New to salt water aquariums

BryanB83210 · Mar 20, 2019

Hey guys,
I'm new to Salt water aquariums and I'm trying to decide if I should start with something like the 32G BioCube or go all out for something like the Marineland 150XH. Open to any suggestions. I have also found someone selling a 90G tank with stand and sump for $300.

JasonK84 · Mar 20, 2019

Depends on what you are wanting to do. Personally I’d go as big as I could (space and budget taken into account) because it opens up more options for inhabitants.

If you go the 32 gallon you may very well end up upgrading later.

What inhabitants are you considering?

MombasaLionfish · Mar 20, 2019

I would choose the 90 gallon the bigger the better and a good price.
Also welcome to R2R.

Dimmy007 · Mar 20, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!! Also depends on your budget. The bigger you go the more expensive. I would go bigger if me.

dansreef · Mar 20, 2019

I would shoot for a larger tank. The larger the tank typically the easier to maintain stability. Of course, the larger you go... the more you will end up spending on coral, fish, inverts.... salt....etc.... A 90 gal is a great tank.

Welcome to R2R! Good Luck!

BryanB83210 · Mar 20, 2019

Right now I'm open to just about anything for inhabitants. Luckily I have a friend who takes care of tanks for a living so I know he will help me a great deal but I'm trying not to bug him to much. Also have a great local store that I visited yesterday. They suggested the BioCube because it would minimize the initial cost and allow me to slowly acquire live rock etc. I'm definitely leaning towards the 90 gallon tank, I don't think i can beat that price. But the 150 gallon tank with a very nice stand and canopy looked amazing. I may take the leap on that one and then just acquire the other things over time before setting up the tank

Ruben's Reef · Mar 20, 2019

!!! Welcome To R2R Bryan !!! I would go with the biggest you can fit and afford.

crusso1993 · Mar 20, 2019

Welcome to R2R, Bryan, and to the addiction, er, I mean hobby!

As indicated a number of times already, go as big as you can afford.

JasonK84 · Mar 20, 2019

BryanB83210 said:
Right now I'm open to just about anything for inhabitants. Luckily I have a friend who takes care of tanks for a living so I know he will help me a great deal but I'm trying not to bug him to much. Also have a great local store that I visited yesterday. They suggested the BioCube because it would minimize the initial cost and allow me to slowly acquire live rock etc. I'm definitely leaning towards the 90 gallon tank, I don't think i can beat that price. But the 150 gallon tank with a very nice stand and canopy looked amazing. I may take the leap on that one and then just acquire the other things over time before setting up the tank

Create a stocking list of things that you must have. Of course cross reference compatibility but check live Aquaria for their minimum tank size recommendation and that will give you an idea of how big you need to go. You wouldn’t want to get a 32 gallon biocube then find out that the fish you really wanted won’t work out.

Good luck in your tank search and be sure to start a build thread in the member tanks forum for everyone to follow.

BryanB83210 · Mar 20, 2019

Just found a guy selling a complete saltwater setup including protein skimmer and sump with a refugeum would just need a light, sand and live rock for $600 so I think I'm going to go that direction for now.......

BryanB83210 · Mar 20, 2019

Anyone have suggestions for a Refugium light?

Mastiffsrule · Mar 20, 2019

Welcome to the group, glad you introduced yourself

If it was me I would be 1/2 way to the guys house selling the set up unless it was a smaller tank. This way you get to learn what you like and don’t like before spending money on something you may not like.

Either way glad you are here, once you have s9mething start a build thread and keep us updated.

BryanB83210 · Mar 20, 2019

Just found someone selling a complete setup for $600 including skimmer and sump with refugeum, would only need to add a light, sand and live rock. So going to go in that direction to start

Mastiffsrule said:
Welcome to the group, glad you introduced yourself

If it was me I would be 1/2 way to the guys house selling the set up unless it was a smaller tank. This way you get to learn what you like and don’t like before spending money on something you may not like.

Either way glad you are here, once you have s9mething start a build thread and keep us updated.

it’s a 90 gallon and I should be picking it up Friday. That’s the earliest he is available

Raege · Mar 20, 2019

Welcome to R2R. I like my 75 got a great 300 dollar deal of Craig’s list but still wish I had larger. Still happy with what I can stock and all but once bitten with the salt bug dreams start growing.
90 is a nice size to get wet like the depth on em

sfin52 · Mar 20, 2019

welcome to reef2reef. You'll find you'll need a bigger tank . umm or want a bigger tank

Mikedawg · Mar 20, 2019

BryanB83210 said:
Hey guys,
I'm new to Salt water aquariums and I'm trying to decide if I should start with something like the 32G BioCube or go all out for something like the Marineland 150XH. Open to any suggestions. I have also found someone selling a 90G tank with stand and sump for $300.

Bigger is better in most cases. Biocube will be easy to set up and give you valuable experience for transitioning to a larger system IMHO, but there really is no reason you can't start bigger. My only caution would be that some people get disappointed/frustrated when they experience common problems and quit the hobby, losing what might be significant money. Personally, I would like to make sure that I have the interest, knowledge and confidence before I spent a lot of money; if you start with the cube and then go bigger, the cube will be a good quarantine, single species tank, etc.

Good luck; smart to consider your options at this juncture.

BryanB83210 · Mar 20, 2019

Unfortunately that’s what’s in the budget. Got a quote from a fish store for around $4k to do a 150 reef tank

JasonK84 · Mar 20, 2019

BryanB83210 said:
Unfortunately that’s what’s in the budget. Got a quote from a fish store for around $4k to do a 150 reef tank

That doesn’t sound bad if all was included and new. (rock, sand, light, sump, skimmer, heater, media, stand, return pump, powerheads, etc.)

I have more than that in building my 125 fish only aquarium.

JDnKY · Mar 20, 2019

Welcome to r2r Brian, glad to have you here. This hobby is like a curvy road in the snow, the faster you go, the more likely you are to crash. Take it easy pay attention and keep both hands on the wheel and you’ll get where you want to be. This is a great place for assistance along your journey and there are plenty of great people here eager to help.