Shallow v. Deep Cubes?

ReefEsq · Feb 22, 2019

Cube shape tanks pose some additional considerations in choosing equipment, rockwork, coral placement, etc.

I currently have a Waterbox 20 Cube, which is approximately 15 inches tall, with an Ai Prime hd. I'm debating upgrading to be larger volume, but this invites consideration of whether I should be after more surface area, or a higher display water volume. In more rectangular shapes tanks, you can get away with a taller dimension because there's more space horizontally to place rights, distribute corals, etc., but with a cube (smaller cube especially) you have less room to spread lights out for an even coverage, and depending on the height, you'd need a very powerful light to achieve a decent par level on the sand bed.

I just ask the question to get a sense of how other reefers find a balance between having a cube shape and honing in all of the factors that contribute to a thriving reef. So tell your story and/or methodology! I'm looking to keep mostly LPS, softies, etc., but I would want to give myself the option to move into some SPS later if I decide to.

dutch27 · Feb 22, 2019

Figure what you want to keep, then the size or shape of the tank follows. Or conversely, determine what you can fit in your available space and work from that limitation. IMO, height doesn't do much other than make lighting for corals tougher. I've seen tall dimension tanks, and while impressive in size, they didn't seem to have any benefit to the same tank 1' shorter.

amoore311 · Feb 22, 2019

I have a couple rules when I am planning tanks.

#1.... nothing over 36" Tall. Most fish don't really use the vertical space much, and anything over 36" you are getting SOAKED placing corals and cleaning the bottom of the tank.

#2 Anything bigger than a 4x4 cube you are having really trouble getting a stand inside your house unless you have some oversized door opening. I learned that when I bought a custom 4x4x2 cube tank, had the stand built and delivered and then found out I didn't have a doorway big enough. I had to remove a window lol.

#3 is an older rule, but generally a pendant light fixture will light a 2x2x2 area efficiently. This HAS changed recently with the ridiculous intensity of LED's allowing you to raise the light fixture much higher about the waterline.