tank options

[equidae9854]

I currently have a 29 gal reef tank that I want to upgrade, and the thought process has actually gone on longer than I had planned... I keep going back and forth between two options...

Do I want to use,

a 40 breeder (36"L x 18"W x 17"H)
or a 60 cube (2' x 2' x 2')

If people could offer me some opinions, input, and the pros and cons of each, I could get this upgrading started. thanks

 

[Tangs Rule]

What do you want to keep? Reef? Fish? If fish, what type of fish? I think if you are going fish, the 40 breeder makes more sense, it gives the fish more room to swim. If you are mainly doing reef, with 1 or 2 small fish, then the cube will work too.

 

[equidae9854]

I want a reef tank with maybe Banggai cardinals and shrimp, gobies, etc. Not really into big fish or anything...

 

[sweeTang21]

i like the cube idea, as long as you keep the fish small and few then you should be fine. the deeper the tank is, the more room for rock work. A nice 4 bulb t5 light on that would allow you to keep any coral you want and keep the cost done.

what do you plan for a sump or filter and skimmer? if your going sump, id suggest a fuge and keeping maybe some scooter blennies when the tank is aged enough. maybe even a mandarian, Its nice to keep mandarians in a larger system but as long as theres sufficient foods, you should be okay.

 

[Reefscape]

i like the cube idea, as long as you keep the fish small and few then you should be fine. the deeper the tank is, the more room for rock work. A nice 4 bulb t5 light on that would allow you to keep any coral you want and keep the cost done.

what do you plan for a sump or filter and skimmer? if your going sump, id suggest a fuge and keeping maybe some scooter blennies when the tank is aged enough. maybe even a mandarian, Its nice to keep mandarians in a larger system but as long as theres sufficient foods, you should be okay.

Scooter "blennys" do not exist, they are part of the drangonet family. The proper name is Synchiropus ocellatus or common name of Ocellated Dragonet. No relation or links to the blenny species. In my opinion, they should be treated in exactly the same way as a mandarin...established tanks with a refugium, bucket loads of pods...


Anyroadup....I would go with the cube..I think they look superb when setup well..

 

[equidae9854]

Hmmm. Can the cube look just as "cool" being viewed only from the front, or would the full affect only be achieved by being visible from multiple sides?

 

[sweeTang21]

its whatever he likes. That to me, would really mean building some rock in just the middle and placing coral all around the rock structure vs. building a rock "wall" and stacking on the front with coral.

thanks for the correction! although one could argue that no matter what common name its called, it shares the same scientific name. the end result is that as long as theres sufficient foods then he should be okay at keeping the species.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2145+2187&aid=3104 is a pic of the dragonet