View Full Version : How tall is your tank?
phantomg23
03/31/2013, 05:03 PM
Im in the market for a new tank, and im trying to think what the best height would be. So what is yours and why did you choose it?
im thinking 24 is pretty good, but 20 may be the best.
joefitz
03/31/2013, 05:11 PM
30" (72x36x30). Love hate about it...awesome to look at but a pita to work in. Good luck w/your decision!
My active tank is 24" and my in progress build tank is 16".
I really think the other dimensions of the tank (length and depth) as well as the setting play a big part is what height looks good. In general, I'm partial tanks 24" tall or less, although if I had a big in-wall tank, I think I'd want something taller, maybe 30".
Misled
03/31/2013, 05:19 PM
Height of the tank really doesn't matter. The height of the tank on the stand is what matters. Depending on how you plan on viewing the tank comes into play also. Then the height of a skimmer if you have a sump wears on the height of the stand. That's all why I have a stool to work on my tank.
My tank is 24. My tank on my stand is 60.
AndysReef
03/31/2013, 05:22 PM
I like 21"
phantomg23
03/31/2013, 05:32 PM
Im considering these dimensions
48x36x30, for around a 225 gallon tank. think i want my stand to be about 5 feet tall, so the middle of the tank is eye level, making people look around a lot lol, so it seems bigger
Deinonych
03/31/2013, 05:40 PM
Mine is 48x24x21(H), 105 gal. Really easy to work in.
Psirex
03/31/2013, 05:48 PM
Height of the tank really doesn't matter. The height of the tank on the stand is what matters. Depending on how you plan on viewing the tank comes into play also. Then the height of a skimmer if you have a sump wears on the height of the stand. That's all why I have a stool to work on my tank.
My tank is 24. My tank on my stand is 60.
What he said ^^^
Terrance
03/31/2013, 06:11 PM
Height of the tank does matter. If a person is short, then they will have short arms. My arm can barely reach the bottom of my 24" high tank. If I reach my arm into the tank and the tip of my finger is touching the bottom glass, then my head is basically in the water. I also needed 3ft height clearance to fit a skimmer inside the stand. That is 5ft high. I have to stand on the chair.
I wish I had 21" tall tank. The short the better for me. PITA to arrange anything close to the bottom of my 24" tall 120g tank.
Misled
03/31/2013, 06:24 PM
I wish I had 21" tall tank. The short the better for me. PITA to arrange anything close to the bottom of my 24" tall 120g tank.
But it would be easier if you had a two foot stand, but you can't because you have a bigger skimmer. Just like I said, you need to take "everything" into consideration.
Osteoclast
03/31/2013, 06:38 PM
I have a tall tank. The issue has to do more with the room than the tank. If your room has a short ceiling than you will need a shorter tank. My tank due to its height requires special tools for husbandry. The room my tank is in is a tall great room so it does not look out of place. I would review your room measurements and then decide. It is tricker to maintain but not impossible, and I find it rewarding. Good luck.
andycook
03/31/2013, 06:57 PM
My tank is 24" tall. My stand is 38" tall. With the sump in the stand I don't see how the stand could be any shorter than it is, that is without driving me crazy trying to do anything in it. I would like the tank to be 6" taller for display purposes put with only 7' ceilings this isn't an option with a MH pendant.
rachelcb80
03/31/2013, 07:09 PM
My tank is 20" tall and my stand is 30" tall, so 50" total (rimless, no canopy). I wish the stand was a little taller for viewing purposes, but the whole thing is already too tall for me to work in the bottom of the tank without a stool. My tank sits next to a built in bench along my entry way so it's a great height for sitting there and viewing.
Terrance
03/31/2013, 07:09 PM
But it would be easier if you had a two foot stand, but you can't because you have a bigger skimmer. Just like I said, you need to take "everything" into consideration.
