Help with new tank build

A few factors.
Will you be able to get to the front, or will all the cleaning come from the back side.  Only draw back of a tall tank is cleaning the front glass only from the rear.
I think it would be ok on your clams, might have to feed them more.
Personally a taller tank will do better for your fish.
Second if you are going to have an SPS dedicated tank, I would recomend a closed loop on that large of a tank. If it is LPS or sofies you can get by with power heads.
A third option is if you have room over head add a surge, they are awesome for your tank.
Good luck

 

My tank is 30 inches tall. It looks awesome but is tough to get to the bottom. All in all I love it. I have it lit with one 400 watt halide and a PC for atinic. Great look. And if you can go with a closed lood with an SWD for flow direction. I have been looking and researching closed loop systems and really like how much cleaner the look. And with a closed loop you will not have animals getting shreaded by powerheads. Just my opinion, Shaun

 

I like shallow tanks for some reason. I have had 20", 24" and 30" tall tanks and I like my 20" the best. You can get away with using 250W MH instead of 400W. I suppose if you go LEDs; it won't matter. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif As far as cleaning, shallow tanks are easier clean and maintain. Also, where do you plan on putting your tank? Is it going to be in a fish room or out in the open with a canopy? If I had a fish room, I would probably go with a closed loop system but if it is a tank in the open, I would use powerheads.

 

Yeah alot to consider there. From purely aesthetical standpoint, I would go 30" high. Those tanks appear as such huge viewing windows into your wonderful reef creation! I think 250's should be fine, especially with good reflectors, you may have to zone your tank laterally, keeping lower light individuals in the bottom 6" but there are plenty of SPS and LPS corals that will prefer the reduced intensity.

 

with the proper reflectors 3x 400watts could be used=1200watts, this will provide great results, with the added benefit that you don't have 4 bulbs to replace every 9-11mo, and you don't have the intial cost associated with putting in an extra reflector and ballast. Lumenmax reflectors, or Lumenarcs are the gold standard for quality high spread reflectors, with the Lumenmax typically being preferred, but the Lumenarcs providing a greater spread at close mounting distance.