It's a hard choice, can you help

[Naso2]

I am thinking about trading my 450g 96"X36"X30" for a 500g 60"X60"X32". Can someone help me with the advantages of sticking with my tank and switching to this new footprint.

 

[pandora32]

How bout top to bottom depth? 2" doesnt sound like alot, until you put your arm in and you cant reach the bottom. But 500g would be great! Tough choice!

 

[Naso2]

I already need a step ladder at 30". My tank is a walk around but I have to put it up against the wall. I thought this 500g tank would be better for viewing. But I want to know how the cube rather then a long tank will efect larger 12"+ fish.

 

[TheKraken]

Sounds like a very easy choice. A 450 box AND a 500 cube : )

I have the 96x24X30 and already lament the premise that the tank is only 2' wide. I hope to get a 3' tank someday and can only imagine 5' to play with. Are you doing a built-in?

 

[Naso2]

It will be in my fish room between the wall and the boiler. Probably not built in but we will see. I wish I could have both but he wants to do a trade and I wouldn't have room for both well maby but my family would kill me.

 

[Krish]

I don't know man...That is tough. You have a choice of basically a huge cube versus a long tank! For me, I think your current tank would appeal to me more (depending on fish selection) over the cube even though I love them.

 

[sedrostyle]

60x60 omg I went to heaven.

 

[trido]

I'm with Krish. 8 foot long by 3 foot deep would appeal more to me than a 5x5 foot cube. Also my 210 is 30" tall. I would hate a tank that was any taller. 32" tall would be a deal breaker to me.

 

[blk822822]

Once you go cube...........LOL...I love cubes. More surface area , put an island of rock in the middle for fish to swim around and corals. What the problem? Cube the only way to go. I wish I had a cube that size......and the room for it....LOL And most fish don't care much about hiegth, but more area to swim.

 

[iroll253]

I would choose the 450g over the cube.

 

[sedrostyle]

Once you go cube...........LOL...I love cubes. More surface area , put an island of rock in the middle for fish to swim around and corals. What the problem? Cube the only way to go. I wish I had a cube that size......and the room for it....LOL And most fish don't care much about hiegth, but more area to swim.

+1 that's what I'm saying. 60x60. Plenty of room to do islands. That'd be awesome. I hate having rocks near glass I'd love to have a Center island of some sort.
Hence why I want a wider tank.

What would the viewing angles be like for both tanks? 3 sides for both?
My vote stands on cube personally.
I'd only maybe go 6 foot length.
Good luck
Steven

 

[trido]

I have to ask. All of those so adamant on the cube. Have you ever had a 30" tall tank? Do you think you would like to dunk your face in your tank or get very good with tongs to do all of your bottom end maintenance on a 32" tall tank?

 

[sedrostyle]

I have posted before that I hate swimming in my tank even tho I am very hands on.
Probably because I have a one yr old that likes to help
I wouldn't mind having tongs and I could see how that much depth would bug you if your always in your tank.

So I cannot speak from experience.
But I'm saying I wouldn't mind. I just have a towel.

How often are you actually in your tank once your get corals setup?

Maybe to add new coral? How often is that?
Or to pick out dead hermis?
I have very fine black sand do I'm always trying to fix my sand bed when I get annoyed of it blowing everywhere from my return.
Also maybe to frag things?
I go thru fazes of getting in it. I try not to but it usually is a everyday thing. Sometimes multiple times, but I would love a wider bigger tank to Aqua scape with. I think I have a awesome setup now but I'd love to see down the back side with having a wider tank.

Just my two cents.
I am only 5'11 so I have average length.
Do you mind swimming.

 

[Naso2]

Well it turns out the cube is 62"X62"X28" way better dimmentions so I'm going for the cube. Thanks for all your input and advice.

 

[blk822822]

Sweet... I'd love to have that cube. Rember do a build thread with lots of pics.

 

[Naso2]

I will since I'm not going to do a reef I'm playing with the concept of a single 400w with a huge custom 4.5ft reflector to brining out the color in the fish.

 

[mercenary-grunt]

if your not doing a reef then what about doing cheaper leds. on my fowlr i have 2 aquatic life 4' strips of 50% blue and 50% white. this is the only time ill not say that the OBD are the way to go. although they will look good. but the aquatic life are $125 each. and are better on energy than the halides. my $0.02

 

[Naso2]

I am going to have some show quality fish in there and for me a metal halide will always beat a cheap led. I'm willing to pay more for the colors of the fish.

 

[sedrostyle]

Well it turns out the cube is 62"X62"X28" way better dimmentions so I'm going for the cube. Thanks for all your input and advice.

thats way better

 

[Naso2]

Well the deal fell a part and I'm kinda depressed. I guess it's for the best because my family is not happy.
but I get to pick up my new (to me) 75g reef on Sunday. I will have pics up by Monday.