As I only have 1 250watt halide with two 95 vho on the 36' tank compared to having 2 250's and 2 110 vho for a 4 foot tank. I think the 3 ft wins on cost there. To buy and to run.


It really depends on the final go. If your leaning to a sps tank, dual halides would be needed in any case. If the lean is towards the fish route, a work horse 7 will run 4 40w NO just fine on a 4 ft.

if you are considering a 4' tank...
why not go with a 75? best of both worlds!
as long as you can afford the initial set up cost.

otherwise i would go 58.

the 12" front to back of the 55 makes aquascaping a bit tough.

That is the big dividing line is it not :question: You don't need SPS to have a very good reef tank. I myself have a 2x96W PC fixture on my 50. There is not a SPS coral to be found in there except for a small M. digitata clump. The rest is softies, LPS. zoanthids, and mushrooms including Ricordia. For me that is all I want, and it makes me happy. I am sure the costs would increase dramatically if I were to add SPS to this mixture. :eek:

it all comes down to money, I would go with a 74 that is 36 and or a 58 that is 36 easier to light and i you have only the 1 mh then do it , I like the deeper tanks that is good for the fish but a narrow tank is also good for the corals

personnel preferance..

Mike

I was running a 25g that was 12in depth. If you are selective in your fish choices there is no problem that way, but I found it a nightmare to aquascape. By the time I got my rockwork arranged, there were spots I couldn't get my cleaner magnet between the rock and the front glass.

That tank was only 30in wide and I didn't think one MH covered it properly. It worked out ok though, as I had the MH to one side lighting my clams, and the dimmer side was good for lower light softies.

I vote for the 36in tank, or better yet a 75g like was mentioned previously (which is what I did) :mrgreen:

Marcel

I vote 36"

55 or 58
 

One thing that seems to comes up is drilled for overflow ? Neither one is that I know of. I am going to check tomorrow to see if one can be ordered for the same price .

Should I check into that ?

Maverick

Definitely, drilled is easier IMO.

A 58 has no centre brace which is nice.

I had a a 55 long, it is so narrow you can't do much aquasaping. i didn't like it. JMO