just another newbie :)

[GoBigorGohome]

Hi my husband and I are very very new to the hobby(sorry i dont know most of the abbrevations so i apologize for that), we are trying to decide on our tank size now. We are having issues deciding on a 55 or 75 gal. as we have already figured out this isnt a cheap hobby but we are really wanting to get into this so we just want to make sure we think things through before we jump in and decide we want somthing bigger ect.
so here is an idea of what we want so maybe you all could help us figure out what we do not need or wouldnt reccommed.
We want to start with all fish then add coral later
We want more of the minimal rock look ( up until i found this website we where told 1-2lb LR per gal. but there seems to be many that do not follow this rule)
we do not want a barebottom
we are pretty certain we do not want a sump but that could change.
I know its not a whole lot of info but hopefully it will help with what size is better or if for what we want the diffrence of a 55 and 75 will even matter?

 

[Troylee]

First off welcOme to r2r.... As for your tank I would go with the 75 since you can keep a wider array of fish and that being the direction your heading first... A sump isnt a must but makes it nice to have a skimmer and other equipment down there... You can use a hang on the back skimmer but there big and bulky.... Just a couple things to think about anyways..

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[revsgirl]

Hi there! Welcome to R2R and the hobby! I'm sure you'll find all there help you need here!

 

[GR808]

welcome to R2R..
I'd go with the 75 as well. Do you plan to DIY or just buy? Troylee is great at giving advice on DIY (he's like the master)... sorry TL for throwing u out there but you are great at that.
DIY will probably save some money and decide what you want to do first. Maybe just sump and skimmer if you plan to keep corals and slowly grow from there.

 

[AZDesertRat]

The 75 or a 90 would be a good choice. They are the same footprint but the 90 is a little taller, fits on the same stand and usually about the same price.
The 55 is limiting in that the front to back depth of 13" or whatever does not allow for much rockwork without stacking it against the back glass while the 75 and 90 with their 18" gives you much more room to play with and more room for fish to swim freely.

If you go sumpless you will end up with more hang on back style equipment like mechanical filters, protein skimmers, reactors, refugiums etc and it starts to look unsightly. You also need to leave the tank out further from the wall to make room for all the devices.

A sump is not a must but it will make your life easier, you display look better and probably more stable since you will have more total water volume. It does not have to come right away but its worth planning ahead and maybe getting a reef ready aquarium with the holes predrilled and internal overflow box installed. You don't have to use them right away, they can be plugged easy enough but its sure nice in the future rather than having to add a hang on back overflow box and looks cleaner.

I have had sumpless, internal overflow and hang on overflow as well as canister filters and much prefer the sump with an internal overflow for looks and for safety. They don't have to be expensive and can be easily constructed out of a normal 30 gallon glass aquarium and some acrylic or glass sheets in an afternoon. With things like Petcos $1 a gallon sale a sump can be pretty inexpensive.

 

[FishLipz]

Welcome. I'd go with the 75 as well. Much more can be accomodated in a 75 than a 55 and having upgraded twice already from a 46 bowfront with a canister filter, to a reef ready 120, and now a reef ready 180, changing tanks over is a pain. Look at what fish you REALLY want and decide on an appropriate size. Too many people get caught up buying baby tangs and say, "I'll upgrade soon" and never get around to it.

As far as using a sump, I like it for multiple reasons. First, it keeps the tank free of all the wires, pumps, etc. keeping a cleaner look. Second, more water volume keeps things steady, and that is critical for long term success. I use a simple heavy duty rubbermaid tote in my stand as a sump. No dividers, nothing complicated or expensive. Just a place to keep equipment out of the way and it works fine.

Also, don't buy cheap equipment. That doesn't mean you have to mortgage the house to buy the latest fad, but research and ask questions. Be willing to spend a few extra bucks and you'll be much happier in this hobby. Good luck, and we're all looking forward to helping out and seeing your progress.