Is there a practical difference between a cube and a long tank when it comes to stocking?

[ss_alpena]

I’m getting a reef tank soon and I’m having a lot of trouble deciding what to get. For the ratio of money to gallons, the 32g biocube would be the best. I like the fluval flex 32g better but from what I’ve read, it would need more powerful lighting, as I am interested in growing corals (and a bubble tip anemone if that could lead to any descisions. The IM 25g is also on the table.
The fish I was interested is stocking are:
2 percula or oscellaris
1 neon cleaner goby
1 tail spot blenny
1 royal gramma


My question is, are longer tanks better territory wise? It makes more sense to me, especially since you aren’t stacking stuff as high and there are more spaces for inverts that stay mostly on the ground. I would think a bubble tip wouldn’t crowd a long tank and block out the light like it would in a cube. Would an IM 25 gallon fit the same stuff as a 32 biocube? Would a fluval 32 be EVEN better?

 

[Euphyllia97]

With the current stocking plans both types should work for you. indeed long tanks in general are better when it comes to territorial behaviour. It largely depends on which fish you get as some types occupy different regions, but a lot of fish prefer to swim in the horizontal plane. Long tanks also allow you to create different spots of rockwork compared to just stacking them into one pile.

Volume of the tank is more important when it comes to stability, but IMO good husbandry can reduce this requirement drastically.