360 gallon acrylic reef height challenge

[Marcus1212]

As of today, I am the proud owner of a “new to me” (aka used) 360 gallon peninsula aquarium (8’L x 3’W x 2’T)! The tank won’t be setup anytime real soon, still purchasing equipment and working out the final details. After seeing the tank in person, one thing stuck out, the top of the tank has much smaller openings than I hoped. Fishing the rock thru the openings will not be impossible but I worry about glueing corals in place once filled with water. The stand frame is currently 36” tall, 80/20 and will be skinned in wood/trim to match the room. I scared I might end up needing a snorkel while on step ladder to place frags later on. I am considering cutting the stand down to reduce the overall height. Also thought about trying to cut the top openings out a bit to make reaching in less of a challenge. This will be my first acrylic tank and first large tank so my knowledge in this area is definitely limited. I want maintenance to be as easy as possible for this setup. This will be my 3rd and maybe final upgrade, each time I try to figure out how to improve maintenance and setups from past inconveniences. Any thoughts, tips or suggestions would be awesome!

 

[Cramtechnician]

As of today, I am the proud owner of a “new to me” (aka used) 360 gallon peninsula aquarium (8’L x 3’W x 2’T)! The tank won’t be setup anytime real soon, still purchasing equipment and working out the final details. After seeing the tank in person, one thing stuck out, the top of the tank has much smaller openings than I hoped. Fishing the rock thru the openings will not be impossible but I worry about glueing corals in place once filled with water. The stand frame is currently 36” tall, 80/20 and will be skinned in wood/trim to match the room. I scared I might end up needing a snorkel while on step ladder to place frags later on. I am considering cutting the stand down to reduce the overall height. Also thought about trying to cut the top openings out a bit to make reaching in less of a challenge. This will be my first acrylic tank and first large tank so my knowledge in this area is definitely limited. I want maintenance to be as easy as possible for this setup. This will be my 3rd and maybe final upgrade, each time I try to figure out how to improve maintenance and setups from past inconveniences. Any thoughts, tips or suggestions would be awesome!

You could in theory shorten the stand if you feel it’s necessary but might mess with your viewing line. I would definitely not touch the eurobracing on the top. Acrylic tanks need this support to combat flex.
I’m also setting up a large acrylic tank that has been in storage for years. Just finished polishing it this winter and would highly recommend. Much easier to do now than later. Even better if you can polish while on the floor.

 

[Marcus1212]

You could in theory shorten the stand if you feel it’s necessary but might mess with your viewing line. I would definitely not touch the eurobracing on the top. Acrylic tanks need this support to combat flex.
I’m also setting up a large acrylic tank that has been in storage for years. Just finished polishing it this winter and would highly recommend. Much easier to do now than later. Even better if you can polish while on the floor.

That is my next buy, acrylic polishing kit! The tank is in good shape and doesn’t have many scratches but I figure start off right. Did you use a buffer to polish yours? I was thinking it might pay off in the long run to get one.

 

[UncommonSense]

The stand frame is currently 36” tall

This is pretty tall for a 24” tank, 5’ tank rim height, plus eurobrace to reach around!

A good method to work this out is simply measuring from the floor to your armpit; this dictates how tall the tank rim can be before you start getting on tiptoe/craning a shoulder, or simply need a stepladder/scaffold to work in it!

 

[Cramtechnician]

You could in theory shorten the stand if you feel it’s necessary but might mess with your viewing line. I would definitely not touch the eurobracing on the top. Acrylic tanks need this support to combat flex.
I’m also setting up a large acrylic tank that has been in storage for years. Just finished polishing it this winter and would highly recommend. Much easier to do now than later. Even better if you can polish while on the floor.

That is my next buy, acrylic polishing kit! The tank is in good shape and doesn’t have many scratches but I figure start off right. Did you use a buffer to polish yours? I was thinking it might pay off in the long run to get one.

I just used a polishing pad on drills and such but turned out great. Grab some of the 3m perfect-it machine polish and a wool pad, came out great for me for the final stage. Obviously start off more course if scratches need to be removed.

My tank is also 36 more like 37 high at the bottom. Ran like this for years with no problems on access, just stand on a bucket or step latter if needed. I wouldn’t reduce the height myself, I like the view height as is but to each his own. Also lowering the stand height can cause sump plumbing challenges. I already have to make shaper angles in plumbing than I would prefer. Can’t imagine being any lower.

 

[Marcus1212]

This is pretty tall for a 24” tank, 5’ tank rim height, plus eurobrace to reach around!

A good method to work this out is simply measuring from the floor to your armpit; this dictates how tall the tank rim can be before you start getting on tiptoe/craning a shoulder, or simply need a stepladder/scaffold to work in it!

That is a good idea, thanks. I have never needed a step stool to work in a tank before. Figure placing frags might get extra challenging, I have tongs and grabbers but not sure how that will go with glueing corals down. Hoping to have a mainly SPS tank.

 

[Marcus1212]

I just used a polishing pad on drills and such but turned out great. Grab some of the 3m perfect-it machine polish and a wool pad, came out great for me for the final stage. Obviously start off more course if scratches need to be removed.

My tank is also 36 more like 37 high at the bottom. Ran like this for years with no problems on access, just stand on a bucket or step latter if needed. I wouldn’t reduce the height myself, I like the view height as is but to each his own. Also lowering the stand height can cause sump plumbing challenges. I already have to make shaper angles in plumbing than I would prefer. Can’t imagine being any lower.

I would like to leave the stand alone but I worry height challenge could lead to lazy reefer syndrome lol. I am 6’1”, but with the top tank bracing it makes me feel shorter.

 

[Wrinkled Fingers]

I have recently set up a similar sized tank and stand. My tank is only 30 inches wide, but all other dimensions are identical to yours. I used this Vevor work platform to help aquascape and transfer fish/livestock.

Amazon product

It worked perfect. I thought I may have needed the platform for normal maintenance as well, but I have been managing fine without using it. My setup is a FOWLER though so no need to place corals, but this would certainly help with that task as well.

I also aquascaped with the tank only about three quarters full of water which prevented the need for a snorkel mask to place my base rock structures .

 

[Marcus1212]

I have recently set up a similar sized tank and stand. My tank is only 30 inches wide, but all other dimensions are identical to yours. I used this Vevor work platform to help aquascape and transfer fish/livestock.

Amazon product

It worked perfect. I thought I may have needed the platform for normal maintenance as well, but I have been managing fine without using it. My setup is a FOWLER though so no need to place corals, but this would certainly help with that task as well.

I also aquascaped with the tank only about three quarters full of water which prevented the need for a snorkel mask to place my base rock structures .

That’s a good idea, I am still buying equipment, but I think I am going to try and leave the stand alone for now.