Upgrade to 29 gallon from 20 long?

[alvintran]

I heard that the Petco dollar per gallon sale is going on and wanted to take advantage of the sake to upgrade my tank. I have a 20 long right now and I'm thinking of upgrading to 29. The reason I choose 29 is because it has the same length as the 20l, so all the lights and accessories still fit and work. But is it worth the money and effort to make such a small upgrade? (My tank is newly setup so the sand bed and stuff haven't established yet, so I can move them easily, but I don't want to stress out the fish and inverts)

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[revhtree Verified Admin]

It's really a matter of do you want that extra height. I prefer a more shallow tank.

 

[Dowtish]

I would keep the 20L personally. Maybe look into finding a 36" fixture and get a 40B from the dollar a gallon sale. Perfect dimensions for a smaller tank IMO.

 

[alvintran]

I would keep the 20L personally. Maybe look into finding a 36" fixture and get a 40B from the dollar a gallon sale. Perfect dimensions for a smaller tank IMO.

I was thinking about keeping the 20 gallon mainly because I don't want to transfer the sand and rock to a new tank again. If I do purchase one, I'll probably just buy the 40, or even 55 and save it for down the road when I finally upgrade. But I would love more room and water for my fish though. Do you think a 29 is really a good upgrade for 20l?

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[alvintran]

Ahhh, I've been debating a lot whether to upgrade or not. Here are my pros and cons list, help me choose which to pick.
Pros of upgrading:
1) more water means more stability (but in that little amount of water, does it make a difference?
2) more height means more swimming room (my 20l is packed with live rock right now, so a little more room would be nice)
3) possibly more fish and inverts
4) Sam length and width so same, old supplies.

Cons:
1) cost
2) not big of an upgrade
3) causes stress to fish and system
4) have to move a system that's just newly set up
5) moving and transporting the sand (this is the biggest con and the one thing that's keeping me from doing it)
6) too many tanks.

Please help me choose, I don't know what I should do. Should I or shouldn't I?

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[solar]

I would keep the 20L personally. Maybe look into finding a 36" fixture and get a 40B from the dollar a gallon sale. Perfect dimensions for a smaller tank IMO.

This, its more of a sidegreade if that.
40 breeder are perfoect for smaller tanks.

 

[alvintran]

This, its more of a sidegreade if that.
40 breeder are perfoect for smaller tanks.

But if I go with the 40, I'll have to buy new stand, new light, and more rock, which I don't money for right now.

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[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

i would recommend to wait and do a 40g as well.... 20 to 29 is not much of a difference except few inches in height. save ur money and go for 40. just my 2 cents.

 

[mike007]

Go big my friend. You won't be satisfied untill you go big. lol

 

[Keepnitreel]

I thought about upgrading from a 55g to a 75g for years but always said to myself that the trouble and expense was not worth the hassle for just 6 more inches. I even thought about a 90g and still felt it wasn't worth the hassle. I finally settled on 125g that I still haven't setup yet but when I do, the 55g will act as the sump! No regrets

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[Keepnitreel]

With all my rambling I forgot to say what I initially wanted to say, lol.

If you upgrade, get something that you will be happy with for a few years, if not more.

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[alvintran]

With all my rambling I forgot to say what I initially wanted to say, lol.

If you upgrade, get something that you will be happy with for a few years, if not more.

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I currently have a 72 bow front goldfish tank so I fully understand what you mean. It IS so much easier to maintain and it helps cure my tank upgrade obsession. But in the saltwater situation, running a bigger tank is out of my budget, since it is so much more demanding, and the supplies are much more expensive than freshwater. So if I do go big, I think a 29 is my only option right now since all of my supplies will work with it, but I'll also have extra swimming space for my fish and gives me more flexibility on adding more fish later down the road. What keeps me from buying the tank is the process of trending ask of the supplies, especially sand and rock to the new tank. I wonder if it is worth the extra swimming space and extra height.

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[Keepnitreel]

Dude 30 minutes after I typed those two responses, I bought a Reef Ready 75 gallon with coast 2 coast bean animal overflow, 40 gallon sump, 1900 gph return pump & 36" high stand for $100! The deal was to good to pass on. I guess I'll have two tanks running

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[tbryan]

Go 40b build your own stand just adapt the shorter lights for now until you can find something else,you can probably resell your light for nearly the same price as a used light in the right length.Haha or at least that's what I would do ( plus drill it and make the 20l a sump)

 

[Keepnitreel]

O I forgot again, lol

All the plumbing was included

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[tbryan]

Dude 30 minutes after I typed those two responses, I bought a Reef Ready 75 gallon with coast 2 coast bean animal overflow, 40 gallon sump, 1900 gph return pump & 36" high stand for $100! The deal was to good to pass on. I guess I'll have two tanks running

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Good score!

 

[alvintran]

Dude 30 minutes after I typed those two responses, I bought a Reef Ready 75 gallon with coast 2 coast bean animal overflow, 40 gallon sump, 1900 gph return pump & 36" high stand for $100! The deal was to good to pass on. I guess I'll have two tanks running

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Wow, that IS a good deal! I'm jealous!

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[Keepnitreel]

Good score!

Wow, that IS a good deal! I'm jealous!

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Did I mention it's being deliver to my door for free too

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[Keepnitreel]

Go 40b build your own stand just adapt the shorter lights for now until you can find something else,you can probably resell your light for nearly the same price as a used light in the right length.Haha or at least that's what I would do ( plus drill it and make the 20l a sump)

+1
That is a very cost effective idea

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