Tank height.

[Mettle]

I realize tank height can sometimes be a problem with salt water tanks. And I was wondering how high is too high. Or if it's better to go as low as you can. What's ideal?

I suppose in part it depends on the lighting you can manage, the general shape of the tank (standard vs bowfront vs hex), and what corals (if any) you want to keep in there.

Maybe I've answered my own question here... But I'd still be interested to hear what people have to say on this matter.

[mdugly]

Another thing to consider is the length of your arm...
At least I will, for my next tank.

It can really take some of the fun out when reaching the bottom is awkward.

-mike

[ray]

Tank height really only becomes dependant if you are keeping corals and any other light sensitive forms of life.Most fish are not going to be affected much one way or the other by the lack of light.If keeping corals and clams then light will be a factor.Most soft and lps corals will fair well under any form of fl lighting.If you wish to keep high light demanding corals such as most sps and clams at varying depths in your tank,you will be better of w/ mh lighting. Generally tanks up to 18" deep will require 175w or 150w hqi,tanks 18-24" 250w,tanks 24" and deeper 400w or higher.Although I'm hearing good reviews on good quality t5,s I can't speak from any expeience.
Also as mentioned in the previous post is the ease at which you can aquascape and carry out any required maintenance.
  These are just my observations from various tanks I've had.

[kennyman]

My SW tank is 24" tall. When I built my stand I set it up so I could reach the bottom of the tank so the stand is another 24". Light is an issue for me but since I have a wall of rock up the back I can keep higher light corals about 8" below the lightbar and other less dependant critters lower down. I prefer the taller tanks for some reason. I stock based of surface area and not gallonage so all my tanks are lightly stocked and I seem to have fish communities that use the entire water column.

I have no interest in short, breeder tanks and by far my most favorite tank is the 2' cube. It feels differnt looking into a cube than looking into a breeder. Even the 20g's I bought from you are 20 talls 

[Mettle]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm sure that cube is something else. Oddly shaped tanks are always great and I've always had a fond spot for the cubes. I actually wanted the Oceanic cube to match my bowfront, but I don't think that's going to be happening since Oceanic might not be making tanks anymore at all. 

I've just recently come into some equipment that would make setting up a little sw tank rather cheap. Basically just have to buy some salt to mix up and some live rock. Beyond that I'm pretty much ready to go, heh. So I'm looking at it as a possibility some time before or around Xmas.

[Julie]

What kind of light did you come upon?

[Mettle]

It's a 24" Coralife fixture that holds a 65w light. I was thinking about putting it over a 15 gallon tank with a 50/50 bulb.

[az]

did u buy the fixture used? if so maybe u wanna get a replacement bulb soon, u wont even know when they brake coz they just change clr slowly and you wont notice any difference for a while.

i wish they would make bulbs that would just stop working when time is up!

[93GTCANADA]

thats what i have on my tank and corals are getting very big. i think its perfect.

[Mettle]

did u buy the fixture used? if so maybe u wanna get a replacement bulb soon, u wont even know when they brake coz they just change clr slowly and you wont notice any difference for a while.

i wish they would make bulbs that would just stop working when time is up!

I did buy the fixture used. So good call there.    (I think lights should come with an indicator on them of how many hours they've been used. That would be GENIUS.) The bulb it came with, however, is a 6700k and is meant for fresh water. It's only been used for a couple months. But still isn't what I need.

thats what i have on my tank and corals are getting very big. i think its perfect.

Good to know it works! Looks like I have a tank in mind very similar to yours. (Yours is GORGEOUS btw, just checked out those pics.) Wouldn't mind getting some info on those dual AC30s you're running though if you wouldn't mind pumping out a few lines of explanation. Cheers!

[Julie]

Mettle, mine has a 6700k too and everything is doing well.  Marinescape sells the 6700ks.
I also have actinics.

[Mettle]

See, that's the thing Julie. This fixture was originally meant for fw. So it has ONLY a 6700k bulb in it. And no source of actinic, which if I'm not mistaken, is partially needed? Which is why I was looking into the 50/50 bulb.

[93GTCANADA]

i run the 2 ac30's all the time size it flows good on the surface. i got them for free. i have a sponge and carbon in one and my spare little rocks in the other. the pics are very old. things have changed. and now im going bigger so my tank might be for sell very soon.