New Tank Design?

holliek

holliek

Member
Thank you everyone for your suggestions!
I am thinking about getting a 100 gallon tank to replace my "20 gallon tank that needs a lot of help"! Any suggestions on actual tank type? Are there major differences between tall tanks, eclipse tanks and whatnot? I will be trying to conserve a little space but I don't know how hard it is to maintain a tall tank ...
Any advise would be appreciated!!
 
shadow678

shadow678

Member
For reef, you will not want an Eclipse system, they limit you too much, especially on the lighting. Either a regular rectuangular tank or bowfront. You will be better off deciding if you want a sump/refugium under the tank, and if so, get your tank Reef-Ready, meaning it has built-in overflow boxes and has been drilled to allow for the plumbing necessary to run a sump/refug. under the tank. This will make it much easier that hassling with drilling the tank yourself or using hang-on overflows. When going for a reef, remember that the larger tank you get, will make it more expensive exponentially, as far as rock, sand, sufficient lighting, etc. Not that I am saying don't go for a large tank(I have a 200, a 100, and a 90 in one room, I'm not against large tanks), but if your budget is limited, this will be a factor. As for depth, if you are short(no offense), it will be difficult to arrange rock and such as needed in a deep tank, as compared to a regular or shallow tank. I have a friend/customer who I sold a 90 bowfront to, he is rather short and has a very hard time reaching the bottom of the tank, so i usually go over and help him out with major things. Deep tanks will also require more intense lighting if you plan on putting corals and such in the bottom part of your tank, as the light will diminish the further it has to penetrate the water. HTH
 
holliek

holliek

Member
Well, I'm not SHORT short, but not tall either. I figured that tall tanks would be a pain in the butt. Looks like a 100 gall. bow front is the direction that I need to go in. And, I'll start reading more about set up.
Thanks! :)
:D
 
slothy

slothy

Active Member
i stole this from another site:
Acrylic is half the weight of glass.
It's easier to ship, move, and set up your aquarium.
Acrylic is several times stronger than glass.
It will not shatter, crack, or leak like glass can.
Acrylic is clearer than glass. Glass has slight green tint.
Colors and shapes look sharper and brighter in acrylic aquariums. Acrylic also allows
better penetration of your system lighting, which is especially important for reef systems.
Acrylic insulates better than glass.
Acrylic controls water temperature fluctuations, one of the primary reasons for fish
stress, disease, and death. Glass conducts heat and cold causing more fluctuations.
Acrylic seams are stronger than glass.
Acrylic seams are molecular bonds and actually stronger than the acrylic itself. Silicone
seams used on glass aquariums can dry out and weaken over time.
Acrylic seams are visually superior to glass.
Acrylic seams are polished and nearly invisible. Silicone seams
are clearly visible and have been known to discolor when exposed to certain fish
medications.
Acrylic is easily refinished.
If glass scratches it can not be repaired. Acrylic can be repaired with a variety of scratch
removal kits. Even internal scratches can be repaired without removing the fish or water.
 
shadow678

shadow678

Member
Glass scratches not being repaired is not entirely true, it can usually be taken to a glass shop and polished out. Glass also does not scratch NEARLY as easily as acrylic. But as the examples that slothy showed, some very good points.
 
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