setting up tall tank

[polyv]

I'm planning on setting up an 85-gallon tall reef tank (36"x18"x30"). In terms of the bioload, should I assume a more conventional size such as 24" tall? That would mean stocking it like a 65g tank.

I will also potentially have some space above the canopy (about 10"). Does anyone have any suggestions on what to place up there? I read something about people placing fuges above the tank. Is that an advantage to having a sump/fuge combo below the tank? Another possibility down the road might be some type of surge device, but I need to do more research on that.

Thanks in advance

 

[Len]

In my experience, tanks are healthiest with the least population of highly metabolic life (e.g. fish). I think you're on the right tracking in thinking a tall tank should be stocked to another tank of similiar footprint but lesser height. The reasonsings are:
1) height usually won't afford much more surface area for nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria to grow on (so it's wasted space in terms of significantly increasing bioload) and
2) tall tanks have less air-to-water gas exchange which will inhibit some life processes.

I'd stock your tank like a 60 gallon, perhaps with four to five small to medium fish.

As for the space above the tank, a refugium would be very nice. The biggest advantage of a top refuguium is that the water from the refugium can feed the display tank directly via gravity. Refugiums below the tank must pump it back up and this process is pretty violent for some organisms. Surge devices is an option, but I find them too much work to bother with. Just my opinion, of course

 

[FishDude16]

Its a tall tank be shure you have plenty of powerheads in there, get a wave maker for better habbitatual growth on corals and stuff. Good luck. Otherwise follow Len.

 

[polyv]

Thanks for the replies. Not too bothered by the "wasted space". I was initially all set for a 24" tall tank anyway, which would have been 65g. Very recently I got clearance to get something taller as it would "look better". Not a reason I would have thought of, but no complaints. I figured it can't hurt to have the extra volume to stabilize the tank, give the fish more room, etc.

As far as having a refugium above the tank, this is probably a dumb question, but that would have to be on a separate support/ledge, right? Or has someone actually built a canopy of sorts that could also support a fuge?