Cost between a 3 or a 4 foot reef tank

[Richard Poole]

Hello everyone im in my research stage of reef keeping and i would like your opinion on the difference in cost if any on sizes of tanks. I cant decide weather to get a 36x24x24" or a 48x24x24" tank, now i know the initial cost of the tank will be slightly more expensive.

But what i would like to know is will the difference in gallons equate to alot more money over a year. If it wont be alot i will go for the 48x24x24" reef tank.

I plan to run orphek atlantic v4 or kessil ap700 on either one, say i had the same amount of equipment in both tanks would it be a big difference in cost i.e electricity, salt etc.

Thanks in advance

 

[reefwiser]

Always get bigger if you have the room the more water volume the more stable the tank will be. 36" is the odd size in tanks you do not see as many in that size. So lighting and stands are not as available in 36" as they are in 48". If you are worried about the money then this may not be the hobby for you.

 

[SPR1968]

I would go for the biggest you can afford and fit in, otherwise once you get addicted, your will want to upgrade.

And welcome to R2R as well!

 

[WVNed]

You question as posed has an obvious answer. The smaller tank will be cheaper.

Something I haven't seen discussed here. Floor joists are typically 16 inches apart. So a 30" tank rests on 1. A 36" rests on 2 and a 48" rests on 3.
When you divide that out my 75 gallon places less load on the flooring than smaller tanks I have had.

 

[MSB123]

Always get bigger if you have the room the more water volume the more stable the tank will be. 36" is the odd size in tanks you do not see as many in that size. So lighting and stands are not as available in 36" as they are in 48". If you are worried about the money then this may not be the hobby for you.

+1 As an example, my 5’x2’x2’ fish with some coral (Not expensive lights), I am well over 9000 for the setup, and it has been up for 1.5 years. It is not a cheap hobby, and if you are worried about money, this many not be the best thing for you.
To anwser your question, bigger is always better, easier to maintain, bigger fish, bigger range of equipment ad fish, etc...
I would go bigger the 4 greet if you can, otherwise go with the 4 foot tank.

 

[reefwiser]

My limit on tanks is my wife. I use to have a basement and had a lot of water now in a patio home with no basement the wife limits what I can have.

 

[acer]

Also a 4 foot tank will be able to have a much better sump setup under it, not to mention the 4 foot length will also accommodate larger fish that require more swimming area. The difference in cost between the two size tanks is minimal compared to the overall hobby expense period.

 

[reefes pieces]

with all other dimensions being the same, I don't think there is a huge difference in costs going from 36" to 48". Both dimensions will probably need similar amount of lighting, flow, and rock work.

 

[Oldreefer44]

Just like houses, boats, yards, planes as well as many other things; you're going to eventually want a bigger one.

 

[BZOFIQ]

go with 48" or regret later.

I had 72x24 going with 83x32 this time around.

 

[Captain Quint]

Hello everyone im in my research stage of reef keeping and i would like your opinion on the difference in cost if any on sizes of tanks. I cant decide weather to get a 36x24x24" or a 48x24x24" tank, now i know the initial cost of the tank will be slightly more expensive.

But what i would like to know is will the difference in gallons equate to alot more money over a year. If it wont be alot i will go for the 48x24x24" reef tank.

I plan to run orphek atlantic v4 or kessil ap700 on either one, say i had the same amount of equipment in both tanks would it be a big difference in cost i.e electricity, salt etc.

Thanks in advance

You're comparing a 90g versus 120g. I personally prefer the 120g (one of my favorite tanks) with a bit more swim room.

Cost wise you're not seeing much difference in either water changes, equipment, etcetera. And more volume is not a bad thing.

 

[TaylorPilot]

120 is a great size...

 

[Captain Quint]

My limit on tanks is my wife. I use to have a basement and had a lot of water now in a patio home with no basement the wife limits what I can have.

Better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I actually write this in jest.

Let your wife have a say in a particular fish she might want which actually could require the 120g.

The larger the water volume opens up a few doors for critters with only a 30g difference.

 

[Reef of Fillory]

Hello everyone im in my research stage of reef keeping and i would like your opinion on the difference in cost if any on sizes of tanks. I cant decide weather to get a 36x24x24" or a 48x24x24" tank, now i know the initial cost of the tank will be slightly more expensive.

But what i would like to know is will the difference in gallons equate to alot more money over a year. If it wont be alot i will go for the 48x24x24" reef tank.

I plan to run orphek atlantic v4 or kessil ap700 on either one, say i had the same amount of equipment in both tanks would it be a big difference in cost i.e electricity, salt etc.

Thanks in advance

Aside from equipment differences [might need more lights for the spread you're looking for], more rock and larger water changes [should you include that in your maintenance plan] the difference between 36 and 48" alone isn't going to be very substantial to maintain.

all things equal, a 48" tank is better than a 36" tank - it presents better options for aquascaping, fish choices etc.

 

[Captain Quint]

120 is a great size...

100% agreeance.

 

[Captain Quint]

Aside from equipment differences [might need more lights for the spread you're looking for], more rock and larger water changes [should you include that in your maintenance plan] the difference between 36 and 48" alone isn't going to be very substantial to maintain.

all things equal, a 48" tank is better than a 36" tank - it presents better options for aquascaping, fish choices etc.

+1 and with today's options on lighting, and truly the old pound per gallon of LR is not necessarily the case as we once thought, the 120g is a much better idea IMHO.

 

[Captain Quint]

No matter any of our opinions Richard Poole.

They are both fine tanks and ultimately it is up to you and the Misses.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Hello everyone im in my research stage of reef keeping and i would like your opinion on the difference in cost if any on sizes of tanks. I cant decide weather to get a 36x24x24" or a 48x24x24" tank, now i know the initial cost of the tank will be slightly more expensive.

But what i would like to know is will the difference in gallons equate to alot more money over a year. If it wont be alot i will go for the 48x24x24" reef tank.

I plan to run orphek atlantic v4 or kessil ap700 on either one, say i had the same amount of equipment in both tanks would it be a big difference in cost i.e electricity, salt etc.

Thanks in advance

To answer your question, there will not be a significant difference in maintenance costs if all equipment is the same. You may require more live rock and sand, outside of that the maintenance costs will be similar. This changes when you start adding more lights, power-heads, etc. I personally would have difficulty keeping the exactly the same amount of equipment in both tanks. Also I would recommend ignoring people that say 'this is not the hobby for you unless you are willing to pay an arm and a leg'. You can always start simple with used/Chinese equipment and build your way up.

 

[Richard Poole]

Always get bigger if you have the room the more water volume the more stable the tank will be. 36" is the odd size in tanks you do not see as many in that size. So lighting and stands are not as available in 36" as they are in 48". If you are worried about the money then this may not be the hobby for you.

Thanks for the reply, i definitely prefer the 4ft look and i know size is always better, my wife always reassures me though hahaha. The money isnt really a problem its like what everyone else is saying THE WIFE hahaha. I was just curious on how much difference for a long term perspective. Ive kept tropical fish and need to move up with the big boys, i know i will be bitten with the bug wants i start.

 

[Richard Poole]

I would go for the biggest you can afford and fit in, otherwise once you get addicted, your will want to upgrade.

And welcome to R2R as well!

Thank you very much, i cant wait to get started