Show Me Your Aquarium! Need Visual Guidance & Help Selecting Size

[Christopher1492]

I am new to the reef hobby but have been planning on a reef aquarium for many years. I started building a very large aquarium years ago but needed to move on (literally). I now realize that size tank would have been ridiculously impossible to keep up with… let alone afford!

I am ready to finally start my first reef aquarium but this time thinking about something much, much smaller, more affordable (tight funds) and manageable (busy lifestyle). I would consider anything from around 50 gallons up to ???.

I am having so much difficulty seeing aquariums I like but having no idea what size they are and how big they look in real life!

Considering these factors, I would sincerely appreciate hearing from you about your aquarium.
1. tank size (gallons and dimensions)
2. brand
3. why you chose the size and brand
4. whether you would select a different size aquarium if you were to start over again.
5. photos of the aquarium itself plus seeing it in the room to show scale.

I know this is a lot to ask but I am hoping this thread gains some momentum and I receive many suggestions and photos from folks. I hope this thread doesn’t become buried.

Thank YOU for your time!
Chris

 

[shakacuz]

1. 40 gallon breeder plumbed to a 20 gallon long sump. roughly 45G of water volume.
2. Aqueon.
3. convenience/size.
4. only if i had more space in my apartment.
5. see attached.

 

[FoolishWizard]

Looking for an all in one set up or traditional Tank / Sump design?

Check out my build... Currently cycling the tank (day 9).

25gal Lagoon (shallow) (24"x20"x12")
Innovative Marine
Great all in one tanks as well as traditional
Perfect tank for its location and my life
Build Tread has tons of photos (adding some more shortly)

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I have five tanks, but my main reef tank is a 75 gallon (48" x 18" x 21") Marineland aquarium from Petsmart.
I chose it because it is a medium size that allows me to have most livestock I want, but not incur the cost of maintaining a huge tank. (Well, that was my reason until I got three more tanks)
I still like the size and it is complete, meaning I won't ever add any more coral or fish to it. I have a youtube channel which shows this tank and all my other ones in my Reef Cave if you so choose to watch it. Happy Reefing!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I am new to the reef hobby but have been planning on a reef aquarium for many years. I started building a very large aquarium years ago but needed to move on (literally). I now realize that size tank would have been ridiculously impossible to keep up with… let alone afford!

I am ready to finally start my first reef aquarium but this time thinking about something much, much smaller, more affordable (tight funds) and manageable (busy lifestyle). I would consider anything from around 50 gallons up to ???.

I am having so much difficulty seeing aquariums I like but having no idea what size they are and how big they look in real life!

Considering these factors, I would sincerely appreciate hearing from you about your aquarium.
1. tank size (gallons and dimensions)
2. brand
3. why you chose the size and brand
4. whether you would select a different size aquarium if you were to start over again.
5. photos of the aquarium itself plus seeing it in the room to show scale.

I know this is a lot to ask but I am hoping this thread gains some momentum and I receive many suggestions and photos from folks. I hope this thread doesn’t become buried.

Thank YOU for your time!
Chris

Not a complete answer, but...
I had a 90 gallon tank (48"x18", 24"tall). I found it was too tall for me to work on easily and wished I had gotten a 75 gallons instead (same footprint but only 21" tall) *like the one in the post above this*

In the end, I had a tank custom built: 60"x30", 18" tall.

When trying to decide on the new custom tank dimensions, I marked it out (with masking tape on the carpet) to better visualize the size. (I already knew I wanted a shorter tank, so that part was easy for me)

Some even mock up the tank/stand with PVC pipe to get a feel for how difficult some things may be to reach, placement from the wall, etc.

Below is my old 90 gallon - you can see that I really wasn't using the top of the tank anyway.


Here is my new tank, still a work in progress

Hope this helps!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I will also say that I deliberately had the overflow on the new tank put in the corner... ~30" each direction to reach a center overflow would have involved some aerial gymnastics! Lol

 

[MichaelReefer]

1.139 gallon
2. Red Sea 525XL
3. Went from a 15, to a 50, to 139. Brand, probably would of gotten a cade if they had white back then.
4. Yes, bigger, 200+ gallons. However my wife wont let me *cry*

 

[1112-425XL]

1. 20g (24×12×16)
112g (48×22×21) DT-88g Sump-24g
2. Aqueon
RedSea Reefer 425XL
3/4. Thought I was getting in over my head when I made my decision. Realize now I could've and
should've went bigger.

 

[Christopher1492]

1. 40 gallon breeder plumbed to a 20 gallon long sump. roughly 45G of water volume.
2. Aqueon.
3. convenience/size.
4. only if i had more space in my apartment.
5. see attached.

Thanks!

 

[Christopher1492]

Looking for an all in one set up or traditional Tank / Sump design?

