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Unread 04/15/2019, 11:19 AM   #1
LowBoost
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 6
Help me choose proper tank

It's been a really long time since I had my last tank and I stopped lurking these forums. (At least 15 years). My youngest son recently started his own aquascaping project and while driving him around to a few shops, I just fell in love again with the idea of a new tank now that the wife and I have more time on my hands.

We have a 16ft living room wall and I will remove the TV so this will be the masterpiece of the room. This being said, I have been doing my "homework" and notice that technology has changed dramatically over the past couple of years.

I was looking at an 8ft tank and thought that a 30" wide and probably 30" high would be a nice looking size, but it seems that everyone recommends a 25" high in order to be able to work with the tank and reach the bottom. (Both the wife and I don't have long arms. We are just 5'9").

I checked the planet aquarium website and see their tanks. 96"x30"x25" which I assume is 30" wide and 25" high, so I have a couple of questions for you to help me make a decision.

1) Should I stick with a 25" high tank or is it OK to go higher? I guess at that point it will have to be a custom tank, right?

2) Before you ask: I plan on reef & some fish.

3) I know that a lot of people prefer external overflow, but with 30" wide and I know the wife wants the tank as close to the wall as possible, will internal overflow work or should I just stop whining and go for the external?

4) Their Crystaline series does not have a 96x30x25, but their Mega-Matrix does. I assume I want the crystal front glass?

5) I have been reading a LOT over the last two weeks or so, but I will probably post a few more questions about what other gear should I get for the system (Skimmer, Pumps, Sump, Etc).

I will appreciate any help you can provide.


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Unread 04/15/2019, 11:38 AM   #2
LowBoost
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Also, should I really push for the 30" wide or will a 25" wide suffice?


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Unread 04/15/2019, 12:12 PM   #3
LotsaTanks
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego County
Posts: 131
It is really true that higher tanks are a pain to work in. 2 of our tanks are 24" high and one is 30". 30 inches is difficult but my husband is very tall so he can reach things with just a bit of difficulty. If I was going to get a brand new tank I'd go for one closer to 24".

Wide on the other hand is much better. 24" is narrow to aquascape and 30" is much, much nicer.


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Unread 04/15/2019, 12:52 PM   #4
LowBoost
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Join Date: Apr 2019
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Thanks. I'll get the 30" wide and 24" high.
How about the internal vs external overflow?


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Unread 04/15/2019, 02:07 PM   #5
LotsaTanks
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego County
Posts: 131
We've always had internal overflows with no issue. Can't speak for external overflows. Maybe someone who has an external overflow can chime in.


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Unread 05/08/2019, 10:24 AM   #6
silentstorm
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 96
Well, external overflow means more room inside the tank in other words. The other thing I can think of is the holes drilled for the overflow are on the back wall of the tank, higher up and not on the bottom glass. If the bullkhead / plumbing were to fail, you're not risking all the water out!


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Unread 05/08/2019, 10:28 AM   #7
LowBoost
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 6
Thanks for the replies. After much debate, I ended up getting a RedSea 750XXL instead.


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