[FishStix]

I am torn between 2 tanks. First I am only 5'11"

180 Perfecto which is 72x24x24 (corner overflows)

210 Aqueon which is 72.5x24.5x29.7 (overflows on each site, not in corner)

Which would you guys go with. I am thinking the 180, I really don't think I want to deal with tank that almost 30"

 

[bpizzuto]

I am 5'-11 also and my tank is not as high as yours and I need a step stool to insert my root tabs under substrate. Go with the bigger tank. always go Big.

 

[FishStix]

I am 5'-11 also and my tank is not as high as yours and I need a step stool to insert my root tabs under substrate. Go with the bigger tank. always go Big.

I think I have narrowed it down to the Perfecto, just not sure on the size. I avoided getting the 265 because I was worried about the height. I am thinking 220XH would just be trouble like the 265, and the best option would be the 180.

 

[tomfromstlouis]

I am 5'10" and have the 30" tall tank. The only area that is a real stretch is the center back. If you do not have a large hood then moving lights to reach the back corners is no problem.

The advantage of a taller tank with live plants is the awesome visual effect of vertical growth. You can grow swords, crinum, vals, longer crypts, even stem plants etc. to their full glory. Here I let some Taiwan lilies reach the top. In a shorter tank this look might feel a bit cramped.

If you do not want angels or discus or some other vertical looking fish, and you also do not want the height for plants, then shorter can work fine. So it depends on what you want in the tank. A bunch of rainbows with java fern or short crypts would look great in the shorter tank.

If you opt for taller, keep the stand so the rim is below your armpit (for quicker reaches) and get a stout step stool.

 

[xmas_one]

I'd go with the 180. I'm also 5'11" and have a 90 gallon that's 36"x24"x24"h, and that's about as deep as I would want, have to run the muscle shirt even at 24", lol.

 

[FishStix]

I am 5'10" and have the 30" tall tank. The only area that is a real stretch is the center back. If you do not have a large hood then moving lights to reach the back corners is no problem.

The advantage of a taller tank with live plants is the awesome visual effect of vertical growth. You can grow swords, crinum, vals, longer crypts, even stem plants etc. to their full glory. Here I let some Taiwan lilies reach the top. In a shorter tank this look might feel a bit cramped.

If you do not want angels or discus or some other vertical looking fish, and you also do not want the height for plants, then shorter can work fine. So it depends on what you want in the tank. A bunch of rainbows with java fern or short crypts would look great in the shorter tank.

If you opt for taller, keep the stand so the rim is below your armpit (for quicker reaches) and get a stout step stool.

That tank looks really great. Is that perfecto tank? How tall is your stand?

Now I am taking a second guess at not getting the 265, but wife would not be happy about that as it 84x24x30 :icon_smil

Thanks again

 

[tomfromstlouis]

It is a Marineland 220XH tank. Stand is 29", tall enough for large Eheim canisters underneath.

 

[FishStix]

Your tank making me think twice about the 220 over the 180. My stand going to be 34 inches. I really wanted the 265 they make but big jump in price 1800. LFS can get me the 220 for 1200 and the 180 for 775. Just worried about that 30 inches

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

 

[tomfromstlouis]

I am not going to try and talk you in to either choice. For me the inconvenience of not being able to reach the substrate in the center back is a small price for the larger viewing area. I do not think that PAR readings at your substrate, using a step stool, or any other imagined concern is really much of an issue. No matter how high your stand, a step stool will get you everywhere else you need to go. You will probably want long tools in either case.

If you want any pushing in any direction, tell us more about what kinds of fish and plants you want. That might help you figure this out.

Measure from the ground to your armpit. If your stand plus tank is higher, then you will need a step stool to do any serious maintenance. Not a killer to me since the stool is out whenever I am working the tank anyway.

 

[FishStix]

I am not going to try and talk you in to either choice. For me the inconvenience of not being able to reach the substrate in the center back is a small price for the larger viewing area. I do not think that PAR readings at your substrate, using a step stool, or any other imagined concern is really much of an issue. No matter how high your stand, a step stool will get you everywhere else you need to go. You will probably want long tools in either case.

