300 Gallon Wide or 300 Gallon Tall?

Hey there 3Reef People-

I need your opinion on something- I'm in the process of remodeling my basement and I am going to put a large aquarium as a centerpiece in one of the rooms. I'm thinking of a 300 gallon aquarium, but I'm torn on the dimensions. Should I go with a 300 wide (96Lx30Wx24T) or a 300 tall (96Lx24Wx30T) for a reef tank?
On one hand, the 300 wide would give some great depth for some nice aquascaping. On the other hand, a 30" tall tank gives an aquarium an impressive height.
I need to purchase the aquarium soon as I'm going to build it into a wall with a small fish room behind it.
I value your opinions, let me know what you think!

 

WIDE WIDE WIDE.
While its more of a personal opinion, there are some benefits. Fish like to swim side to side, not up and down, so it will give more room for them. And, as you stated, it will offer a lot more flexibility in regards to aquascaping. Also, it will increase the effectiveness of the lighting, or at the same time, you'll save some cash on the lighting as the lights themselves wont need to be as powerful to penetrate the full depth.
Just my two cents

 

I would go with a wide one if its gonna be open from both the front and the back!

 

Not that it's an issue with a 300 but a wide does offer better surface to air ratio so better gas exchange and aeration(sp.?) at the surface.

Jake

 

i go wide, visual depth is important for salwater tanks.

 

I would also go wide. Less lighting easier to aquascape and they just look better in my opinion!

 

I think it really depends on what your gonna keep in it. If your gonna do anything like orbit than you want a tall tank. But if you are going with large fish that sit on sand than wide. If you are goin reef and not large fish than you think if you want a tall reef that you can sit and see everything then you go tall also. But if you want a reef that is low and goes back a ways than you want wide.

 

Wwwwwwwwwwwiiiiiiiiiiiiiddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

 

Go wide.... I had a 30 inch deep tank... Was pain in the arm pit to clean...!!! Literaly..!! i was on my tip toe just to clean the glass where scrapers would'nt reach....

 

As usual....we are thinking along the same lines. Wide is good.