Opinions Needed Please On Choosing New Tank

[jfolley67]

Hi everyone! Ok, met Tom from glass cages today at the expo center, he was a super nice and very very honest and knowledgeable. I should never take my hubby with me because he is so spoiled and of course loved the 240 gallon!! Well we are getting ready to choose. We are either going to go with the 240 gallon which is 96x24x25....or thinking we might have him make us the 180 but make it larger by extending it out to be 72x30x25. What I want to know is if you could all choose, which would it be, why and are their positives and negatives to either??? The 2nd tank probably will end up being about a 220 or so....I totally can't make up my mind. Also I need some ideas on the closed loops and how many and where to have him drill holes for it. A variety of ideas and why would be great for me to get to a final decision...Help!!! :eek2:

[gflat65]

You can't ask reef geeks which they would prefer... I would always go larger, but that requires alot more work. There are several people that have larger tanks in the area, but most are FO or FOWLR. In my dream tank, I clean in scuba gear, so...

Surely, someone with the large tanks can chime in. I know Don over in ETRC has a 300 gallon and can definitely fill you in on the 'can-happens'. Sounds like the crack is doing it's job. More, more, more:).

[fishdoc11]

What are you going to keep in it coral and fish wise?

[jfolley67]

going to be a reef tank with corals and fish....now both are going to be the same height, but width of the 180(but remember it will actually be almost the same or close to the 240 when made 30inches wide) or the 240 which is 24 inches wide. So think of it as both being 240 tanks....one 6 feet long and 30 inches wide.....and the other being 8 feet wide but being 24 inches wide.....

[SRT80]

if it was me, id go for the 8 ft long tank. I think 2 ft is plenty wide. Id rather have the extra 2 ft in length. I stopped in the expo today too. I couldnt believe some of the prices for reptiles. One guy had ball pythons for $9 And a bunch of different cool looking lizards around $7

Steve

[fishdoc11]

Yes............ but what types of corals and fish?:)

[jfolley67]

well, right now I have alot of mushrooms, zoos, yellow fiji coral, frogspawn, bubble.....I am not into that real hard corals....at least I don't think I like the flowing stuff...I have 130 lbs of live rock and would put another maybe 60 lbs in or so, want to keep it lighter of rock than I currently have. I have a naso tang now and want another couple of them, a few chromis for schooling....coral beauty, that kind of thing.....

[fishdoc11]

If you don't mind spending a little more for another MH I would get the larger tank. Like Gary said it will be a little more work but 24" deep will be easier to work in than 30" and 20 gallons really isn't that big of a deal. The extra light and the electricity to run it are all the extra expenses I see.
Chris

[jfolley67]

Hi Chris, the 24 inches vs. 30 is the width not the height. both would be the same height at 25 inches, why would it be harder to get into the 30 inch width? I actually thought it might be easier to aquascape???

[fishdoc11]

It will be. I thought that was the height. I might go for the 220 then:)
It's really six one half dozen the other. Again the light is the only difference I see, unless you just want the longer tank.

[Angela Short]

Tangs will like the longer tank and your wall can hold it great! Longer would be my vote ang grab some of WW rock if he had any left.

[Siffy]

I'd say go with the 8' 240g tank as well as long as you have the physical space for that long of a tank. The difference in surface area is only 1 sq. ft. I mention that because people generally say 1 MH per 24"x24" area. With either tank you should really have 4 lights on it when looking at just numbers, but the 24" wide tank will allow even distribution of the light more easily. Plus 48" VHO bulbs/fixtures are very standardized and readily available thus more economical. And it would seem better to have 2 48" tubes end to end over a 96" tank rather than overlapped over a 72" tank. I second what Angela said about tangs/larger fish will enjoy a really long tank. But what it comes down to is... When you physically look at the two tanks, which do you find more asthetically pleasing?

JMO, Will

[jfolley67]

well, thanks so much for the advice! I really like both...the benefit to the wide one I thought would be easier and more interesting aquascaping. The long one is so pretty I agree also. I think I going to think on this a couple more days. I really just wanted the 180 when I started this hunt which is by far MUCH cheaper and hubby really likes the longer tank, so we shall see!!! thanks so much for the advice.......

[Pterois2004]

Don't forget to consider what weight your floor can handle. When we were shopping for a bigger tank, we sought advice from a structural engineer. Our floor couldn't handle more than 180 (plus sump) weight without reinforcement under the house. We have a brick house with hardwood floors, and only the outside walls could withstand a 180. They don't build houses like they used to, unfortunately.

Angela

[Angela Short]

Good point Julie, this is a inside wall but may have a supportive wall under it in the basement layout. Check and see.

[gflat65]

I had to Gollum around under the house (look at me trying to coin new phrases) and brace mine with cinderblocks and 2x4's. With just the 40 gallon set up, the tank would rock whenever someone sat on the couch or walked by. None of that now:). Definitely soemthing to think about, though.

[Siffy]

I'd be careful giving advice of using cinderblocks to the majority of people. I'm not trying to insult anyone here, but most people would be better suited to use jacks to well support a large tank. Many people don't know the correct way to orient the blocks so they provide any true support. I'd recommend looking for a company certified in the engineering aspects of it or a friend that does something like it for a living. The few hundred dollars cost preventing an accident would be well spent compared to several thousand dollars in broken equipment, dead fish/corals, and water damage to the house if one were to occur.

[just dave]

The thing to keep in mind is a larger tank takes more of everything. More electricity,more water,more salt,chemicals,additives,....etc. It can be quite a burden when it is full and things are growing/consuming. I have a friend that has fallen on some financial hard times and his tank (72x30x24) has become a drain because of its demands. So much so that he is down sizing.

[jfolley67]

Dave, I do understand the money issue and we are willing to take that on...we have been fortunate enough to be able to ..whew! by chance is he going to sell his setup? I would be very interested. I am sorry to ask, I don't mean to sound thoughtless of taken on someones tank during hardship.

[waynesworld]

Julie I would go with a 8' long 30" wide and if you can reduce it to 18-20" tall if you are going to get it custom built with the rock it is easier to have wider but the taller the harder for everythin and I am tall and mine is 30"

[gflat65]

Good point, Siffy. A good understanding of foundation building with what you have is important. I am lucky enough to have a rock slab covered with gravel, so it is pretty stable (no fun for planting trees, however). I spent a whole day leveling and securing the block before adding the 2x4's and shims-all done in a height of 10-30", fun fun. My tanks happened to be on the wall adjacent to one of the main joists, too (checked that out before putting water in them).

[jfolley67]

I am going to have someone come over and check my area I want the tank before I get the new tank.....not sure who to get, can anyone recommend someone???

[Briankook]

jfolley67, I am in the same boat that you are in. I talked to Tom today regarding a 72"x30"x25" tank (approx 225gallons). I did not order it yet because I'm debating on where I want the holes for the closed loops. I'm also debating on if I want larger holes for my drains...tough decisions :hmm3: