How Big To Start?
- Thread starter Pjimmy
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Calm Blue Ocean
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Definitely consider maintenance. The not so glamorous side of your tank. How many and what size buckets do you want to deal with when doing water changes? Will you be buying water? How much room do you have for water storage? If you have an emergency you might need to be able to mix up a significant amount of water in a big hurry. My laundry room has more space dedicated to fish tank maintenance than to laundry and my tank is only 50 gallons!
Ferrell
Valuable Member
I agree ^^^
I started with a 75 and love it, in fact so much I got a IM30L AIO at the first of the year and started another dedicated LPS tank. Used tank, lights, power heads and pump, rock sand and water less than $800. 75, homemade sump, skimmer, pumps, power heads, lights, apex...++$3000,
the maintenance is easier for sure, equipment was less expensive, fish selection is limited but I’m finding a lot a pleasure in smaller. Trouble is it fills up pretty quickly. Both are great ways to start, 75 is a lot more work (just spent 3 hrs doing the 6 months cleaning of the sump and equipment) but is in fact more stable than the 30. 40b would’ve been my 2nd choice
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Starting bigger makes it easier on you overall. More stability. Easier to throw things off in a smaller tank. You can also fit more fish, have a wider variety of fish to choose from, can fit more coral, etc.
The cons with bigger tanks are they cost more, water changes are more annoying, and they take up more space.
125 to 150 is the perfect starter tank IMO, this way you wont have to upgrade for awhile when the addiction bites.
The cons with bigger tanks are they cost more, water changes are more annoying, and they take up more space.
125 to 150 is the perfect starter tank IMO, this way you wont have to upgrade for awhile when the addiction bites.
92Miata
Valuable Member
Bigger tanks are more stable, but they're also harder to correct when things go wrong. And frankly, I haven't found a 75 or so to be much less stable than a 400. Below 20 or so, tanks are unstable. Above that, not so much.
I can make enough RO, and turn it into salt water to do a 50% water change on my 40 in 3 hours.
If I have an algae outbreak, I can pull all the rock out and scrub it.
If I have a problem with an aggressive fish, same deal.
I've maintained a 40, 58, 72, 135, 400 and 12000 gallon marine tanks. I only have the 40 now. I don't regret that.
I can make enough RO, and turn it into salt water to do a 50% water change on my 40 in 3 hours.
If I have an algae outbreak, I can pull all the rock out and scrub it.
If I have a problem with an aggressive fish, same deal.
I've maintained a 40, 58, 72, 135, 400 and 12000 gallon marine tanks. I only have the 40 now. I don't regret that.
RtomKinMad
Well-Known Member
I wish I had gotten a 125 to start and just stayed there! Which was my husbands idea and I said it was way too big! But now we have 2-300gal and a 75! Because of the fish I wanted. But it’s a lot of work, not to mention expensive. So I like your idea best!
RtomKinMad
Well-Known Member
The 75 is gorgeous!I agree ^^^
I started with a 75 and love it, in fact so much I got a IM30L AIO at the first of the year and started another dedicated LPS tank. Used tank, lights, power heads and pump, rock sand and water less than $800. 75, homemade sump, skimmer, pumps, power heads, lights, apex...++$3000,
the maintenance is easier for sure, equipment was less expensive, fish selection is limited but I’m finding a lot a pleasure in smaller. Trouble is it fills up pretty quickly. Both are great ways to start, 75 is a lot more work (just spent 3 hrs doing the 6 months cleaning of the sump and equipment) but is in fact more stable than the 30. 40b would’ve been my 2nd choice
