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

[Wolf8895]

I have an Aqueon 60 (24x24x24) cube. Fits my space well and the 24 inch depth allows a little more options in aquascaping. .

 

[Christopher1492]

I have an Aqueon 60 (24x24x24) cube. Fits my space well and the 24 inch depth allows a little more options in aquascaping. .

That’s one I’ve been thinking of as a compromise to a 120. I know I’ll want the 120 but budget is a factor. Thanks for responding to my post.

 

[Baka Mop]

I say big enough for most tangs. 5-6 foot+. Tangs are awesome. You'll eventually get bored being restricted to clowns, dwarf angels, and gobies in a smaller setup. Bigger tank allows more variety of livestock. Maintenance isn't that bad.

 

[1ocean]

I have 300..Picture is a little dark tank is little over a year since Jan

 

[DannoOMG]

25 gallon IM. This was a transfer from 13 gallon tank since February. Going through a bit of an ugly stage this past week.

 

[Tonycass12]

4'x2'x2' 120gallon display. Used to have 2 corner overflows I eliminated one of them.

 

[MrGisonni]

30 gallon long innovative marine, bare bottom with a 7 gallon tank as a sump. 2 ai Prime 16's, skimmer, some bio blocks and two small wave makers and tiny power heads for added circulation.

 

[Christopher1492]

1. 20 gallons, 75 gallons, 120 gallons, and 5 gallons.
2. Waterbox, Marineland, custom, and Aqueon.
3. My Waterbox was my first reef tank and is still my favorite brand but I went to the fish store without doing much research when I was a beginner and I was recommended it so I bought it. My Marineland I got from someone else after my other new Aqueon/pufferfish tank leaked recently. The 120 is my school tank and was a custom tank from Glasscages that was previously owned and donated. And my little 5 gallon Aqueon is my little observation tank currently housing a white tail bristletooth and may be turned into a seahorse tank soon.
4. Go bigger always go bigger especially if this is your first tank it will be much easier and so worth it. I’d personally avoid Red Sea and Aqueon tanks with all the issues they’ve had lately and the poor quality. I love love love my 20-gallon Waterbox but I wish I went bigger for my first tank. And Marineland I’ve found to be good also I’ve heard great things about SeaPora, Innovative Marine, Cade Aquariums, and Planet Aquariums. But if custom is an option for you absolutely go with that. Spend the extra money upfront it will be worth it. Here’s a link to my Instagram where I share all my tank photos. https://instagram.com/an_afishionado?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== And here is Hewbie my porcupine pufferfish in his original tank before it leaked. He’s my favorite little buddy.

Thank you! Great info. I knows bigger it’s always better. I need to win the lottery!.

I have 300..Picture is a little dark tank is little over a year since Jan

I’d love an ultra large aquarium if budget and maintenance wasn’t a factor. I had a dry 500 in my old home but never had the chance to build the setup…I realized after I bought it that it would be completely unmanageable in terms of cost and maintenance. I had a dream but never thought about the rest… that tank was AWESOME!

 

[Christopher1492]

25 gallon IM. This was a transfer from 13 gallon tank since February. Going through a bit of an ugly stage this past week.

Thx for sharing!

 

[Christopher1492]

4'x2'x2' 120gallon display. Used to have 2 corner overflows I eliminated one of them.

Love the depth and fish! Nice collection of corals and fish.

 

[Tonycass12]

Thank you. You can't see all of them but currently have the regal tang, bristle tooth tang, magnificent foxface, sailfin tang, cardinal fish, clown goby, clown fish and a 6 line. No issues with aggression but my tangs will be outgrowing this tank over the next couple years and I plan to upgrade into a IM 200ext peninsula.

Love the depth and fish! Nice collection of corals and fish.

 

[Christopher1492]

30 gallon long innovative marine, bare bottom with a 7 gallon tank as a sump. 2 ai Prime 16's, skimmer, some bio blocks and two small wave makers and tiny power heads for added circulation.

