40g breeder or 66g for beginner

[BigEreef]

Hello everyone, just wondering witch tank would be best for a beginner saltwater keeper. I have a 40g breeder and a 66g tank (48.5x12.5x25) empty right now that used to be freshwater tanks. I just recently moved so I had to take the tanks down and to be honest I have always been interested in saltwater but was afraid because of “how difficult” some friends made it sound like. After plenty of research I feel confident enough to start my own saltwater tank fowlr for now and move up from there slowly as I learn more and more about it. So by just looking at the tanks I feel like the 40g breeder would be a lot better to aquascape and to work on it since i can easily reach the bottom. On the other hand even tho the 66g I feel is too narrow to achieve a good aquascape ( not a fan of just a wall of rocks ) and harder to do some stuff I do like the big window display. So my question is based on your experience witch tank would you prefer or recommend to a beginner like me. Also any advice on equipment will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Jon Fishman]

Longer is better...... go with the 66, use the 40 as a sump.

 

[Crested]

I would go with the 66g. You'll want to upgrade soon after you start so you may as well start big

 

[BigEreef]

Thanks to both for your advice. To be honest I really do like the 66g a whole lot more because of the fact that it has way more viewing area than the 40g. Might be just me afraid of the challenging process of aquascaping the 66g

 

[Crested]

I should add though, personally I love the dimensions of 40 breeders. They're shallow and easily made into a peninsula style tank. Both are good options and you can take each in totally different directions as far as stocking and scape go

 

[Jon Fishman]

I would go with the 66g. You'll want to upgrade soon after you start so you may as well start big

I started with a 54G (I think) bowfront with a canister filter and Hang-On-Back skimmer..... then moved to a 75g with a sump and proper skimmer, and now I put a deposit down on a custom 8' long acrylic tank...... I never owned so much as a goldfish prior to Jan 2019

 

[Hemmdog]

Welcome to reef2reef, where bigger is always better!

 

[BigEreef]

Plus I forgot to mention that i already have a trigger systems ruby36s sump that I got from a friend. So might use the 40g to upgrade my 20 tall qt

 

[BigEreef]

I should add though, personally I love the dimensions of 40 breeders. They're shallow and easily made into a peninsula style tank. Both are good options and you can take each in totally different directions as far as stocking and scape go

Thats my precisely my main issue . Love both tanks but when it comes to aquascaping the 40 breeder just calls my name hahaha

 

[BigEreef]

Welcome to reef2reef, where bigger is always better!

Hahahaha glad to see this aspect is similar to freshwater

 

[Hemmdog]

Plus I forgot to mention that i already have a trigger systems ruby36s sump that I got from a friend. So might use the 40g to upgrade my 20 tall qt

That’s a great sump!! I have 2 trigger sumps as well. Do the 66 on that, that will be an awesome system.

 

[BigEreef]

That’s a great sump!! I have 2 trigger sumps as well. Do the 66 on that, that will be an awesome system.

Awesome! Really glad to hear that. Looks like Im up to a good start so far .

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!! The only downside with the 66g is the width of the tank, only 12".5.. The 40g breeder what actually I have now is 18" wide but only 36" long. I put the rock in the center and the fish has the whole tank around the rockwork to swim.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R! I agree with above, go bigger, because you'll just want to do it later on ;Hilarious;Hilarious

 

[Pbh-reef]

I encourage you to consider the following:
-what each tank could look like in your home. Besides the beautiful large display of the 66 is there a way the 40 could look better in whatever room you want it in? It sounds like aquascaping the 40 will be easier and more appealing to you so that’s something to consider.

-what fish you’d get in the 66 that you couldn’t get in the 40. If you have a fish you really want to get that needs the extra length then that’s a factor

The costs shouldn’t be too different except perhaps lighting the 66.

I guess I just want to offer something other than bigger is better since the tank is also part of the room. I don’t think you can go wrong either way!

 

[Zohar78]

i agree with the above poster and add, its also kinda neat looking down sometimes in the tank and 40b will allow more poeple to easier do that.

 

[BigEreef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!! The only downside with the 66g is the width of the tank, only 12".5.. The 40g breeder what actually I have now is 18" wide but only 36" long. I put the rock in the center and the fish has the whole tank around the rockwork to swim.

That sounds awesome! But then again like you said being only 36” long compared to 48.5” of the 66g makes me think of a gradual slope scape instead of a more deep scape

 

[BigEreef]

Welcome to R2R! I agree with above, go bigger, because you'll just want to do it later on ;Hilarious;Hilarious

Aint that the truth i started with a couple of 5 gallons planted, then went up to 1-10g and 1-20g and finally the 40g and 66g that used to be also fw planted

 

[Crabs McJones]

Aint that the truth i started with a couple of 5 gallons planted, then went up to 1-10g and 1-20g and finally the 40g and 66g that used to be also fw planted

Same here ;Hilarious Started off with a little 2.5 gallon heated and filtered betta tank, then a 36 gallon bow front with dwarf gourami's then my current 40 breeder, and now I have a 75 in the garage ready to go! lol I have to stop there though

 

[BigEreef]

I encourage you to consider the following:
-what each tank could look like in your home. Besides the beautiful large display of the 66 is there a way the 40 could look better in whatever room you want it in? It sounds like aquascaping the 40 will be easier and more appealing to you so that’s something to consider.

-what fish you’d get in the 66 that you couldn’t get in the 40. If you have a fish you really want to get that needs the extra length then that’s a factor

The costs shouldn’t be too different except perhaps lighting the 66.

I guess I just want to offer something other than bigger is better since the tank is also part of the room. I don’t think you can go wrong either way!

Thank you very much. This put me to think about something i didn't realize. Tank will be dividing the dinning room from the living room. With that said the 66g will fit a lot better than the 40g.