What is the better tank footprint? and why?

48L x 18W x 8-10H (or) 36L x 24W x 8-10H T5's will be used.


Also 8 or 10 inches high?

i think 8" high cos then u dont need as good as light in and u dont realy stack frag racks and some ppl do but i dont like it and dont think thats very efective although if u have 10" u have to have better lights but there will be more water volume unles u change some thing else witch u hidecated that u will bu i think just go with the size that fitts your space best and do it 8" high buts up to u

Read as one big run-on sentence

ummm, yeah... sooo (scratches head)




spell check is a wonderful tool.... did i spell spell check right?

Both tank footprints have the same surface area, allowing for the same quantity of frags, so there is no real difference there, although the 36"x24" would allow you to run more tubes (if using T5), giving you more color choices in bulbs. The 46"x18" might be better if using halides or LEDs. I'd also go 10" high, personal preference, + volume over the 8" height.

more lights isnt a good thing, you risk bleaching the frags.

i would opt for the larger surface area (24"W) so you can have more frags

what?

I'd agree that bleaching could be an issue, and if the tank is wider the back and front would allow for lower light. The depth is also nice because it gives you the ability to prevent bleaching.
The height doesn't even matter that much, if you have it 2 inches taller you could always put the frags two inches higher up.

Well put. That is what I was thinking too. Place the Mushrooms/etc. in the front or back, and get a 4 bulb T5 and place it in the middle or towards the front or back. I guess I could raise or lower the light depending on the corals and depth.

I was concerned about the depth not only because of the light, but because I will have my Clown Fish and maybe a couple of Sixline's in there too. Would 8" be too shallow for the fish?

I think I am going with Advance Acrylics Frag Tank in either of the size from above. I was going to try my hand at making one out of acrylic, but it might just be a train wreck....lol




He's right, both have same amount of room. I guess it is a catch 22. One way will allow me to place lower light corals toward front and back, while the other way will disperse the light over most of the tank (the 18")

bump

I'd worry about jumping.
Clowns have never been jumpers for me, but I know sixlines can. I've had mine do some jumping, but it was due to acclimation stress, he hasn't done anything since, but I wouldn't want to find out that the fish will jump.

Sounds like a good choice. I ordered a custom frag tank from Advance Acrylics and it will arrive on Wednesday. I'm building my frag system into a closet (I got the idea from Calvin415) and I ordered my tank a custom size: 24" L x 12" W x 8" tall.

Like you, I'm debating what sort of lighting I should use. At this point, I'm likely going with a Hagen Glo 2x24W with ATI Bulbs, hung with Glo's included hanging system.