Cost between a 3 or a 4 foot reef tank

[Richard Poole]

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.

Thanks for that, i have a concrete floor so that wont be an issue

 

[Richard Poole]

+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.

Wow you must have alot of gadgets, 9000. Money isnt really the issue the wife is, shes accommodating to a certain extent. I will start with a 4x2x2 and eventually see how things go, ive already measured for a 6ft in the future hahahaha. I was just curious on how some professionals thought on cost differences

 

[Richard Poole]

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.

Sorry to hear that, hahaha that was the reason for my comment. My wife allows me to have things, theres only so many times you can get away of saying i won it online hahahaha

 

[Richard Poole]

thanks

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.

for the reply and your right, i prefer the look of the 4 ft tank also

 

[Richard Poole]

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.

thanks for that, i was thinking the same. as ive never had a reef tank i wasnt sure on the cost per gallon

 

[Richard Poole]

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

As the movie quotes "Your going to need a bigger boat "hahahah

 

[Richard Poole]

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

As the movie quotes "Your going to need a bigger boat "hahahahNice

go with 48" or regret later.

go with 48" or regret later.

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

nICE

 

[Richard Poole]

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.

Thanks for the info, 4 ft it is and planning for a 6 the year after hahahaha

 

[Richard Poole]

120 is a great size...

It certainly is, i just need to get theyre

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Richard, first I would like to Welcome you to Reef2Reef. Here's a place that you will learn not only about fish and corals but also how to setup your dream tank. The recommendation is " go big or go home" but at the end is your choice and budget. I started with a 40g breeder and now planning on a 75g. This side of fishkeeping (salty side) require to go slow and have patience otherwise you're prompt to a crash. I would recommend you the biggest tank you can afford because at the end you may want to upgrade. Once again, welcome and happy reefing.

 

[Zohar78]

I might would just go ahead and save for the 6ft.. while in lots of ways, a 90gallon to 120 isn't much difference in equipment, 120 to a 180 can be a bit of a jump. I kidna hate rebuying larger equipment of what I already have.

 

[Richard Poole]

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.

Very true it also prevents illness due to the amount of water. I work away and will be away for 2 to 3 times each time, so i need alot of water volume. 4ft is really the only way i can go, that and a lot of gadgets to help with maintenance, thanks for the reply

 

[Richard Poole]

True but its alway good getting advice form the likes of yous lot, cheers

 

[Clownfish2]

The price difference is negligible going up in tank size. Secondly, you get more water volume which means stability and more storage space in the cabinet.

I bought a 4 foot 110 gallon tank 2 years ago. I wish I got the 6 footer! I didn’t get it because I didn’t want to buy more lights to mount overhead. Now I am dealing with a lack of cabinet storage space.....my 10 gallon ATO container and my deep cycle 12 volt battery have to sit outside of the sump cabinet.

 

[Richard Poole]

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.

Yeah, all my hobbies cost an arm and a leg hahahah, thanks

 

[Richard Poole]

Richard, first I would like to Welcome you to Reef2Reef. Here's a place that you will learn not only about fish and corals but also how to setup your dream tank. The recommendation is " go big or go home" but at the end is your choice and budget. I started with a 40g breeder and now planning on a 75g. This side of fishkeeping (salty side) require to go slow and have patience otherwise you're prompt to a crash. I would recommend you the biggest tank you can afford because at the end you may want to upgrade. Once again, welcome and happy reefing.

Thank you very much, im sure i will learn alot from this sight, ive already been looking into this for about 3 years now. Life just gets in the way.

 

[Richard Poole]

I might would just go ahead and save for the 6ft.. while in lots of ways, a 90gallon to 120 isn't much difference in equipment, 120 to a 180 can be a bit of a jump. I kidna hate rebuying larger equipment of what I already have.

Now you have me thinking, can i give you my wifes email and could you explain to her the benefits of having a reef tank hahaha

 

[Richard Poole]

The price difference is negligible going up in tank size. Secondly, you get more water volume which means stability and more storage space in the cabinet.

I bought a 4 foot 110 gallon tank 2 years ago. I wish I got the 6 footer! I didn’t get it because I didn’t want to buy more lights to mount overhead. Now I am dealing with a lack of cabinet storage space.....my 10 gallon ATO container and my deep cycle 12 volt battery have to sit outside of the sump cabinet.

I think going big is the only way as i work away as well and need the gadgets like ATO and apex so i can keep an eye on it all from afar. thanks for the reply

 

[DivingTheWorld]

A larger tank will be more expensive, but (aside from startup costs, lights, tank, etc.) the difference will be negligible between a 36" and a 48". A larger tank will be more stable. The larger you go, the more stable it gets. I wanted a 48" tank, but my wife allowed only space for a 36". I pushed the envelope to 40" x 24" and she didn't seem to notice the difference.

Between those two, I'd go 48". But more importantly, keep your wife happy!

 

[KrisReef]

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

I have never seen a comparison between tank volume and cost, but for everything you have to dose or change by volume the cost difference will be directly proportional to the difference between the two tank sizes. The best way to think about this is water changes, and how many buckets you have to mix & lift & siphon-out to do a 10% water change. The practical answer for all of these costs is to keep your aquarium inside the size of your budget (And all the Reefer's on R2R say; "Good luck!") Also note, I have never seen anyone with a tank with one single original frag grown into a single show piece colony. You will get to spend more money if you have more reefscape to hold specimens.

On single purchase equipment, (tank, skimmer, reactor, lights, ect) the original cost difference becomes increasingly more insignificant the longer you keep the tank set-up.

If you purchase the larger tank you can always stock in lightly. If you have to move you will be glad you bought the smaller tank.

Welcome to R2R.