New tank suggestions

sufunk

sufunk

Member
My family wants to chip in on a new display tank for me. I want to get something in the 200-270 gallon range. Im gonna have mostly lps but some sps and maybe clams. I have no idea about large tanks. :notsure: What would you guys recommend for a reef tank in that range, size, make, approx. price,etc.?? I want rectangle and about 60-72x30-36x30-36.
Also, it needs to be reef ready or pre-drilled(are those the same thing) , correct?
Thanks for the help
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
Yes get a reef ready/ pre-drilled tank...
I personally would try to get a tank that is very close in width as it is in height. So if it was 24" wide, then you would want it 24" high... or close. This will make lighting a lot easier. What ever you get make sure it's not a deep tank because then lighting becomes more difficult and expensive.
I think the perfect sized tank (based on lighting ability) is the 120g 48"x24"x24" but that's just my opinion.
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
Originally Posted by WangoTango
the 180g is 72"x24"x24". this way you get an extra 2' of swimming space.
Even better :cheer: a third MH would be required but that's still a good size IMO. It's still pretty easy to find 72" light fixtures and bulb so 72" long is still really good IMO but when you get longer than 72" it becomes more difficult.
 
murph145

murph145

Active Member
i have a Lee Mar 180G flat polished clearview glass with black back center overflow return plummed through the overflow box and 6 holes drilled for my closed loop system
total price was about $1350 with tax
great tank top manufacturer out here in southern california
a 180 is a great tank
 
sufunk

sufunk

Member
Anyone else??
Its amazing how hard it is to find a local large tank now that i can get one. I want to get it right away but i cant seem to find one :mad:
 
sufunk

sufunk

Member
Glass, looks like i may have to scale back to a 180g though, 72x24x24. I plan to get a 72" metal halides(coralife 1134w) I am still looking at maybe a 72x30x24 or a 72x24x30. Will that extra 5" of height or width have an adverse affect on that lighting?
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
height will definatly. a single halide bulb covers 2'x2', so its best to stick with 2' depth (width). if you go for a taller tank, you're gonna need higher wattage MH bulbs, meaning more money. for the 180, id go for 250's.
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
Ditto on the 250w MHs on a 24" deep tank. A 72"L x 24"D x 30"W would still be pretty good... if you go 30"D then I'd go for 400w MHs.
 
sufunk

sufunk

Member
It looks like the tank im getting is 72Lx30Dx24W, 210 gallons. You dont think the 3x250mh 4x96pc coralife lights will work for that? 30 inches deep is too deep for that light? Id have mostly lps but some sps and maybe clams.
 
sufunk

sufunk

Member
What would you say is a decent price range for a reef ready 210g 72x30x24 with a nice stand and hood?
 
drewsta

drewsta

Active Member
$2000 ish what kind of stand and hood is it oak or ???? Make sure the hood has enough ventilation for your MH lights they can get HOT so you might need to get a chiller
Good luck!!
 
sufunk

sufunk

Member
This is a pretty nice stand and hood for $1800. Im thinking of not even getting the hood since im planning on a lot of lps that need to be spot fed. Since ill have my hands in the tank everyday, i figure the hood wont work and will be too much of a pain. What do you think about no hood?
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
Originally Posted by sufunk
It looks like the tank im getting is 72Lx30Dx24W, 210 gallons. You dont think the 3x250mh 4x96pc coralife lights will work for that? 30 inches deep is too deep for that light? Id have mostly lps but some sps and maybe clams.
Are you looking at single ended or double ended MHs?? The DE MHs put out close to the same PAR as a SE 400w MH... all depending on bulbs and ballasts.
What MH ballast does the fixture come with?? Are you going to run 10,000k bulbs??
Just keep the most light demanding corals and clams in the upper half of the tank or even at the top of the rocks and you should be fine. The LPS corals and any softies will do fine in the lower half of the tank.
 
mario

mario

Member
Did you check Exotic Aquatic on Oakland?
Last week they had a 150 or 180 predrilled tank for about $750 with stand, I can't remember the brand.
 
sufunk

sufunk

Member
I havent checked there yet but i know they dont have bigger than a 180. Id really like a 225g, 72Lx30Wx24D with euro bracing. Cant find anywhere, even googling, that i can buy or order one
VERY frustrating!!!
p.s.- reefnut, whta is the difference btween single or double ended mh's??
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
Double ended bulbs offer a few advantages over the single ended. They produce far more par watt for watt than the single ended & they last longer. Disadvantages would be that the initial cost is more and you have to have a glass shield to filter UVs... but most fixtures come with the glass shield so it's not that big of a deal. Personally I'd go with the double ended MHs.
 
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