Time for a new tank

So as much as I like the 29, I want to change it up a bit. I got an 80 gallon from a local, but its a 80 high, and I think am not going to be happy with it in the long run. I want something is a little deeper, more like cubes. I don't want a 4 foot tank. I am thinking 3 foot is just right. My thoughts have been on a 50 gallon display. tank dimensions are 36 7/8 x 19 x 19 5/8. Compared to my current 29(30 1/4 x 12 1/2 x 18 3/4) its a hair taller, 6 inches wider but, 7 inches deeper. The biggest problem with my 29 is I feel like I don't have enough "floor space" I think the foot print on a 50 would be enough, yet i can keep my same MH light, change up my 24"t5 for a 36" bulb keep my same skimmer and probably my same sump(although I am thinking DIY acrylic)

So whatdo you guys think? 50 a good idea?


also, here is a list of "common tank sizes"
http://alysta.com/books/fishtank.htm

Id say go 4 feet. You have the room might as well go all the way lol

yea, but I may not, I never know where I am going to be moved to. When we were in japan, I wouldn't have had the room for a 4 foot tank. Not to mention, my metal halide wont spread 4 feet, but it will 3.

True 3 is just a weird size. How long is a 40 gallon breeder?

Oh i didnt see your link. Ya i think that 36 inch 50 would be good. What size is ur metalhalide?

250W, which isn't enough for the 80 gal in the garage, I would more than likely need a 400w and 2 of them. I am also throwing around the idea of acrylic... although I don't see that much of a benefit other than custom size. But, if I don't go 36 inches, all the lights are 24 inches. so my next tank is probably going to be 36 inches.

also, I could run 2 mp10's in a 50, so that would also save cost.

Ya id say go for the 36 inch the only problem is going to be finding one that size. I dont think its to common of a size

Im going to run 2 mp10 in my 80

im not to worried about finding the glass, since i think I can get it from petco on the 1 a gallon specials.

Um i think the bigest size petco has is 40 not sure though

I know they have 55, so I am going to ask if they can special order it, and if the 1 a gallon special still applies

Ok cool sounds good. Are you going to drill it then?

thats what I have been debating about. I like the bean animal design, but I dont want to take up a lot of space in the tank. I also don't want plumbing on the back if i can get away with it. I was thinking about a durso stand pipe, but I know they aren't as safe as the bean animal design.

Ya. Well im going to be drilling my dads so i will let you know how it goes

I have drilled before, just how I want to do it is the question. I was also thinking about getting a tank like yours, an all in one. Would you do it again?

II have thought about the red sea max 250.... but I don't want to know how much its going to cost.

just saw the price, not even thinking about the red sea max now...lol

No way would i do an all in one again. It has way to many problems

good to know. I am trying to build a seamless system that will be easy to work on and be very clean looking.

Ya thats my plan with my new one also

so what do you think, glass or acrylic 50 gal?

Definatly glass. Acrilic is more expensive and scratches easier

alright so the hunt is on. is that 80 you have an 80 tall?

Um i dont think so. Its 48 by 20 by 20 its actually like 83.3 gallons

acrylic or glass?

Glass i dont like acrilic unless its a frag tank u want a pic? Ill text it to you

is it custom?

It used to be a lobster tank for a resturant then someone took it drilled it and turned it into a reef tank. Then got rid of it and gave it to paul to sell and thats where i got it

ahh, I thought that tank was bigger. anyways, I haven't decided how I want to put the overflow in yet. I don't want it to take up a lot of room in the tank or look out of place. But I do want it to be safer..

My dad is doing the bean animal coast to coast on his tank. There is an article about it on RC

yea I know the bean animal. I have it now. it just uses up a decent amount of tank. I thought about a bean animal with an external overflow, but that would have all the plumbing in the back, and I am trying to avoid it.

Hmm ya i dont know

for some reason I cant receive your pictures right away.... who knows, I mak just do an internal overflow. the tank is a lot wider. we will see what the others post and see what they say....

well I got a tank, here is the link to it:
http://www.masvc.org/t74-dwolson-s-75gal-tank