Tank Selection help

[jeffmuse]

Hey guys, I am in the planning phase of my first reef tank and I would love to hear everyone's opinion on a couple of different tank options that I am trying to choose between. I have decided to go with a 65 gallon tank, and I am trying to decide between two different brands (both are pre-drilled, reef ready):

A) Marineland 65 Gallon Glass 36x18x24 - I love the look of the deeper tanks, and I am assuming that they are easier to aqua-scape. The biggest problem that I have with a 3 foot tank is the footprint seems small for the equipment in the stand... I would like to put a sump and return system under the tank, and eventually a top off system/ kalk mixer as well as a calcium reactor (eventually).

B) TruVu 65 Gallon Acrylic 48x15x18 - While I am a fan of the deeper tanks, it seems like a 4 foot tank is more condusive to housing alot of equipment. Another plus with this tank is that I am leaning towards a t-5 lighing system, and I assume that a "shallower" tank would work better with this type of lighting. I am not very familiar with Acrylic tanks, so I am not sure if they have many advantages/disadvantages over the glass tanks.

Let me know what you guys think... I appreciate any feedback that you have to offer!



Jeff

 

[hayabusa72]

I don't know how set you are on 65 ,but if you had space to put it I would go with 120 48x24x24 .Tim at Keen Reef has a good deal on this size tank.I think cost wise equipment will be a little more .But in 6 months you will wanna upgrade from the 65 as least that how it was for me 75,..90,...now 120 .You could also check with other sponsors on prices ..This is just my thoughts hopefully others will reply.

 

[lukestimp]

If your dead set on going with a 65 I would suggest the 48" due to the fact that you will find more readily available t5 bulbs in 48" .

 

[texhorns98]

I have a DEAL for you! A 115 that's 48x21x25. You would need to build (or have built) your own stand, but it's a steal at $250. It's only a few months old and is also Eurobraced. It's drilled with two 1" drains and a 3/4" return. Let me know if you're interested.

 

[smoothie]

There are 2 really good guys that just did a 65 cube build on here if you want to check that out.
Or you could go 90 or 120

 

[budsreef]

It really depends on the space you are putting the tank in. If you have room for a 4' tank then I would go with that but as others have said make it 120G glass tank instead of a 65G. I have a 4', 120G and a 3', 65g set up in Lawrenceville, not far from you that you are welcome to come see before you decide.

 

[william1]

texhorns98;348951 wrote: I have a DEAL for you! A 115 that's 48x21x25. You would need to build (or have built) your own stand, but it's a steal at $250. It's only a few months old and is also Eurobraced. It's drilled with two 1" drains and a 3/4" return. Let me know if you're interested.

Ding Ding heres a great tank and good deminsions as well. I would jump on the larger tank over the 65gallon. Alot more room and you coulkd save little making your own stand and canopy.

Tex who made the tank?

 

[1percula]

I would go with at least a regular sized 90 gallon. You are going to find that 65 wil limit what you can put in your tank. I purchased a 93 gallon cube 6 weeks ago and I regret it already. Getting a taller tank is only for the eyes. You can't put much on the floor of the tank. You only build a wall up the back wall of the tank in order to add things to your tank.

I'm not sure if the up the glass with rock configuration is a good one for flow purposes. Get the regular 90 or more. You'll be happier in the long run.

 

[texhorns98]

WILLIAM1;349060 wrote: Ding Ding heres a great tank and good deminsions as well. I would jump on the larger tank over the 65gallon. Alot more room and you coulkd save little making your own stand and canopy.

Tex who made the tank?

This was Ty over at Ocea. Same builder who made yours!

 

[jeffmuse]

Lol, I appreciate the offer! That is a REALLY good deal on a 115g, but I think that I am going to start a little bit smaller on my first tank build.

It seems like the feedback has been that after you start your first tank, you will always want to go bigger after about 6 months... I may have to hit you back up if you still have that tank

 

[skriz]

Jeff,

Some facts for you:

1. Larger volumes of water are easier to maintain. Remember, dilution is the solution to pollution. Not only that, you will have more flexibility with livestock than you will with a 65g.

