What size to go for a tank upgrade...

[Jasongtr]

We currently have a 3ft tank (2ft back to front)

Like everyone else I'm thinking of an upgrade in size, where it would be going we can squeeze a 5ft tank in or obviously a 4ft, if going 5ft I could only clean the right hand side of the glass from the inside (well the rear 14" of it) the left hand side I have full access.

My thoughts are if I have the space for it I should go for the 5 ft even if it only just fits, the 4 ft is obviously a bigger tank than we have but would you say I'd gain much as its only a foot bigger than what we have?

Our current tank is a DD reef pro 900, the tanks I'm looking at are also DD reef pro 1200 and 1500, the 1500 is a bit taller so not only do you gain the extra 2 ft but it's about 4/5" taller so almost doubles the current capacity.

Interested to know people that have gone from 3 ft to 4 ft and not been that impressed.

Any thoughts other than bigger is always better etc etc

 

[Bruttall]

IMO Bigger is always better with aquariums. Get what ya have room for. In addition, Dilution is the Solution right! So I'm gonna add my 2 cents. I think you should go with as large a sump as possible for greater water volume. Personally I have a 300g DT (8ft) with a 125g (6ft) custom built sump.

 

[Jasongtr]

IMO Bigger is always better with aquariums. Get what ya have room for. In addition, Dilution is the Solution right! So I'm gonna add my 2 cents. I think you should go with as large a sump as possible for greater water volume. Personally I have a 300g DT (8ft) with a 125g (6ft) custom built sump.

Yes the 5ft is 132 us gallons, the 4ft is 96 us gallons, I understand the bigger is better from a stability point of view, I guess it was the visual impact I was asking plus certain fish I could get in a 5 ft over the 4ft, but I don't want any fish bigger than 7/8" anyway

 

[exnisstech]

I didn't go from 3ft to 4ft but I did go from 6ft to 7ft. IME adding 6 inches front to back depth made a bigger difference than adding 12" of length. I went from a 72x24x24" to an 84x30x25" and it is a huge difference. Just that extra 6" of depth adds so much more swim room because I was able to scape it so the fish can swim behind the rocks. In 24" depth I had everything piled against the back. I say go as big as you can fit but keep in mind you may have to get around the tank to run wires and such.

 

[Jasongtr]

I didn't go from 3ft to 4ft but I did go from 6ft to 7ft. IME adding 6 inches front to back depth made a bigger difference than adding 12" of length. I went from a 72x24x24" to an 84x30x25" and it is a huge difference. Just that extra 6" of depth adds so much more swim room because I was able to scape it so the fish can swim behind the rocks. In 24" depth I had everything piled against the back. I say go as big as you can fit but keep in mind you may have to get around the tank to run wires and such.

Thanks, I have swim room in my 3ft now behind the rocks,but it's a shallow reef tank at 18" tall so I think that helps with the rock slope angles, the 4ft tank is also 18" deep and I would just transfer my existing scape into that, the 5ft again I'd use my existing scape but could put something else in there, yes the 5ft is taller but my rocks are pretty high so that works too.

As for running cables my 3ft is right up against the wall now, I've even 3d printed a holder with a handle to fit the powerhead magnet too behind the tank. These DD tanks also have a dry section in the corner next to the weir to take a load of cables so that helps

 

[Create New]

In contrast to what the others have said I wouldn't say "bigger is better" at least not always. First off, think about the equipment. With a bigger aquarium, you’re looking at more equipment, lights, heaters, wavemakers ect. this will involve more power consumption, so make sure you have enough power points to handle all that new equipment, maintenance is also usually more involed, such as doing larger water changes and trying to remove algae in hard to reach places. Lastly when it comes to stability, bigger isn’t always better. The stability of a tank’s ecosystem follows more of a bell curve. Smaller tanks can be more sensitive to changes, but once you hit a certain size, the benefits level off. Too big, and you might find yourself dealing with unexpected problems such as if a disaster hits your large aquarium and it springs a leak could flood the room or not having enough bioload in a large aquarium could cause dinos and cyanos. Something that's normally easy to deal with in a smaller tank.

Wanted to edit this to say I'm not trying to scare you off of buying a bigger tank, just think about all the pros and cons.