If you want any pushing in any direction, tell us more about what kinds of fish and plants you want. That might help you figure this out.

Measure from the ground to your armpit. If your stand plus tank is higher, then you will need a step stool to do any serious maintenance. Not a killer to me since the stool is out whenever I am working the tank anyway.

Thanks for the info.
I think either way I will need the stool, be it with a 180 or 220. I could always have the stand built 2" less so 32", total of 62"

As for plants, I would like stuff in the back that kinda, plant and forget it. The front I would like a carpet, the rest of the tank, I really have not thought about it.

 

[AquaAurora]

BIGGER! The bigger the tank the more you can cram in there!!

 

[Axelrodi202]

Go big or go home.

A good ladder and good tweezers are very helpful for working on large tanks.

 

[GraphicGr8s]

The answer is simple. Both.

 

[Lab_Man]

Get as big as you can afford.

 

[lamiskool]

The answer is simple. Both.

problem solved

 

[tomfromstlouis]

You guys keep forgetting what he REALLY wants is the seven footer.

……..(waiting for someone to suggest all three)

 

[FishStix]

You guys keep forgetting what he REALLY wants is the seven footer.

……..(waiting for someone to suggest all three)

ha ha, you guys are not helping. So yes to be honest, I want the 7 foot tank. Wife does not care at this point if I get the 6 foot tank or 7 foot tank. She tired of talking about it. :help:

Here the problem, I have about 4,000 to spend, yeah I know nice problem to have, but I have been saving for this for a long time.

Wife thinks of it in the following ways, spend a little as you can on it and be happy you have anything at all. See I setup a 90 gallon a few years ago and hated it as it was too tall, but the stand was also 38" high. I also never wanted anything to do with that tank in the first place

If I get the taller tank, then I was thinking I have them build the stand at 32" high.

So wife see it in 2 ways at this point, she does not want to hear me complain about tank being too tall

She see it in dollars $$$

180=$775
220=$1200
265=$1800

The stand for any of them is going to only change by 100, having custom oak stand built.

I figure this will be my last tank for a long time. We have a 3 year old, and another on the way.

Yeah way to much info, so even with all that being said, I still cannot decide.

:help:

 

[trailsnale]

ha ha, you guys are not helping. So yes to be honest, I want the 7 foot tank. Wife does not care at this point if I get the 6 foot tank or 7 foot tank. She tired of talking about it. :help:

Here the problem, I have about 4,000 to spend, yeah I know nice problem to have, but I have been saving for this for a long time.

Wife thinks of it in the following ways, spend a little as you can on it and be happy you have anything at all. See I setup a 90 gallon a few years ago and hated it as it was too tall, but the stand was also 38" high. I also never wanted anything to do with that tank in the first place

If I get the taller tank, then I was thinking I have them build the stand at 32" high.

So wife see it in 2 ways at this point, she does not want to hear me complain about tank being too tall

She see it in dollars $$$

180=$775
220=$1200
265=$1800

The stand for any of them is going to only change by 100, having custom oak stand built.

I figure this will be my last tank for a long time. We have a 3 year old, and another on the way.

Yeah way to much info, so even with all that being said, I still cannot decide.

:help:

tall tanks are a pita to work on, no doubt about it. but, they are fantastic to look at!!! (and i'll wager you'll spend more time viewing than working on it :biggrin: ). plant selection can also reduce maintenance/time in tank. i selected a 36" deep on a 36" stand. no regrets. ever.

 

[Steve002]

I agree, think big. Beautiful tank Tom!

 

[Raymond S.]

Still have the 90 ? It would make a good sump for the 180/220.
Petco is on that $1 per gallon sale for a few more days and that makes a 55 cost $55.
If you don't still have the 90 that is. All this goes/w either tank and the 180 will end up costing $1200 when done. IF you are conservative. 72" LED's cost $400-500.
Apprasal of total cost may help make that decision easy.
Before you get caught up in that romantic calvary charge over the hill you might want to see if there's a clif on the other side.