For a SPS "Dream Tank", what is a better tank layout...wider or taller?

[metzer]

I was curious of the forums opinion on what looks better for a SPS tank.

Would a 30" wide by 30" tall peninsula tank look better with wall to wall sps or would a 48" wide by 24" tall look better?

Length would be around 6 to 10 feet.

Random opinions are welcomed, along with any cool pictures!

 

[Jekyl]

Both!

 

[Micro-Reefs Aquarium]

I would do longer Left to Right than taller. This is my 12 gallon AIO cube and I wish I had a longer tank than a small cube.

My next tank will be longer Left to Right.

 

[Mical]

Wider IMO, wide and no more than 20-24" deep. That way lighting will be a little more affordable. Deeper the tank, the more expensive the lights for SPS

 

[Tamberav]

Wider… too deep and lighting and flow get a bit more complicated as well as fragging and placement and maintenance. You need to be able to access stuff.

 

[Smite]

Personally I'd go with the 48" wide by 24" for a peninsula layout. Keep your rocks in the both 1/3-1/2 and you'll have tons of room for growth. 30" leaves some tons of room for vertical growth but might be hard to reach the center at 48" wide.

 

[LIreefguy]

Tank size is really subjective. Go with what you like

as other mentioned the deeper you go the harder to get high par levels
But plenty of montis can take lower pars so go with what you like. I personally think 24-30 offers better viewing A 4 foot by 18 tank isn’t what I like. A 30 by 30 offers better viewing
Like a window. No one was long short windows in your house

 

[metzer]

Personally I'd go with the 48" wide by 24" for a peninsula layout. Keep your rocks in the both 1/3-1/2 and you'll have tons of room for growth. 30" leaves some tons of room for vertical growth but might be hard to reach the center at

Yeah, reaching into the center is a large consideration factor for me.

 

[LIreefguy]

Yeah, reaching into the center is a large consideration factor for me.

I have a 30 inch tank with no sand. In order for me to reach the bottom I either need tongs or a scuba mask

 

[Nick Steele]

I think it depends on how long the tank is.

6’ long I would go 30” wide and high.
8’ long I would go 36” wide 30” high. (My dream tank)
10’ long I would think about 48” wide and 24 high.

 

[LIreefguy]

I think it depends on how long the tank is.

6’ long I would go 30” wide and high.
8’ long I would go 36” wide 30” high. (My dream tank)
10’ long I would think about 48” wide and 24 high.

10 feet by 4 feet wide. Where would you fit that tank. 4 feet deep would stick out far from my walk

 

[metzer]

10 feet by 4 feet wide. Where would you fit that tank. 4 feet deep would stick out far from my walk

Meh, who needs a garage for cars... It can be the garage for the dream tank.

 

[Nick Steele]

10 feet by 4 feet wide. Where would you fit that tank. 4 feet deep would stick out far from my walk

Well considering me and the wife already agreed to a 8’x3’x30” tank what is another foot wide if i’m going two feet longer. Plus it will be a room centered around the tank so that helps

 

[LIreefguy]

Well considering me and the wife already agreed to a 8’x3’x30” tank what is another foot wide if i’m going two feet longer. Plus it will be a room centered around the tank so that helps

Lol. I think another foot by 2 is like 400 gallons

but I like the thinking

what’s around foot honey lol

 

[metzer]

Well considering me and the wife already agreed to a 8’x3’x30” tank what is another foot wide if i’m going two feet longer. Plus it will be a room centered around the tank so that helps

That is similar to what is going on with me. The wifey said what about making it a peninsula, and I was like i can go wider now.

 

[Shooter6]

Width and length, keep the rockwork low, lower 1/4- to 1/3 and have the room for upward growth. Don't forget most colonies will be at least 1ft wide like dinner plates.

 

[NabberNate]

Width and depth are better than height imo. Ideal dimensions would be 60w x 30d x 20t. Reason for shorter height is to get rockwork to approach the top you need really big rocks that are hard to find. Also much easier to clean a tank that is 20" instead of 24" or even 30". I like depth for rockwork to be in the center and have fish swim around than stay congregated in the front. Figure 8's anyone?

 

[RwP]

My dream size would be 5’x3’x20” tall

 

[blasterman]

RWP and I want the same tank. I would even go shallower.

Deeper tanks eat light like a black hole and you start dumping money down that hole.

 

[laverda]

I always find it weird when people ask other what size tank they would go with. It all depends on you, your finances, your space and your preference's! If your short you probably don't want a tank and stand as tall as mine. I hate bending over to see my fish and corals. My stand is taller than most at 40" and my tank is 30" tall, making it 70" over all. At 6'2" I can see my tank from across the room seated on the couch, close up when seated on the closer couch, comfortably while standing in front of i, or from the dining room table while eating dinner. I also love having a tall stand. It make maintenance of the skimmer, filter socks and anything else in the sump much easier. My tank is 8' and it fits the space nicely. I would love to have 10' long tank but my budget would not allow it. My tank is 24" front to back. I can not imagine aqua scaping a tank any narrower. While I would also love it if I could have had 30 or 36 in front to back, it just would not fit my space. For me I am very happy with the size of my tank. What anyone else says I should have gone with is 100% irrelevant.