Coming back - build my own?

[Nemo's Buddy]

Hi,

I am getting ready to set up a new tank after being away from the hobby for the last 10-12 years. I have been lurking around for a while and it seems things have changed quite a bit. I still have my "state of the art " wet/dry filter with bio balls and all my test kits, etc. So it seems bio balls and dolomite are out - it's like being Rip Van Winkle.

The reason for this, likely first of many, posts is to get some thoughts on the tank itself. I have a peninsula wall that is 16" thick with a built in cabinet. I am going to remove the cabinet and put the tank in there. The inside depth is 14.5" and I can go 24" high and have room for lights and access and can go up to 50" long and still have some room on one end for outlets, etc.

A standard tank width seems to be 13" but I would really like to get all the depth I can. It seems to me that I have two options: either go with a 55 or 60? tall or build one my self. My LFS has a 60 that has the built in overflow with a bottom discharge but it is 13" wide. Am I making too much out of 1.5"?

My last reef tank was a 55 and I always wanted more depth (front to back) because it just seemed a little too 2-dimensional.

Thanks,
Mike

[Chasman]

If you can figure a way to do 18 inches wide you could put a standard 90 in there.