Tank brands/ Custom tank. What is best?

Hey guys,
I'm looking into getting a larger tank, to upgrade from my 30 gallon, I've done about 3 months on this 30 gallon so far, but the stand I have it on is crap and it's due to be changed. I really can't put any money in a tank this small that definitely isn't the size I want to stick with. I can't wait to upgrade and turn it into a sump.

In any case, I've seen mention of glasscages.com, which I've checked out, but also seen mention of "AGA" and "lee marr".

Are those tank brands, or glass brands?

Can any suggest something I can look into. Most likeley I'll be doing a custom size, something like 72x18x16. Of course I'll need a new stand, so if anyone can direct me to somehwere that does stands as well, that'l be super.

Thanks.

 

Also. I just got a 36" T5 fixture this week, (desperate to try the coral) which I intend on holding on to for now.

If I jump to something like 72" long tank, can I just drop a couple MH lights on either side to make up the difference? Maybe a couple of those that come with the arms that can clamp on to something, and angle them from either end a little bit up and into the middle of the tank to make the light reach further and distribute a little more evenly? Pehaps hoist the middle 36" long T5's a couple inches higher than the level I hand the MH's at?

Maybe something like this? (hope this ascii art attempt works *crosses fingers*)

............|......|...................|......................................|...................|......|............
............|......|...................|___________________|...................|......|............
............|......|................./..........................................\................|......|............
............|......|................[_____T5_______________]...............|......|............
.........../......\.............../////////////LIGHT RAYS\\\\\\\\\\\\\\............../.......\............
..........|/......\.|............../////////////LIGHT RAYS\\\\\\\\\\\\\\.............|/.......\|...........
..........|..MH..|........../////////////////LIGHT RAYS\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\.........|.........|...........
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

 

I have a 180G from glasscages.com along with stand and hood. great to deal with, very happy once I move into a larger house def going to go back to them for a 600G custom tank.

 

Tank brands.

Unless you have a very specific spot for it to fit, or you want it totally different than "stock", try to stick with a standard size tank. The 120 I had was "custom" because the overflow box was in the short side of the tank instead of the long. It was a room divider tank. It was still 24x24x48 though. 8K to replace the tank/stand/canopy/lights (I priced it). Mainly because it was "custom".

72 x 18 x 17 is listed as a 100 Long on glasscages.com, Get it an inch taller and save some serious money.

 

I got my last 65 from glasscages. They will costomize overflows and drill holes where ever you want and the price is about right. This is an acrylic tank though so no idea on how they are with there glass setups.

 

Ive heard equally good and bad things from glass cages. But personally, the bad things Ive heard more than outweigh the good....here are some articles I googled when I was considering an order from them:

This is the thread that shoo'd me away from them:

tried to order a custom tank..all I got was grief! - Nano-Reef.com Forums

and here is another that I googled:

Nano-Reef.com Forums > www.glasscages.com

In their defense, I dont know if their costumer service has changed, or if they got their act together......but until I hear otherwise, Im staying clear of them. Just my 2 cents.

 

I talked to somebody at work just yesterday who bought several tanks from glasscages. He said that the center brace snapped on one of them. He was able to drain the tank before it exploded. He said he read of other people having the same problem.