View Full Version : Any shallow/short tanks?
ledford1
06/30/2007, 03:05 PM
Going with a shallow or short tank has piqued my interest. Rather than a typical 24" to 36" tall tank, have a tank that is 10" to 12" tall.
Are there any experiences or thoughts on this type of tank?
I was thinking along the lines of 72x24x10 for a coral tank. One advantage would be lighting.
Would there be many issues? I'm looking for any kind of feedback.
ledford1
06/30/2007, 05:41 PM
ba-bump
dc_909
06/30/2007, 05:57 PM
That would be fine for corals that don't grow upwards too much (zoas/rics etc...) I would think SPS would grow to the surface too quick.
Lots of frag tank use the 10 high
salmon alley
06/30/2007, 07:12 PM
I just got a custom 48" x 24" x 20" tall tank. (roughly 100 gal).
I got tired of having to stand on a stool to reach the bottom of my tank. :D
I still need to build a stand for it, so I'm a ways off from putting anything into it yet.
aninjaatemyshoe
06/30/2007, 07:17 PM
Second that, works for frags but probably too short for a grow-out SPS tank. Also consider that you'll HAVE to have an ATO as a tank of that large a footprint will quickly evaporate and drop in water height (which will already be somewhat low). Aside from those issues and the aesthetic issue of not having a good side view tank IMO, no other problems that I can think of. It will pretty much ensure great oxygenation and will probably be easier to provide good flow.
geoxman
07/01/2007, 05:25 AM
I have a 36x36x10 tank and it is the favorite of all my tanks. I have had the typical 75, 90, 120, and 200 and I like the shallow one the best. This tank is also all black acrylic top down view only.
I dont really care for sticks but if you wanted to do SPS there are plenty of lateral growing kind as well. good luck
aninjaatemyshoe
07/01/2007, 07:02 AM
Plate corals would be great for such a system.
easye123
07/01/2007, 07:57 AM
check this out .. this is my borthers tank
i accidently put 30g long its a 33g long i dont know how deep but its 4 feet x 12 inches tall
heres a vid
http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t304/hpmavfan/?action=view¤t=ryan_0001.flv
Glove
07/01/2007, 08:33 AM
ledford1 I have the tank you are thinking about....
This is 72L x 24W x 11Deep.
actinic...
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n186/Glove_03/Aquaria/MVC-527X.jpg
ONE halide lamp on
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n186/Glove_03/Aquaria/DSCN0201.jpg
I would like to have it just a tad deeper, maybe 15 inches but 12" would be great for just 'frags'. I have a green slimer and another unknown acro that are about to the surface. hmm.... I have plate corals getting close too.
The tank has been going about 2 years :confused: (I think). It really was supposed to be "just a frag tank for now, honey" but as the pictures show, I am full- out of room- no vacancy.
So my thoughts on a long term shalow depth tank?
-Different look.
-Evap issues! I burn 3gal a day sometimes and I still have yet to get an ATO system (5gal bucket on the ole' bar stool w/ some airline hose)
-Lighting could probably be reduced to 175 halides or even t-5s. You would need to play w/ the numbers. I have a PFO fixture (3) 250 DE (unkown make-I dont even use all three lamps, just the center)10k + 2 VHO actinic lamps.
I think 250w over 12" of water is about the upper limit.
*my lighting causes issues w/heat trying to keep 82-83.
No chiller.Creative use of fans.
-Flow? I have a Panworld 1200 gph non presure rated pump going through 3/4 pipe returning in two locations from the top rear of the tank- AWSOME ripples on the surface! I use two Seio 620s on each end. All the flow crashes in the middle and its not bad. I would like to add a couple more bulkheads in the rear towards he bottom. I had sand,and green algea problems for me then. Got rid of the sand and have coraline algea problems now :p
Over-all, we all know its a personal thing. I am setting up a 240 that will hold all my larger corals and fish but I will keep this shallow tank going for fraging and grow-outs.
You could do some awsome stuff with flat growing type corals like zoas, shrooms, blastos, acans, favias, plates (montiporas).
I see visions of a rolling hills sort of bottom covered in colonial mats, with different plate corals here and there....:artist:
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