Length or Height more important for tank?
 

Just trying to figure out an idea for a tank I am looking at constructing. I was just wondering peoples opinions on height vs length. I know width is an important aspect for certain things, mostly imo aquascaping, and for certain larger fish they need the turning radius, but I'm looking at doing a long pennisula style tank about 18-20 inches high...have not decide on length but fairly long, and most likel 18-20 inches wide...I have a drawing a friend did and if it work i think my vision would look quite nice. I know Tangs would like the long swimming room, but do they like height, what about other fish. I realized I've never looked into that aspect of fish before, always had a 3 foot deep tankuntil lately. I know the school of chromis will be happy as well as a few other fish..
Still in the planning stages. It would be viewable from both sides and one end.

Personally id go longer as opposed to taller... taller just means you have to get stronger lighting and thicker glass/acrylic

Yep, i remember getting soaked in my old tank, I had to hold my breath to get at the bottom. But i was more worried about do fish care if its 18-20 inches high as opposed to 24 or up..? Hmm, I hate the should i do that phase of planning a tank...if it works though i think it will look nice.

Height is nice for swimming room but remember to take your arm length into account. For example I'm 5'9", I have two tanks that are 30" tall, I can't reach the bottom. I don't find myself needing to reach the bottom all THAT often (reachy-grabby tools work just fine for the most part, plus magnets, etc.), but still, it might be a valid consideration.

Typically, for a reef tank, you can get away with less tall. It would allow you to economize on lighting for example. (For example, I have a 40g that is 12" tall. Although this is pushing the limits somewhat - but the things that are in it don't need the extra height.) But, taller tanks have it easier to move water around. Soooo .. it's a judgment call. Look at people's tanks and find out what you like and dislike about them. When I was deciding on dimensions for my 280g, I looked at 230's. Some were 30" tall, some were 30" deep. I liked the aspects of both, but in both cases I found that the "other" dimension just looked too truncated. So I compromised and went with bigger on both (ie. 30 and 30, which is how I ended up with 280 instead of 230). If I could do it all over again, I'd go with 36" front to back. But I'd stay with 30" tall. As it happens I couldn't have gone an inch more in any dimension, otherwise I would not have been able to get the tank into my basement without knocking out a wall. So while a 8' tank or a 10' tank would be nice, it's not happening unless it's built in place and .. well .. in this house, it's not happening. :) 280g will have to do.

Actually, I'm not sure that *I* would ever really want to go higher than 30". It's a comfortable max for me. But hey .. it's about you. There are a couple guys here who have 48" tall tanks. I think it's nuts :p But it's about what makes YOU happy.

A bit off topic, but make sure you have a plan in place to deal with humidity. Large tanks will dump water into your air, and you WILL end up with weeping windows in the winter syndrome, mold on walls, etc. if not kept in check.

Just remember that for proper gas exchange and Ph stability, you need a tank at least as wide or wider as its height. Like an ocean or a lake sort of thing.

JM2CW


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personally i have really like deep tank (from front to back) i like what your capable of doing with the aqua scape. You don't have to build a wall you can have real depth to it, its cool

What do you think you want to keep for livestock? If you want say tangs, I would recommend length, but if you are going for seahorses per say, I would say height.

As for depth, I have an 18" deep tank now, and occasionally do find it challenging to find rock that will fit, yet won't be too close to the glass, or in my case, clams.

If you could do it, I would say go deeper!

I agree. Height should be the last choice. Length, Depth, Height. In that order.

I didn't know that. It makes sense, but something I never thought of.

So in that case, a 90 (48 long, 18 deep and 24 tall) would be a bad plan?

It's fine. With the amount of water movemement in a reef, evaporation from stronger lighting and having a sump and or skimmer, gas exchange isn't really an issue.