SW/Reef Novice - Which Size Aquarium Is Best?!

[Arokh]

Hello all. I'm new here but hope to become a regular.

My wife and I really want to get a reef (+ fish) tank and have been researching it for months but darned if we aren't stuck on which size of a tank to buy!

We have a baby on the way and that is part of the reason why we are doing this. Kids love fish tanks, and what could be more beautiful than a reef + fish tank? However, this won't leave us with a LOT of time to dedicate to the tank. We want a tank that is stable enough, but not so big as to be a hassle.

We have several options:

28 G Bowfront - Seems on the small side.

29 G - Sounds like a good starter tank, but small. Smaller tanks can be more difficult to keep stable water in so this idea is probably out.

30 G cube - Neat concept with lots of surface area, but VERY expensive.

37 G - Same as 29 G but taller. Could have light penetration issues with it being so tall.

38 G - Wider than 29 G and not as tall. This is probably a good choice but they aren't very deep (12" I think).

40 G Breeder - Lots of surface area but finding canopy/stand/etc could be difficult because it's not a very common size.

40 G Long - ?? I know they exist, have yet to see one in the 5 or so pet stores we've been to on this quest.

46 G Bowfront - We love this tank. It's got a little extra depth with the bow but it is more expensive.

55 G - Still not very deep (12" I think) and getting to the unmanageable size. Not only for maintenance, but where the heck in our house can we fit it?

75 G - See 55 G, but moreso.

We mostly agree that the 46 G Bowfront is our best bet, but we have a few questions -- Are they as strong as their straight-glass counterparts? Can a person even buy an undergravel filter for this shape? I know we probably have no use for an undergravel filter in a SW tank, but maybe for future use.

So in other words... help!!!!!

Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

You should get the largest tank that you have a spot for in your house that also fits your budget.

I started out with a 75G and when I moved to a larger house that had a spot for a larger tank I bought my current 300G tank.

Size doesn't really make that much difference when it comes to maintenance time. Doing a 50G water change isn't much harded than doing a 10G WC. Same goes for cleaning the glass, etc.

Welcome to the hobby and :welcome:

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Agree with Louey.

Plus I would go with a reef-ready tank (Drilled overflow) with a sump. This will give you the ability to hide most of your equipment.

If you are doing a reef tank the 75 would give you allot of great area to work with.
_________________
BMW Turbo

 

[Garry thomas]

The biggest you can fit or afford is normally the best option

 

[Anonymous]

What they said!

And welcome aboard!!

 

[Anonymous]

What the rest said. I would add to stay away from the tall narrow tanks. Like the 55 or the 110 tall. 75 is a real common tank. IMO a good starter tank for a reef.

 

[jandree22]

Ditto, ditto and ditto. Go for the 75 if you can find a place to fit it. It's what I have now and is a wonderful size as you can do pretty much anything you want with it... minus some larger fish selections such as larger tangs, butterflies, and angels.

To put it in perspective, I currently have a 75gal in my 2nd floor apartment, which is the biggest realistic size for that application. But I'm already plotting out a 220gal for when I buy a house of my own

 

[ChrisRD]

Hi and :welcome:

I agree with the others. Something else to consider - many marine fish are territorial and aggressive so if you go with a small tank your fish options will be much more restricted. Another benefit to something like a 75 gallon tank is that it can be very inexpensively lit with standard 4' fluorescent lamps.

BTW, don't forget to check out the beginner's guide and some of the beginner books on the recommended reading list in our library (link at the top of the page).

HTH

 

[SnowManSnow]

another big advantage of the biggest reasonable tank is that it doesn't get thrown out of whack as easily as a small one. Larger tanks are more stable and small mistakes that a beginner may make won't afffect the tank as much as if it were a smaller system.

B

 

[LA-Lawman]

ditto x(8)!

it is all about dillution... more water = more time to correct bad water parameters...

 

[Anonymous]

75 has the same footprint as a 90 and is much "easier" to light because it is shallow.

This also gives plenty of room in the stand for "stuff"

 

[owenz]

I'm using a 46 bowfront for my first reef tank right now. It really is an attractive tank, especially if you stain the stand. Of course, I'd love to have more space to work with.

I would agree with everyone that larger is better insofar as larger tanks are more stable and will give you more options in terms of livestock and corals. The problem for me was cost. In my mind, a bigger tank meant bigger lights, a bigger skimmer, a bigger refugium and more...stuff. I was wrong, of course.

Since cost was my concern, I'll talk about it a bit more...

Like most aquarists, I have discovered that the price difference between a 46G and a 75G is deceiving. Yes, the tank and stand will cost a bit more. And granted, you will spend an extra $50 on a slightly larger skimmer and the extra 12" of tank length will run you an additional $75 when the time comes to purchase high-end lights. The vast majority of costs, however, are similar. You'll purchase the same RO unit for a 46G or a 75G. The test kits will be the same. The heater will be, at most, $10 more. Even live rock won't cost you much more in a 75G, since you don't need to pack the tank with LR to start off. Aquarium salt, fish food, additives...all similar in price for either size.

In other words, the added costs from a 46G and a 75G are basically incremental. What isn't incremental is the added flexibility you get with a 75G. Every day I look at my freshwater 75G and consider how much fun it would have been if I had converted that to saltwater, instead of my 46G bowfront. While my 46 is shaping up to be an awfully nice tank...I honestly wish I had gone the other way. If you imagine the bottom of your fish tank like a painter's canvas, there really is no comparison between a 46 and a 75. The footprint - the "canvas" - is dramatically larger in a 75. Sure the bowfront has a nice look to it, but you win prizes for what's inside, not the shape of the glass.

Sticking with the issue of costs...I recommend setting up a 6 month plan for your tank with an accompanying budget. Map out the order you're going to do things. For instance, think about starting with reef-safe fish, then upgrade to inverts, then arrive at corals after 6 months. If you follow this plan, I recommend waiting before you spend big on the lights. Invest the extra start-up cash in top flight filtration equipment. Once you prove to yourself that you can keep inverts alive, start thinking about compact flourescents, T-5's, or MH's.

The very first things to buy are a RO/DI unit, some quality salt, some reef buffer, and a good array of water testing kits (make sure you get alkalinity, which isn't always included in the package kits). This stuff is essential regardless of what size tank you purchase.

Once you choose a tank size, invest the remainder of your cash in a skimmer, a sump/refugium, and high quality live rock. You bank account will take some lumps, but if you follow the fish to inverts to coral plan, your budget will be somewhat recharged by the time you need to make your next major purchase: lighting.

Have fun. It's addictive, but in a good way. And remember...nothing good ever happens quickly. Take your time and enjoy the process of building an ecosystem in your home.

 

[Rob Top]

If you can fit a 75, might consider a 90, or even a 125 tall. I have a 125 tall and it is a very cool tank. As far as lighting deeper tanks, just don't put light loving inverts on the bottom, problem solved. Bigger is better.