Check out my build... Currently cycling the tank (day 9).

25gal Lagoon (shallow) (24"x20"x12")
Innovative Marine
Great all in one tanks as well as traditional
Perfect tank for its location and my life
Build Tread has tons of photos (adding some more shortly)

Thank You for your feedback and photos. That’sa great question. I have been considering all in one for greater simplicity but contemplate whether I’d like more options by having a sump. I tend to over think and over complicate things so I know am AIO would be good to keep me reeled in great idea with the stand and ADJ controller.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

.

 

[Christopher1492]

I have five tanks, but my main reef tank is a 75 gallon (48" x 18" x 21") Marineland aquarium from Petsmart.
I chose it because it is a medium size that allows me to have most livestock I want, but not incur the cost of maintaining a huge tank. (Well, that was my reason until I got three more tanks)
I still like the size and it is complete, meaning I won't ever add any more coral or fish to it. I have a youtube channel which shows this tank and all my other ones in my Reef Cave if you so choose to watch it. Happy Reefing!

I love your aquarium and the sign too! Ironically I gave my 75 gallon aqueon to my daughter for a freshwater setup since I was thinking it would be too small for my reef but once I saw hers setup I knew I was mistaken!

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

1. 65 gallon DT, 36" x 20" x 22".
2. ProClear ProStar 90
3. Size seemed about right for me at the time, I chose ProStar because of the easy plumbing/sump setup.
4. I'd probably go one size up, and get the ProStar 150 Peninsula.
5. Attached,

 

[Christopher1492]

Not a complete answer, but...
I had a 90 gallon tank (48"x18", 24"tall). I found it was too tall for me to work on easily and wished I had gotten a 75 gallons instead (same footprint but only 21" tall) *like the one in the post above this*

In the end, I had a tank custom built: 60"x30", 18" tall.

When trying to decide on the new custom tank dimensions, I marked it out (with masking tape on the carpet) to better visualize the size. (I already knew I wanted a shorter tank, so that part was easy for me)

Some even mock up the tank/stand with PVC pipe to get a feel for how difficult some things may be to reach, placement from the wall, etc.

Below is my old 90 gallon - you can see that I really wasn't using the top of the tank anyway.


Here is my new tank, still a work in progress

Hope this helps!

Thank you for your time and thoughts. Interesting enough at one time I wanted a tall aquarium for the drama and swimming space for fish. I also wanted an aquarium as deep as possible because of the way water foreshortens the apparent depth so the deeper the better. My first tank was 36” tall and 36” deep and while that would have been awesome it would have been impossible (or at least a nightmare) to service. The ideas to envision the actual size in my space are appreciated and make great sense!

 

[Christopher1492]

1. 65 gallon DT, 36" x 20" x 22".
2. ProClear ProStar 90
3. Size seemed about right for me at the time, I chose ProStar because of the easy plumbing/sump setup.
4. I'd probably go one size up, and get the ProStar 150 Peninsula.
5. Attached,

Thank you for taking your time to reply. I have contemplated ProStar a few years ago but heard some negative things at the time but now have no idea what (my memory isn’t the greatest!). Of course what manufacturer does not have negative reviews?!! I will definitely revisit them.

 

[Dbichler]

I suggest this tank all the time but don’t have this setup myself. A 60 breeder dt and a 40 breeder sump. Perfect dimensions that allow a lot of choices without being too expensive. I currently have a 210 and eventually will go double this size.

 

[Kfactor]

60g breeder tank!

 

[Narideth]

This is the Evo 13.5 gallon, it's close to the size of a 10 gallon in dimensions, a little deeper and a little wider for a really great picture-window view, which you can see an actual 10 gallon freshwater planted tank next to it in the 'room picture'.

I chose this brand because I wanted something that was a high quality AIO that I could upgrade with better equipment over time. The size I chose because I really enjoy small aquariums, and I have several in the 10-15 gallon range and two that are even smaller.

I wouldn't choose any other size tank, I got what I wanted and I've been very happy with it, ups and downs included.

Full side view


Top down view


Comparison shot of a normal 10 gallon tank

 

[Christopher1492]

1.139 gallon
2. Red Sea 525XL
3. Went from a 15, to a 50, to 139. Brand, probably would of gotten a cade if they had white back then.
4. Yes, bigger, 200+ gallons. However my wife wont let me *cry*

Wow! Thanks for your help.

 

[Christopher1492]

1. 20g (24×12×16)
112g (48×22×21) DT-88g Sump-24g
2. Aqueon
RedSea Reefer 425XL
3/4. Thought I was getting in over my head when I made my decision. Realize now I could've and
should've went bigger.

Wow this is one of those photos worth a thousand words. To see the two aquariums side-by-side really helps!