Tank upgrade, best options?

Since I have to move, and I'm going through the hassle of breaking everything down and moving it anyhow, I'm buying a new tank. I went small and cheap to get used to the hobby. Now I'm looking to buy a larger, shiny new tank to upgrade to when I move.

I've never had an acrylic tank, but it seems like there are quite a few benefits. What are people's experience with acrylic tanks here? Do you prefer them over glass? Or should I stick with glass?

I understand that I have to have a complete bottom to the stand when I set it up, rather than open; how about scratching? Are they easy to remove or is it a pain in the butt? Are they significantly stronger? Experience with leaks?

I'm having my LFS get me a quote for a 60" long x 24 wide x 24 tall. 150 gallons. Black back. 2 corner 1 1/2" drains (90 degree standpipe with strainer in each back corner) to get away from space wasting internal overflow boxes. Think this will work well? 1 1/2" drains should do 600+ gph each, right?

I want to do a 4 way closed loop with the intake at the top middle with a return in each back corner with flow accelerators, adjustable of course to provide flow in any direction. They should blend nicely into the black back. What would be a good inexpensive pump to run the closed loop? I can plumb everything myself, but what would be a good way to split the return from the pump into 4 different pipes? I don't want to buy an ocean motions CL. Plan recommendations, anyone? I would continue to use my current sump, with some changes. What else should I be thinking of, plumbing / equipment wise?

Thanks in advance

 

60x24x24 would be an awesome tank IMO! Just make sure you know what you are getting into... when you start going that big you are talking lots of equipment behind the scenes... big skimmer, wet/dry, fuge, reactors, more lights, more evap, dosing, the whole 9 yards! Let us know what you decide, I can't really be of much help!

 

Well put!!!!!

 

That's a really nice size - 60" 150 gallon. I am looking for one myself exactly that size. Unfortunately, the only good quality one I can find is an Oceanic 156 gallon, with starphire front and sides, black back and reef ready, but it's just over $1,000. It's a really nice tank though. Might also want to consider a ~2500+ gph external pump to supply the tank return and a skimmer.

The only big downside is the lighting issue. There is a very limited choice in 60" lighting and bulbs, and from what I've heard, they are only going to become more and more scarce. Think you'd need 3 x 250w HQI to light it up well, as well as couple VHOs or T5HOs for actinics.

 

glasscages.com has the 60x24x24 for $825. My LFS will be able to get the entire tank drilled, with bulkheads and flow accelerators for around $850 (estimate) delivered

Now, I was looking into this light. 60' Metal Halide 250 T5 HO Aquarium Light Moon NIB! - eBay (item 180313479730 end time Feb-09-09 14:49:41 PST)

I e-mailed them and they are offering a 5 year warranty and money back guarantee if I am not satisfied.

 

Thanks I am thinking about turning my 30G into the fuge and keeping my current sump with some mods. Maybe an ASM G1x for skimmer?

 

I have seen too many acrylic tanks have ugly scratch marks that can not be repaired obviously. If you are guaranteed of never scratching it then it would be great. Glass scratches also but not nearly as easily.
Adam

 

Probaby not enough light with only 2 x 250w MH, and the 54w T5HO are only 54w, which means they are 48", b/c 60" T5HOs are 80w.
I have also looked at glasscages.com, but I've heard awful stuff about their customer service. If you're serious about it, just go with the Oceanic 156 for $1000 b/c you'll get the starphire glass for only $150 more than what you'd pay for that other tank at $850, plus Oceanic has a lifetime guarantee.

 

This would be a locally made tank, not from glasscages - I was just kinda using them as a baseline for what I should pay, etc.

So do you think I should do glass, or acrylic? I'm still debating on that. If I run 2x250 + 2x54 actinic / 608 watts - you don't think that would be enough if I grouped most corals / etc. towards the middle of the tank?

 

Definitely go with glass, not acrylic. And for the extra $150, go with the Oceanic.

Oceanic Systems | Products | Ultimate

You may be able to also get it w/o the overflows for less and drill them yourself..
It's really up to you on the lighting. If you are ok with 48" of lighting on a 60" tank, that's all up to you. The only alternative lighting I might consider would be a 6 or 8 bulb T5HO retrofit or ATI (reefgeek.com) hanging light.