would be a preference here
espec when comparing it to a 150... i have a 125 that is 5ft long and 19" wide... for the space we keep our tank we like the 5ft width but want to upgrade to a deeper tank - like 24" atleast... greater depth imo gives more dimension to the reef although have felt lucky to have the 19" that currently have bec of this added depth dimension - compared to our 150fowlr that is 6ft by 18...

1 inch is not much difference in dimension
but in appearance it 'appears' atleast to be much greater - offerring better visual appeal etc

regards

biger · #9 12/12/2007, 01:00 PM

I went with a 180 gal acrylic. I think u will b happy with a 180. I personally went with acrylic because the glass tanks that big are so heavy.

Good luck.

ddresch · #10 12/12/2007, 01:25 PM

I recently purchased a 150 gal acrylic tank used. It included a basic 2x4 style stand and a cracked canopy with VHO lights and ballast, and the price was only about 20-25% what a new tank would cost. There are a few minor scratches to be buffed out, but nothing serious.
I'd suggest looking for a used tank locally, either in the selling forum or in the local reef club forums.

am3gross · #11 12/12/2007, 03:23 PM

bigger the better in my opionion.... easier to maintain the water chemistry i think.. i have a 210 with a 90 gallon fuge and a 100 sump... i think the hard part is the planning of maintenace. i have my system plumbed so that water changes are very easy. turn a valve and the old water goes to the street... turn another valve and fresh saltwater goes in. the bigger the tank the bigger the equipment you will need also... i feel that the initial startup will be the most expensive but if you buy all the right equipment in the beginning then it will make the job alot easier in the end. just my opionion.

ycnibrc · #12 12/12/2007, 05:13 PM

as long as you keep the tank wet the silicone will be moist and not crack. If you don't use your tank for a long time and it's dry then you might have issue with seam split. 180gal dimension is perfect and you don't have to think about upgrade for a while. And 24'' high is much better than 20'' since you want some space for the coral to grow unless this is your frag tank.

harryk · #13 12/12/2007, 05:47 PM

I think i'm going with the AGA 180RR. i've checked out used one's but most are selling close to the price of a new one. I would have loved an oceanic but at 1400 and only 60" long kinda made me put-off. I think my decision has been made. And besides the tank and stand are a Xmas present from my inlaws so it's not costing me anything.

thanks
Harry

Pmolan · #14 12/12/2007, 08:05 PM

Dont forget about the 210 owners. Same footprint as the 180.

harryk · #15 12/13/2007, 02:00 PM

i know same footprint, but i wanted to stay away from the 30" height

am3gross · #16 12/13/2007, 03:11 PM

210 is only 29 high...lol... will one inch change your mind?..

chrissreef · #17 12/13/2007, 03:56 PM

I'm going 60x36x30 and 1/2" starfire glass. I want 3/4 glass but on a custom tank, that extra 1/4 jumps the price well beyond my budget... I hope 1/2" is enough silicone!

dkuster · #18 12/15/2007, 07:09 PM

Well, I see I'm in the minority (see my reply above, second post in this thread) in suggesting that size does not matter! ;-)

I've seen huge tanks that are poorly aqua-scaped and haphazardly stocked, and I've seen nano tanks that were gorgeous.

As to the arguement that it's easier to maintain water parameters with a large tank, well that's true. But you could also have a small tank with a large sump and that would negate that argument.

But, if you want to go large, I have to agree that the glass 180 footprint is pretty much ideal...

jman77 · #19 12/15/2007, 07:35 PM

"I'm going 60x36x30 and 1/2" starfire glass"

If it were me , i would pay the extra and go 3/4th on the glass thickness with a 30 inch tall tank, that said , 1/2 should work with proper bracing.

DaveMorris · #20 12/15/2007, 07:51 PM

You could get a 180 with Starphire glass and some other custom touches and still not spend the same as you wold buying acrylic. After you scratch the crap out of the acrylic tank cleaning it, you're gonna wish you went with glass.