Cost between a 3 or a 4 foot reef tank

[Geebs19]

Welcome to R2R! I would go with the bigger one if you can fit it!

 

[MSB123]

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

Not that many. I would consider what I have spent relatively average (I do spend a bit on nice fish) but I also do not do SPS.

 

[hart24601]

The largest cost issue will be lighting. I see you looking at orphek, which I totally support and love mine, for 3ft the regular one would be good, but 4ft I would go with 2 compacts. Not a huge $$ more, but it is some.

I personally prefer a 3ft tank and I am a strong supporter of bigger is NOT better in this hobby, but most seem to disagree. If you like 4ft more than go for it! I have a custom made 120, 180 and a deep blue 34. Guess which one is my reef tank! I really like having the 3ft 34g as my reef but as they say, you gotta do you!

 

[Richard Poole]

The largest cost issue will be lighting. I see you looking at orphek, which I totally support and love mine, for 3ft the regular one would be good, but 4ft I would go with 2 compacts. Not a huge $$ more, but it is some.

I personally prefer a 3ft tank and I am a strong supporter of bigger is NOT better in this hobby, but most seem to disagree. If you like 4ft more than go for it! I have a custom made 120, 180 and a deep blue 34. Guess which one is my reef tank! I really like having the 3ft 34g as my reef but as they say, you gotta do you!

I agree I know a larger tank will be safer but I want to do baby steps, check out Mikes killer nano reef tank on you tube, now that tank will shut up anyone saying bigger is better

 

[Richard Poole]

Welcome to R2R! I would go with the bigger one if you can fit it!

Thanks for the reply, I will consider it

 

[Richard Poole]

For everyone who has replied thank you, and for those who said bigger is always better check out Mikes killer nano reef on YouTube, best colours I’ve seen in a tank

 

[Richard Poole]

The largest cost issue will be lighting. I see you looking at orphek, which I totally support and love mine, for 3ft the regular one would be good, but 4ft I would go with 2 compacts. Not a huge $$ more, but it is some.

I personally prefer a 3ft tank and I am a strong supporter of bigger is NOT better in this hobby, but most seem to disagree. If you like 4ft more than go for it! I have a custom made 120, 180 and a deep blue 34. Guess which one is my reef tank! I really like having the 3ft 34g as my reef but as they say, you gotta do you!

The colours on the orphek are amazing, I loved the kessil shimmer but the colours pop on the orphek more I think

 

[VSVP bet]

go big or go home

 

[kp1991]

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.

Bigger footprint more distribution of load

 

[kp1991]

Id recommend the 75g much more room to play dont need custom lids can use a 30g sump and get 95 gallons of actual water vol. Cost to cost worth the slight extra for the 75g youll be much more satified

 

[Richard Poole]

T

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.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated

 

[Richard Poole]

Id recommend the 75g much more room to play dont need custom lids can use a 30g sump and get 95 gallons of actual water vol. Cost to cost worth the slight extra for the 75g youll be much more satified

Thank you

 

[kp1991]

Thank you

[emoji106]

 

[reefwiser]

The tank in the living room is just for show it is to be connected to a large sump system in the garage. As long it is not in HER LIVING ROOM it is ok.

 

[ihavecrabs]

The cost you'll notice is for purchasing adequate lighting for a 48" tank vs a 36" tank. Electricity and salt won't be a major change between the two, but placement in the home will contribute more (for example, basements require more heating and 1st levels in warmer climates sometimes require a chiller).

 

[Reef of Fillory]

Bigger is better for many reasons, not just aesthetics. A large tank can look just as amazing as a smaller tank, it just takes more time/money to fill a larger tank with corals and fish.

The downsides to larger tanks are: Higher initial equipment cost, slightly higher maintenance cost, a feeling of "needing to fill it" with corals [which makes it more expensive overall] and less flexibility with moving it.

 

[Rcpilot]

I bought a used 90g.... then my wife asked if it was big enough and even encouraged me to go bigger. Sold it and bought a 180g.

 

[Jesterrace]

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

If you are adding a sump, protein skimmer, etc. to both tanks then I would say the difference is negligible (unless you live in an area with outrageously high electricity and water costs). Realistically I would definitely go with the larger tank (which should be a standard 120 gallon, if I remember right). It will open up your stocking options considerably for fish (ie wide range of wrasses, One of the smallest tangs, dwarf angels, One Spot Foxface).

 

[reefer wanna be]

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!

U are so right i went for a 90 gallon months later i went broke an bought a new 125 an yes it a addiction for me

 

[Richard Poole]

The tank in the living room is just for show it is to be connected to a large sump system in the garage. As long it is not in HER LIVING ROOM it is ok.

Hahahahaha, now i just need to get 2 living room