Go BIG or Go... small or maybe medium

[Aardvark1134]

Disagree completely...a skimmer that can handle another 50 gallons is almost the same price...a pump that can push 20% more flow us usually like 20 dollars more for the same line of pumps. An ATO or controller will be the same price for either, test kits the same...and larger tanks allow you to more easily implement ultra low maint. There are lots of things that just don't belong in a small tank no matter your skill...the tang she wants is one of those things.

 

[New&no clue]

So I work with engineers one told me my floor could hold 200gallons the other said not to go over 120 without additional support. The wall it is against is the supporting wall and it sits in between the two support poles, so I don’t know which to believe.

 

[ZaneTer]

Disagree completely...a skimmer that can handle another 50 gallons is almost the same price...a pump that can push 20% more flow us usually like 20 dollars more for the same line of pumps. An ATO or controller will be the same price for either, test kits the same...and larger tanks allow you to more easily implement ultra low maint. There are lots of things that just don't belong in a small tank no matter your skill...the tang she wants is one of those things.

Have you tried properly lighting a 180g vs 40g?

 

[JoshH]

Most likely a yellow tang, but purple are cool too. It’s also about the number of fish. I kinda feel like with four fish right now, maybe I could add one or two more. However, there are several I’d like, even maybe a small school of chromis or anthais.

I might suggest a standard 6' 125 Gallon. It would be plenty for all of your livestock needs and is a really nice footprint.

Looking at your picture I'd say you won't have a problem with a larger tank if you wish. I will add that the wall in the basement next to that beam is certainly not a supporting/structural wall given the stud spacing. If that was the wall you are referring to. Or are you talking about a wall on your main floor that sits ontop of that beam?

 

[Aardvark1134]

Yes if you use florescent you will find usually 4ft is the cheapest with 30 inch and 60 inch being slightly more. There is almost no difference unless you are using LEDs... just looked at BRS 61 inch 4x80 fixture is 150 dollars more than a 48 inch 4x54....

 

[ZaneTer]

4ft T5 is a pretty poor effort to light a 6ft tank.

The desire for a tang necessitates a 6ft tank for good long term health of the fish.

Add in a new larger tank and stand ~$1200
Add in a new sump ~ $200
Add in a new skimmer ~ $500
Add in a new return pump ~$400
Add in new Powerheads ~$300
Add in 1lb live rock per gallon ~$900
Add a new T5 (ATI 8x80w) ~$800
Add new T5 bulbs ~$200

This has to be all new because what the OP has is not transferable to a newer tank.

 

[New&no clue]

I will add that the wall in the basement next to that beam is certainly not a supporting/structural wall given the stud spacing. If that was the wall you are referring to. Or are you talking about a wall on your main floor that sits ontop of that beam

No that wall in the basement is just a floating wall that was put up when half of the basement was finished. The wall I’m referring to is on the first floor that my tank is against. The wall goes all the way up to the roof.

 

[JoshH]

I'm betting this wall sits directly on the beam shown in the picture. Either way, I think that your safe for a larger aquarium. Heck you could throw a few more studs inside that wall (Directly under each floor joist). And throw a 200+ Gallon there.

 

[New&no clue]

So here’s the dream. One day I will get a bigger tank, and I mean BIGGER, 200+ gallons. It will go in my basement in the finished section that is our tv room/family room/kids play room. This, however, will not be for many years. So the next thing is do I upgrade the 55 or just leave it be. I agree I can have a very pretty reef tank with a 55 and just a couple small fish. That’s why I’m kinda leaning to just set up a sump on my 55 and maybe oversize things. Than if in a year or two I want to upgrade to a 100/120 I already have a lot of the equipment and the only cost will be tank and stand.

 

[New&no clue]

This has to be all new because what the OP has is not transferable to a newer tank.

Is it possible to buy equipment for a 55 that could also be used for a 100/120? Specifically sump, skimmer, and pump. These seem to be the most expensive. If I could buy them now for my 55 and then in a year or so upgrade the tank, but use the same equipment that would be ideal.