2. You are going to want a larger tank almost immediately. You will upgrade eventually. GO ahead and do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and go bigger now (if you have the space).

3. Acrylic and Glass both scratch. Acrylic will scratch easier than glass. Only one medium can be buffed: acrylic. Once glass is scratched, it is forever scratched. I know, I have a starphire tank and I scratched it...not cool. I've always been a fan of starphire, but now that I have a couple of acrylic tanks, I love them. You can drill them easily, they're super light and crystal clear. You'd have to check pricing on the two though...I have no idea what tanks really go for these days.

 

[texhorns98]

JeffMuse;349961 wrote: Lol, I appreciate the offer! That is a REALLY good deal on a 115g, but I think that I am going to start a little bit smaller on my first tank build.

It seems like the feedback has been that after you start your first tank, you will always want to go bigger after about 6 months... I may have to hit you back up if you still have that tank

I assure you, I won't have this tank anymore! My new glass will be delivered by next Friday and the "old" tank will be sold before then. I went from 37G, to 72G, to this 115, and I'm STILL going to upgrade. BTW, that was in a period of LESS than a year! I'm not the norm, but I promise you'll be kicking yourself for not going bigger in the beginning!

 

[william1]

I think ive seen this tank Tex has with a center overflow. Its super nice...

 

[jeffmuse]

The feedback is awesome, all good stuff! I apprecaite the info on the acrylic tanks... I have been concerned about the scratching, but I guess it sounds like you can scratch anything

Skriz;350041 wrote: Jeff,

Some facts for you:

1. Larger volumes of water are easier to maintain. Remember, dilution is the solution to pollution. Not only that, you will have more flexibility with livestock than you will with a 65g.

2. You are going to want a larger tank almost immediately. You will upgrade eventually. GO ahead and do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and go bigger now (if you have the space).

3. Acrylic and Glass both scratch. Acrylic will scratch easier than glass. Only one medium can be buffed: acrylic. Once glass is scratched, it is forever scratched. I know, I have a starphire tank and I scratched it...not cool. I've always been a fan of starphire, but now that I have a couple of acrylic tanks, I love them. You can drill them easily, they're super light and crystal clear. You'd have to check pricing on the two though...I have no idea what tanks really go for these days.

 

[harleyguy]

JeffMuse;350351 wrote: The feedback is awesome, all good stuff! I apprecaite the info on the acrylic tanks... I have been concerned about the scratching, but I guess it sounds like you can scratch anything

<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">True you can scratch anything, but it's much, much, much, much, much, much more difficult to scratch glass. I see that you are in sales, and I assume that due to your job that you might have to travel from time to time... If this is the case I wouldn't touch acrylic with a 10 foot pole if I were you... Traveling will mean that you will not have the opportunity to clean your "glass" every day with a magnet... this will lead to you having to scrape the "glass"... Now there are scrapers that are made for acrylic, but they can and do scratch the tank, where as with a glass tank you can use a razorblade and have no problem... With all this said, I have both acrylic and glass tanks... and for ease of use and a more care free tank glass is the ticket, acrylic takes much more TLC and even then you are going to scratch it.</span></span>

<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">As for size... I agree with everyone here, get a 48" tank... lighting will be much easier on you and you will have more room in the stand... One other option that you may or may not have considered would be to get a "nano". These tanks range from 3 gallons to 64 gallons (the new ReaSea MAX 130D)... a great size is the 29-39 gallon size... These tanks are usually all in ones and some even have the lighting necessary to keep some SPS... the cool thing about them is when you want a bigger tank you simple get another tank and keep the "nano"... I would say that is what a lot of people do... This is just a thought.</span></span>

 

[skriz]

Don't listen to Shane..he's Mr. Upgrade. I don't think i've ever met anybody who is continuously starting another tank project, without finishing the previous one. C'mon Shane...get the tank up and running already!

 

[harleyguy]

<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">I do have a 34g RSM that's up and running.... And an Ocean Force 200 Skimmer is also running (curing LR)... How's that big tank of your doing??? </span></span>