55 or 58 ?

[Maverick]

What to those of us with an opinion suggest ?

55gal that is 48" long or the 58 gal which is 36" long but wider ?

I would love some help before I buy ?

Maverick

[christyf5]

Personally I'd go with the 48" tank. More swimming length for fish and it just looks better IMO. :biggrin:

Christy :)

[Namscam]

I d go with the 58g because it ll give you more room to place your rocks and ur aquascaping will look better.

[spikehs]

I have a 50 thats 36x18x18 and i wish it was even deeper, depth makes the tank seem MUCH bigger then lengh IMO.

[Bob I]

I have a 50 thats 36x18x18 and i wish it was even deeper, depth makes the tank seem MUCH bigger then lengh IMO.

Ditto for me. I think the wider tank is far better for aquascaping. I have tried a four foot tank that was 12" wide, but finally settled on the 36x18x18".
I avoid fish that need the greater length such as some Tangs. I finally got a Yellow Eye Tang that is fine with the three foot length. :rolleyes:

[AJ_77]

trouble with the 55 is there's barely room to turn around... its what, 12" deep? once you've got your rocks and stuff all in, its too tight front-to-back.
the length is good and all, but the depth - what spike said.

jmo, etc

[StirCrazy]

take the wider one. more room for rock scaping.

Steve

[Old Guy]

I have a 36x18x24 65gal which I think is perfect for my little reef. My 90 is much better for my FOWLR.

[Bob I]

I have a 36x18x24 65gal which I think is perfect for my little reef. My 90 is much better for my FOWLR.

Always a matter of preference is it not old feller :question: :lol:

[Maverick]

Six of one - half a dozen of the other . Looks like it falls into personal preference .

I was kind of thinking that the 48" would be easier and cheaper to find lighting ?

Am I right in my assumption ?

Maverick

[Old Guy]

As I only have 1 250watt halide with two 95 vho on the 36' tank compared to having 2 250's and 2 110 vho for a 4 foot tank. I think the 3 ft wins on cost there. To buy and to run.


It really depends on the final go. If your leaning to a sps tank, dual halides would be needed in any case. If the lean is towards the fish route, a work horse 7 will run 4 40w NO just fine on a 4 ft.

[smokinreefer]

if you are considering a 4' tank...
why not go with a 75? best of both worlds!
as long as you can afford the initial set up cost.

otherwise i would go 58.

the 12" front to back of the 55 makes aquascaping a bit tough.

[Bob I]

As I only have 1 250watt halide with two 95 vho on the 36' tank compared to having 2 250's and 2 110 vho for a 4 foot tank. I think the 3 ft wins on cost there. To buy and to run.

That is the big dividing line is it not :question: You don't need SPS to have a very good reef tank. I myself have a 2x96W PC fixture on my 50. There is not a SPS coral to be found in there except for a small M. digitata clump. The rest is softies, LPS. zoanthids, and mushrooms including Ricordia. For me that is all I want, and it makes me happy. I am sure the costs would increase dramatically if I were to add SPS to this mixture. :eek:

[Skimmerking]

it all comes down to money, I would go with a 74 that is 36 and or a 58 that is 36 easier to light and i you have only the 1 mh then do it , I like the deeper tanks that is good for the fish but a narrow tank is also good for the corals

personnel preferance..

Mike

[PrairieReefer]

I was running a 25g that was 12in depth. If you are selective in your fish choices there is no problem that way, but I found it a nightmare to aquascape. By the time I got my rockwork arranged, there were spots I couldn't get my cleaner magnet between the rock and the front glass.

That tank was only 30in wide and I didn't think one MH covered it properly. It worked out ok though, as I had the MH to one side lighting my clams, and the dimmer side was good for lower light softies.

I vote for the 36in tank, or better yet a 75g like was mentioned previously (which is what I did) :mrgreen:

Marcel

[Quinn]

I vote 36"

[Maverick]

One thing that seems to comes up is drilled for overflow ? Neither one is that I know of. I am going to check tomorrow to see if one can be ordered for the same price .

Should I check into that ?

Maverick

[christyf5]

Definitely, drilled is easier IMO.

[trilinearmipmap]

A 58 has no centre brace which is nice.

[martym]

I had a a 55 long, it is so narrow you can't do much aquasaping. i didn't like it. JMO