Maintanence | Tall Tank

[sjsl]

:?: We are doing a bunch of homework and to moveforward with purchasing a system. We are locating our system in an alcove of our library - it is 60" wide 24" deep- we want to go with as tall a tank as we can but still be able to maintain it - at first we though 48" tall would be perfect to center our space - but in aquiring information - we are afraid it will be to tall - we thought we could shrink it to 36" but really unsure now - That is why this post Can we have a good insight as to what types of maintanence is required that would require the lowest points of the tank? Thanks

 

[ChrisRD]

Personally, I would never want a tank deeper than about 24". That's about the deepest tank I can comfortably reach the bottom of without tools or a mask/snorkel. Not sure if that helps, but at least you get a bump...

 

[ChrisRD]

Oops - just noticed you're new...

Welcome to Reefs.org!

Another thought...what are you planning on keeping in this tank? Keep in mind, the deeper the tank, the more powerful the lighting will need to be to provide enough at the bottom for corals...

 

[psiico]

Yeah, I'd be more worried about lights then maintenance.

 

[c0yote]

Could always place a nicely aquascaped 1.5'-2' high refugium above the 2' high main tank. When considering tank height, I assume you've considered how much room you'll need for the canopy?

 

[Anonymous]

Other than lighting, if the tank is deeper than your arm you have to use some kind of a tool to reach anything. This can get to be quite a pain, I would imagine. Plenty of people have 30 inch deep tanks and are happy, but I wouldn't go deeper than that.

 

[Mogo]

The top of my tank is 5 feet from the floor. I need a step ladder just to get in there. Because the tank is 6' long I really need a long bench to stand and walk along. The tank is 24" deep which requires all of my arm to get to the bottom. One more inch of tank depth and it would be an utter pain in the arse. Also you would have to consider very strong lighting to cut through 48" of water. If you want a big tank, consider one with a larger surface area (or footprint) but not so deep.

 

[Anonymous]

My tank is 24" deep also, and if I really need to get to the bottom to move/remove anything the canopy must be removed.
There is always some reason to have a hand in the tank, even if it just to remove the algae that grows above the sand line.

How about filling the space above the tank with hanging pendant lights instead of a canopy?