All-Glass 210 or 180 for reef?

[FrankB1]

I plan on 3 x 250 DE MH bulbs with 4 x 96 W PC. Would I get enough penetration into the 210 (29 inches deep minus 2 inch sandbed) so 27 " water depth and lights approx 6-8 inches above water. I plan to keep a nice mix of LPS/SPS and maxima clams.

 

[Anonymous]

180 most definetly unless you got the heavy duty lights for the depth of the 210. Then I stand corrected and you should go with a nice custom oceanic. Lets say 350 gallons and eight feet by three feet by three feet. I hope that's close to 350 I forget my conversions.

 

[MattM]

Only one problem...

An AGA 180 is about $800, an AGA 210 is about $900. The custom Oceanic you describe is about $3,000!

 

[Anonymous]

Only one problem...

An AGA 180 is about $800, an AGA 210 is about $900. The custom Oceanic you describe is about $3,000!

bah, minor details!

what's the footprint difference bewtween a 180 and a 210?

B

 

[melanotaenia1]

since the footprint is the same for both tanks at 72x24 I would say go for the 180 since you are most likely going to pack the same type of setup in either tank. Seaclear makes an acrylic 240 with overflows that is awesome, I don't know if you like acrylic or not.

And ibid Bingo, I never try to think about money, if I did, I would never have gotten into this hobby into the first place lol.

Show us some pics when you get this thing set up!!

 

[acromoron]

I just took delivery of an AGA 180 with Megaflows for under 600.00....ordered at my LFS.

 

[dougc]

I looked at both and went with the 210. I wanted a more open-looking tank. It will be lit with 2 250w Ushios in ReefOptix III pendants and 4 140w VHO actinics on Icecap 660s. Can't tell you how it will work out because there is no water in the tank yet.

 

[eric1194]

Whatever you decide DO NOT order from Inter-american!
They lie, fail to produce on time and have no customer service.

 

[Big R]

I have the 180, but we didn't do the 210 when I set it up. I'd say do the 210.

R

 

[Anonymous]

I have the oceanic 215 - 72" x 24" x 29.5" . I have it lit by 3x 250w DE pendants. It's doing ok growth wise but getting to stuff at the bottom of the tank is a pain - I just have a dusting of sand and if I weren't so tall I'd have to get on a ladder everytime I work on the tank. Visually it is very impressive with the extra 4 inches but I could have saved a few hundred bucks and gotten more use out of my lighting going with a 180.

 

[Big R]

I just have a dusting of sand and if I weren't so tall I'd have to get on a ladder everytime I work on the tank.

Also depends on how tall the stand is. Personally I'd say that possibly needing a step stool to reach the bottom is a small price to pay for the increased visual impact.

R