Best Size Aquarium For an Entry Level Reefer?

[fish farmer]

There is lots of great advice here. Here is a question to ask yourself. Where are you going to be in 3 to 5 years? Smaller is better, IMO for beginners sake, unless this is your dream tank going in a house you own and plan on having it running for 10 + years.

I started my reefing hobby in 2000 with a 38 gal which I had, back then 75 gal was the preferred "starter" size. I was able to have a successful softy/lps in that size. I did have a sump, actually upgraded that within 2 years. I upgraded after 2 years to a 55 with an apartment move, bigger sump, extra halide. I finally bought a house and upgraded to a 65 which I bought off a reefer who was downgrading to a 40 gal. The 65 was more work for me, bigger water changes, etc. I made the decision to downgrade to a 29 gal which fits into a wall space. I have this plumbed to a sandbed and sump. I can do water changes that make a difference in a 5 gallon bucket. I still have to option of adding a larger sump in the basement for more water volume, bigger skimmer, all the extra fancy stuff, but that can lead to more maintenance.

I still grow softies/lps, but may try some easy sps soon.

I also maintain a 120 gal 6 foot tank at a local store which is fish only with rock. It has a foxface, regal tang, couple of damsels, hawkfish and a tomato clown and that seems crowed to me.

Another thing to consider which has been pointed out is biggest tank you can fit, not just the display itself, but the water change buckets, kalk/reactor stuff, rodi unit, ato, salt mixing containers, etc. I practically need a small shed for the support equipment.

 

[mjanko]

There is lots of great advice here. Here is a question to ask yourself. Where are you going to be in 3 to 5 years? Smaller is better, IMO for beginners sake, unless this is your dream tank going in a house you own and plan on having it running for 10 + years.

I started my reefing hobby in 2000 with a 38 gal which I had, back then 75 gal was the preferred "starter" size. I was able to have a successful softy/lps in that size. I did have a sump, actually upgraded that within 2 years. I upgraded after 2 years to a 55 with an apartment move, bigger sump, extra halide. I finally bought a house and upgraded to a 65 which I bought off a reefer who was downgrading to a 40 gal. The 65 was more work for me, bigger water changes, etc. I made the decision to downgrade to a 29 gal which fits into a wall space. I have this plumbed to a sandbed and sump. I can do water changes that make a difference in a 5 gallon bucket. I still have to option of adding a larger sump in the basement for more water volume, bigger skimmer, all the extra fancy stuff, but that can lead to more maintenance.

I still grow softies/lps, but may try some easy sps soon.

I also maintain a 120 gal 6 foot tank at a local store which is fish only with rock. It has a foxface, regal tang, couple of damsels, hawkfish and a tomato clown and that seems crowed to me.

Yeah definitely my biggest thing is I’ll most likely be moving in 4-5 years so I don’t want to have this magnificent tank and then have to start all over, but then again I want to be able to enjoy my tank in those 4-5 years and I feel like I need a little more than 3 or so fish in a 20 gallon to be content. So idk where I’m going to end up going, Nano seems like fun but I feel like I’ll want more fish and bigger fish instantly.

 

[hart24601]

There is lots of great advice here. Here is a question to ask yourself. Where are you going to be in 3 to 5 years? Smaller is better, IMO for beginners sake, unless this is your dream tank going in a house you own and plan on having it running for 10 + years.

I started my reefing hobby in 2000 with a 38 gal which I had, back then 75 gal was the preferred "starter" size. I was able to have a successful softy/lps in that size. I did have a sump, actually upgraded that within 2 years. I upgraded after 2 years to a 55 with an apartment move, bigger sump, extra halide. I finally bought a house and upgraded to a 65 which I bought off a reefer who was downgrading to a 40 gal. The 65 was more work for me, bigger water changes, etc. I made the decision to downgrade to a 29 gal which fits into a wall space. I have this plumbed to a sandbed and sump. I can do water changes that make a difference in a 5 gallon bucket. I still have to option of adding a larger sump in the basement for more water volume, bigger skimmer, all the extra fancy stuff, but that can lead to more maintenance.

I still grow softies/lps, but may try some easy sps soon.

I also maintain a 120 gal 6 foot tank at a local store which is fish only with rock. It has a foxface, regal tang, couple of damsels, hawkfish and a tomato clown and that seems crowed to me.

Another thing to consider which has been pointed out is biggest tank you can fit, not just the display itself, but the water change buckets, kalk/reactor stuff, rodi unit, ato, salt mixing containers, etc. I practically need a small shed for the support equipment.

You mean you upgraded from a 65 to a 29! Forget that bigger is better rubbish!

 

[sik_z33]

Depending on the size you want the best dimensions IMO are a 20L, 40B, 75, 120, or 180. With the 20L I would run a hob w/ LR. All other sizes up run a sump!

 

[Jesterrace]

You mean you upgraded from a 65 to a 29! Forget that bigger is better rubbish!

It's a tough call on that one. On the one hand, I do miss the semi-simplistic nature of my 36 gallon bowfront, on the other, I greatly increase my stock options for fish and deal with less aggression because the fish aren't as cramped. A lot of it depends on what you want to do with your tank and what you are interested in.