Thanks for your contribution to my endeavor! Your aquarium is quite cool and proves you can have an amazing, vibrant reef without a “smaller” tank. The great variation of see life makes this so cool! You were quite innovative (actually no pun intended) in how you developed your setup.
How are you using the inout overflow and return shown in your post? Is this an AIO IM aquarium?

 

[workhz]

Seems, to me at least, you should get something that fits the space you want and the inhabitants you want to keep. That should narrow it down assuming you don't go full custom.

So, with that said, have you narrowed it down at all?

 

[Christopher1492]

@workhz That is a very good question and seems like such a basic thing I should have thought about by now! My answer is “no”. I know I’d like a mixed reef and “various” species of fish. I should know better to not have developed a stocking list to guide my selection. I know myself and I’d go so overboard I’d need a 500! My personality can be delayed-impulsive (is that a thing?) and I have grand ideas about projects once I get into them. All that being said, I suspect the size of the aquarium will ultimately drive the stocking list, and the selection of the tank will be based on $ and space. I do have a great wall in my unused dining room where I’d like to place the aquarium. All the existing furniture will go and it’ll become a room focused on the aquarium…not an unused room of unused furniture.

 

[Tonycass12]

@workhz That is a very good question and seems like such a basic thing I should have thought about by now! My answer is “no”. I know I’d like a mixed reef and “various” species of fish. I should know better to not have developed a stocking list to guide my selection. I know myself and I’d go so overboard I’d need a 500! My personality can be delayed-impulsive (is that a thing?) and I have grand ideas about projects once I get into them. All that being said, I suspect the size of the aquarium will ultimately drive the stocking list, and the selection of the tank will be based on $ and space. I do have a great wall in my unused dining room where I’d like to place the aquarium. All the existing furniture will go and it’ll become a room focused on the aquarium…not an unused room of unused furniture.

Next step would be making sure the floor joists run the right way to help carry weight for a larger tank.

 

[workhz]

If you have a dedicated room and space (and want to stock it), I'd say just do a 180 and call it a day. You aren't outgrowing that any time soon. 6x2x2. If you want a mini version, do a 125 which is 6'x1.5'x21" iirc.

I did a 90 because a 4' wide tank is the only thing that would fit in the space ... so for me the space dictated everything.

 

[Christopher1492]

Next step would be making sure the floor joists run the right way to help carry weight for a larger tank.

I am blessed with a concrete slab so I have no restrictions! Thx for bringing this up. It is a great point most must consider.

 

[-XENOMORPH-]

1.tank size (gallons and dimensions)
(LxWxH): (35.4" x 19.7" x 21.7")
• Height with Cabinet: 1450mm / 57.1"
• Display Volume: 224 L/59.3 gals
• Total Volume: 322 L/85.0 gals
• Glass Thickness: 12mm

2. brand
Waterbox

3. why did you chose the size and brand
Why? Ha! it Fit in the spot i had and I hadn't heard nor read anything bad about WB. And their customer service is fantastic!

4. whether you would select a different size aquarium if you were to start over again?
Hmmmm. That's tough. I originally was going to get an IM SR-80. The AIO and aluminum stand just grabbed me. But I love my WB. The sump hidden in the cabinet is nice. No chords dangling. Lol

5. A lot of you have really nice space to work with. I'm jealous. My camera on my phone sux. Apologies. Cheers!

 

[Christopher1492]

@-XENOMORPH- Thanks for your contribution!

 

[steveschuerger]

Innovative Marine SR60 AIO Shallow Reef
60 gallon 35” long/23” deep/16.5“ high

I’ve owned 2 IM tanks both AIO styles. Previous tank was a 30 gallon long. Same lights for both-ReefBreeders 32’’ Photon V2. 2 Nero 3 one Tunze 6040 Wavemaker pumps.

My next tank if I get one would be an Innovative Marine. I like the build quality and overall design.
‘I do have a 22 gallon Fiji Cube. Nice tank but for a large design it would be IM.