I have a 3 ft chair/stool to match the height of the stand, but it doesn't help me when I bath in the tank water reaching into my tank to arrange rockscape or pick up something that has fallen around the bottom of the tank. The only time to do this without getting too wet is during water changes when the water line drops. Its very annoying seeing an item I've dropped sitting at the bottom of the tank and waiting for a water change to reach close to the bottom. The depth of the tank also makes a difference because I have extreme difficulty reaching the back. Need a ladder with tank half empty to reach the back. It is very challenging when I'm standing on the ladder with my hips at the tank rim and stretching as far as possible to arrange the rockscape get the look I want. This is why I say height of tank matters. Not everyone has the physical vertical gifts. Regardless of the stand height, it will always be difficult to reach into a tall tank for me.
My next tank will be a shorter tank for sure.
The other tank height of tank might affect is lighting. LEDs need optics if tank is too tall, and more MH/T5 needs to pentrate the water to give adequate PAR values for corals sitting at the bottom.
C Dog
03/31/2013, 07:25 PM
I am setting up a tank that is 4' tall.
phantomg23
03/31/2013, 07:28 PM
I am setting up a tank that is 4' tall.
you might be crazy
phantomg23
04/01/2013, 07:54 AM
i added a poll so people can vote
DavidinGA
04/01/2013, 08:11 AM
30" and I love it. I'd go taller if I were taller with longer arms but this 30" is about my limit of what I can manage easily.
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saltysailor2329
04/01/2013, 10:29 AM
I have a 27" tall tank (48x36x27 - 200g DD). It's just now cycling so I couldn't tell you what its like to get into the back of the tank but I imagine I'll be investing in some tongs and a snorkel mask!
The height of a tank totally does matter. I'm a short(er) person at 5'5" with short t-rex arms and the difference between a 20" tank and a 24" tank is getting my armpits and sholder wet vs NOT wet while working at the bottom of the tank (picking up dropped frags, shells, moving stuff round, cleaning bottom edge of glass, etc).
there was a time when I had two tanks, one was 20" tall and one was 28" tall. While the 28" inch tall tank was really nice to aquascape and was nice to view because of its height, working in it was a real PITA. Ultimately I had to shut it down because I just couldn't stand it anymore. Even if the taller tank was sitting on the floor it would still be quite a reach to clean the bottom edge of the tank. I dunno, I suppose there are people who don't mind wet armpits? :-) This hobby is hard enough as it is. Don't go making it any harder on yourself if you don't need to.
Having said that, I realize that not everyone has t-rex arms like I do. For some, working with 24" depth might be perfectly fine with their long lanky arms. This is definitely something to consider though and does make a difference.
Palting
04/01/2013, 01:14 PM
I like the look of the taller tanks. I have a 27" reef tank and a 30" FOWLR tank. Then again, I am 6" with longer lanky arms, so I can just generally reach in. However, I also have sticks of varying sizes, scrapers on a handle, mag floats, aquascaping clamps on a long handle.......I think with the right tools, a tall tank should not be a problem for anyone.
A 4' tall tank, OTOH, may require scuba gear :D.
mcgrawjt
04/01/2013, 05:41 PM
30" (72x36x30). Love hate about it...awesome to look at but a pita to work in. Good luck w/your decision!
+1. 72x24x30high (on a 42" stand). I need a step stool, but my arms still cannot reach the bottom or no where near the back, need grabbing tools and long handled scrubber/scrapers. I didn't really account for serious working access in my canopy so I can barely fit (uncomfortably) through the doors to reach far away areas. I love the look though. If I do it over again I will go down to at least 24".
You will still have fun which ever way you go. Good luck.
E Rosewater
04/01/2013, 05:46 PM
72 x 24 x 27, it's as deep as I could reasonably work in, I'm only 5'8". It would be nice had I gone 72 x 27 x 27, I feel like it makes aquascaping more difficult to have a tank taller than it is deep.
Wizzard~Of~Ozz
04/01/2013, 05:50 PM
48x24x24.
Good to work in ( from a stool due to stand height ), back bottom can be a bit of a pain to get to. I like having the range of height. sqrt( a^2 + b^2 ) should not exceed the length of your arms.
Clownin Aroun
04/01/2013, 06:45 PM
30" (72x36x30). Love hate about it...awesome to look at but a pita to work in. Good luck w/your decision!
Mine is 50 x 36 x 30
I couldn't have said it better myself.
I will never go lower then 30 again though!!!
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