Which tanks dimensions are better?

[zoohouse]

I would go for the 60"30"30". It would give you way more stocking options.

 

[Bderick67]

By harder, I'm guessing he means its going to take more lighting to light the 30" there for more cash.

Kinda what I figured, but it's not really a question of easy or hard. Welcome to MFK from a fellow Coloradian.

 

[NCStateFisher]

So your stating that you can't get a light that will effectively grow corals in a 30" tall tank? How is 6" less easier to light, can't you just buy a light that has a higher output? What is hard about that?

whats harder about that? a substantially higher cost for the light itself and a good amount more to your power bill every month

 

[Bderick67]

Substantially higher? What are you going to need like double the light output or something for the extra 6" of water? Doesn't cost that much to run a light for 8 hours a day, not buying that it will cost a "good amount more". Either way no matter what the cost this still does not make it harder or easier to light, now does it?

 

[smoyer]

dont want to knock your post of track but for a tank up to 24 inches deep the sps coral growers would use 250 watt metal halides to light each 2-3 ft section above the tank deeper than 24 inches they would use 400 watt halide. the best advice is to decide what type of system you want then research and buy whats best for that system

 

[Bderick67]

dont want to knock your post of track but for a tank up to 24 inches deep the sps coral growers would use 250 watt metal halides to light each 2-3 ft section above the tank deeper than 24 inches they would use 400 watt halide. the best advice is to decide what type of system you want then research and buy whats best for that system

Tanks for the info, so for the 6o incher two 400 watters and for the 8 footer three 250 watters. Not sure there would be much of a cost difference. Sure as heck isn't going to be harder or easier either way.

 

[smoyer]

yeah 2 400s should do you for the 60 in tank the 8 footer will need to have 4 250s...on plus some vhos for dust/daylight functions...this is for stoney corals....what do you to use the tank for?

 

[Bderick67]

yeah 2 400s should do you for the 60 in tank the 8 footer will need to have 4 250s...on plus some vhos for dust/daylight functions...this is for stoney corals....what do you to use the tank for?

I was just curious as to what it took to grow corals, since a previous poster said it would be harder in a 30" tank .

 

[smoyer]

ok cool good luck......i personally would buy the 60 inch tank but thats because i wouldnt have enough wall space for a 8 footer

 

[m1ste2tea]

both would be great to have, but if I had to choose one I'd go for the 8 ft tank. More stunning IMO. but if I was to keep fish that needed a large turning circle such as gars or arowanas Id go for the wider tank. The longer tank would be better at housing more of the smaller types of fish because it gives them more of a spacial seperation, some territory to claim. In terms of practicality, the 8 ft tank would probably take up a whole wall of a room while the wider tank would stick out more, Id almost want to have such a tank in the middle of a room so that I can walk around it.