 

[JoshH]

Is it possible to buy equipment for a 55 that could also be used for a 100/120? Specifically sump, skimmer, and pump. These seem to be the most expensive. If I could buy them now for my 55 and then in a year or so upgrade the tank, but use the same equipment that would be ideal.

Its absolutely possible to do so. Just plan for your 120 when you look at these particular pieces of equipment. I did the exact same thing when I had set up my 35 Gallon. To be fair I went a little extreme but I bought a sump and skimmer as big as I could. The pump and lighting wasn't something I really planned on keeping with the upgrade but that doesn't mean you can't do it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tank in picture has potential !!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Been following along.......

Most 55 gallon tanks are tempered glass, so drilling is out of the question. There are ways of checking it to see if it's tempered:


Depending on where you want to drill, you must verify if it's tempered or not before drilling.


Weight of the tank on a first floor will depend on the floor construction and if joists are under the area of the new tank and if a supporting wall is near by. My floor could handle my 125, 6' tank but I still sistered my floor joists and added a 4x4 length wise with two floor Jack's to support the weight and reduce any floor bounce. Even with a 75 gallon I would have placed the two floor Jack's underneath to minimize floor bounce.

Check out my build thread here for ideas for a larger tank on a first floor:

Build Thread - Flippers reef 125 gallon

The story of Flippers reef started long ago.......... In a time before a thing called "The Internet"existed. Land locked Missouri, mid western U.S.A. back in 1993. I had just got out of the army in 1992 and got busy starting a family. See, I had fresh water tanks off and on since I was very...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[ZaneTer]

Is it possible to buy equipment for a 55 that could also be used for a 100/120? Specifically sump, skimmer, and pump. These seem to be the most expensive. If I could buy them now for my 55 and then in a year or so upgrade the tank, but use the same equipment that would be ideal.

It is 100% possible. It depends entirely on your budget

 

[ZaneTer]

@New&no clue

Sorry the post for costs was just so you didn’t enter into getting a bigger tank underestimating the costs involved. Also depending on your height a 24” high tank may be out of the question as you might not be able to reach the bottom with your hand.

 

[New&no clue]

@ZaneTer absolutely. I was budgeting around $4500. This list is awesome because now I have something to judge price against. I like to say I’m 5’1, I currently have to get up on a stool to get to the bottom of my tank

 

[New&no clue]

Its absolutely possible to do so. Just plan for your 120 when you look at these particular pieces of equipment

So starting question what size sump would I need for a 120gallon?

 

[ZaneTer]

@ZaneTer absolutely. I was budgeting around $4500. This list is awesome because now I have something to judge price against. I like to say I’m 5’1, I currently have to get up on a stool to get to the bottom of my tank

That’s a great budget. I suggest that maybe you save about $1000 of that for later. Eventually everyone gets bitten by the SPS bug and it could be a good idea to spend that money on an alkalinity controller and some dosers.

 

[JoshH]

So starting question what size sump would I need for a 120gallon?

Ideal sumps can range from 20-40 Gallons and this really depends on your filtration goals and what type of equipment you would like to run.

 

[DMG Reef]

So, I could have written your post myself 5 yrs. ago. In 2014, I started with a used 75 gallon tank, no sump. I had a Marineland Penguin something or other HOB filter and lots of live rock. It was a hugely successful mixed reef tank and I still have many of the corals that I started with back then.

In 2017, I decided I wanted to keep SPS corals, specifically acropora. So I had a custom sump built and got a CPR overflow box with aqualifter pump. I did have 2 minor floods when the aqualifter failed. But I have hardwood floors which are always in need of a good mopping, so no harm was done. Still successful reef tank, but was getting gnarly. Too overstocked with corals. Never overstocked the fish, still have my original 6.

So in 2019, I decided to go as big as I could reasonably maintain since my husband has no interest in my hobby. I got a Red Sea Reefer XL 425 which is 112 gallons total system volume. I love it and couldn't be happier with my decision.

The moral to this story is, I think you should go for the Waterbox 130 if you can comfortably afford it. I wish I would have just gotten the Red Sea tank back in 2014. So much money on upgrades and equipment that I don't need now.

Just my experience...good luck!