Cube Size Question

[jpkrze]

Looking for the pros / cons of either a 70 or 93 cube. Both are 30x30 but the 70 is only 19 tall while the 93 is 25 tall. Trying for an sps reef, open design with not tons of rock piled up just a few island like spires. My thoughts are that the 93 is more water but a lot of wasted space. Would also be more difficult to work in due to the depth. Hoping to hear from people who have had either. Would u switch for the other etc

[Midnightsun]

I was in the same boat so to say but my choice was either a 50g or 60g with the heights being 20 or 25. Settled for the 20 because of ease of maintenance and better light penetration to the bottom with less depth. I obviously also thought the additional height was just waste and trouble.

[jpkrze]

I think it will be harder to maintain a sense of "scale". Almost like building a model. I think with the shallower 70g, I can use less rock but more natural shapes. Will try to keep smaller size fish as well. No clams or nems, as they will also through off the scale. Mini sps colonies should look decent vs minute in the larger tank. Just trying to think this through...

[jdargonaut]

A little extreme but I love my 36"x36"x12". Maintenance is really easy. Between the two I would go with the 19 tall.

[Bucket Boy]

I had a 30 x 30 x 24. Looked good proportionally. Enough room to aquascape. Easy maintenance. Only issue was an internal overflow centered on the back wall -- took up too much valuable space.

[r-balljunkie]

I had a 36 x 36 x 18......amazed at how big it was. I could sit Indian style in it.

I really liked the 18" depth, not too keen on deeper tanks.

[m2434]

went back and forth for a long time on this same question, but after seeing both, there was no comparison IMO and I went 93. The 70 just wasn't tall enough for the dimensions. I think it might be good with an open top setup, if you like looking down into it, but the 93, I could look anywhere in the tank without having to squat or shift (also have it on a 36" stand). I think the 70 would be easier to maintain, but the 93, isn't too bad, I can just reach anywhere in the tank. With a good reflector, a 250MH is plenty to light the 93. You may be able to get away with a 150 or 175 on the 70, but most people probably would still go with the 250 anyways...

[IDrawFish]

M2434 has a good point, depends whether you plan on it being an open top or a canopy and how high its going to be off the ground

[jpkrze]

Well, definitely open top. Lit by a 24" 6xT5 powermodule (may upgrade to 8xt5 later if I need). Want to be able to use a look down box etc. Stand will be 32" high. Also looking at custom depths....maybe 20", 21" 22"? Really think think the 25 is too deep for me. Using Kupang rock with natural shapes, so Im trying to avoid stacking a bunch of smaller rocks. Ideally using only two pieces epoxied together to get me to the height needed. Promise to start a build thread once I get everything together!

[Hawkdl2]

I have a 30x30x24. The 24" is just a tad too deep to easily work at the bottom. If I had to do it over I would make it 22".