New 30" x 30" x 30" cube tank? Any advice?

[deepseadan]

I'm just about to have a custom cube tank built. It's going to be 30" x 30" x 30", 3/4" acrylic on a 36" tall stand. I'm going to have an overflow built on the back of the tank, outside of the tank with a 1 1/2 drain and one 3/4 input on each side of the tank. I plan on having two side by side mh Cayman sun reflector fixtures with 250 watt radiums on lumateks. Two mp40's as well. I plan on stacking a pile of rocks in the middle and would like to have this be a sps tank with some zoos and other misc lps around the edges. Anyone have a tank similar to this? What are the positive and negatives of these dimensions? Do you think this will be an awkward size to light? Would I be better off going to a 24" L x 24" W x 30" deep tank and one mh 400 fixture? Just want some opinions before I buy. Thanks

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[andyman]

you just described my last tank. I didn't like the 30" tall because I just couldn't teach the bottom of the tank without getting my body wet. So I replaced my tank with a 30x30x24.

For the overflow, its on the outside the tank also but with no teeth. I use a 1" drain which is plenty. 1 1/4 would work too. I would put the drain to one side of the overflow box so u can build in a second drain if you wanted to in the future. Also would make it easier to install a stand pipe.

For 3/4" I'm not sure if the mp40's can go through that much material. I ended up using MP60's, they are a better design. On the top of the tank its euro braced with a hexagon design with a 4" lip (I think it was 4").

I also had a custom light stand built into the back corners of the tank (like an upside down y) for hanging lighting. I didn't want a canopy. For lighting, I have 4 AI sol Blue with 3 T5 supplmental lighting. The light stand is made of 316 Stainless steel square tubing.

I too have an SPS dominated tank. I would not do 24x24. Just too small.

[geaux xman]

+1

I have a 24x18x18(tall).

24"L tanks are small.

30x30x24(tall) is a good dimension IMO.

24x24x30(tall) will look awkard.

[aqua80]

i wouldn't go taller than 24"...
I have a 30x30x24 cube and if would buy a 30x30x20" if doing it again...
as for the overflow, why not do a bean animal for the silence it provides...

lighting 30x30 is not easy (30x30x30 even worse !), especially for open top like mine but I tested MH and T5h0 fixture with good results for a full sps tank :
- giesemann spectra unit mh + 4 t5h0 (250w or 400w)
- ATI PM 8 or 10 x24" T5H0...

[TheReefKeeper]

a 30x30x20" if doing it again...

+1^ I agree 20' tall would be my pick also!!

[ken6217]

I just picked up a 30x30x24 Marineland a week ago. I love it.

It came on a 24" stand and I ended up making a base with 2x6's and wrapped it with baseboard molding. The tank visually was too low for me and that is why I raised it.

With that said, it is more difficult to get to the bottom of the tank in the back. Top of tank is now about 56" from the floor.

For lighting, I am using a 6 bulb 24" ATI Powermodule. This means theoretically that there would be 3" of no light on either side. However with the light 9" above the water, I do not see any difference looking at the tank. Also I am not putting rock that close to the glass either.
Ken

[deepseadan]

So it sounds like 30" x 30" x 24" deep or less is what you guys recommend. I was thinking 30" deep because currently I have a 24" rectangular tank and my mh's seem very bright on the sand bed, almost hard on the eyes. Also, good idea for the drain, I will put it on one side so I can install a "quiet pipe". Thanks for the advice, I'm going to change the depth.
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