 

[Jasongtr]

In contrast to what the others have said I wouldn't say "bigger is better" at least not always. First off, think about the equipment. With a bigger aquarium, you’re looking at more equipment, lights, heaters, wavemakers ect. this will involve more power consumption, so make sure you have enough power points to handle all that new equipment, maintenance is also usually more involed, such as doing larger water changes and trying to remove algae in hard to reach places. Lastly when it comes to stability, bigger isn’t always better. The stability of a tank’s ecosystem follows more of a bell curve. Smaller tanks can be more sensitive to changes, but once you hit a certain size, the benefits level off. Too big, and you might find yourself dealing with unexpected problems such as if a disaster hits your large aquarium and it springs a leak could flood the room or not having enough bioload in a large aquarium could cause dinos and cyanos. Something that's normally easy to deal with in a smaller tank.

Wanted to edit this to say I'm not trying to scare you off of buying a bigger tank, just think about all the pros and cons.

Valid points, I know I'll need at least one possibly 2x lights, our heater is hardly used but that's cheap to buy in the rare time it's used, if I go 4ft the skimmer I have will be fine as would the fleece roller and turf scrubber, sure I'll need another gyre and my water change amount will double on a 5ft.

 

[Dburr1014]

I went from 48"x18" to 60"x24".
6 sqft footprint to 10 sqft footprint.
Is nice to have the front to back deeper and that extra foot is nice also.

 

[rhitee93]

I vacillated between a 4' and 5' tank when I had mine built. I went 4' and kind of regret it. Another foot of frontage would be nice as I feel I am already running out of space.

The kicker at the time was that lighting tends to be sold in solutions that light up a 24" square space so I'd either have to get an extra fixture for a 5' tank, or leave the ends dark. However, I ended up putting 3 noo-psyche fixtures over the tank anyway, so I would have had enough light.

Sounds like you're looking at an 18" tank front to back. If you have room, I'd really suggest 24". It made a big difference in aquascaping for me.

 

[Jasongtr]

I vacillated between a 4' and 5' tank when I had mine built. I went 4' and kind of regret it. Another foot of frontage would be nice as I feel I am already running out of space.

The kicker at the time was that lighting tends to be sold in solutions that light up a 24" square space so I'd either have to get an extra fixture for a 5' tank, or leave the ends dark. However, I ended up putting 3 noo-psyche fixtures over the tank anyway, so I would have had enough light.

Sounds like you're looking at an 18" tank front to back. If you have room, I'd really suggest 24". It made a big difference in aquascaping for me.

No all the tanks including the one I have are 24" front to back

Thanks for the reply

 

[Dburr1014]

No all the tanks including the one I have are 24" front to back

Thanks for the reply

If you "fit" a 5 foot, what if you need to clean around it? Will it be a hassle?

 

[Jasongtr]

If you "fit" a 5 foot, what if you need to clean around it? Will it be a hassle?

The only part I couldn't get to that I can on my 3ft is about halfway to the back on one side panel

 

[Dburr1014]

The only part I couldn't get to that I can on my 3ft is about halfway to the back on one side panel

My 75g was up against my chimney on the left. It has the corner overflow on that side so I didn't mind.

 

[reefnfun]

I have a 5'x3'x24" its huge at 240 gallons. You can get way with the 48"lights. I have a 5 foot wall it sits in front of. I do not mess with right side glass because there is also a wall and you cannot see in there. There aren't many fish I cannot put in there with that size.

 

[vetteguy53081]

We currently have a 3ft tank (2ft back to front)

Like everyone else I'm thinking of an upgrade in size, where it would be going we can squeeze a 5ft tank in or obviously a 4ft, if going 5ft I could only clean the right hand side of the glass from the inside (well the rear 14" of it) the left hand side I have full access.

My thoughts are if I have the space for it I should go for the 5 ft even if it only just fits, the 4 ft is obviously a bigger tank than we have but would you say I'd gain much as its only a foot bigger than what we have?

Our current tank is a DD reef pro 900, the tanks I'm looking at are also DD reef pro 1200 and 1500, the 1500 is a bit taller so not only do you gain the extra 2 ft but it's about 4/5" taller so almost doubles the current capacity.

Interested to know people that have gone from 3 ft to 4 ft and not been that impressed.

Any thoughts other than bigger is always better etc etc

My best answer is what you can afford, what space you have available and an assurance it will handle the weight. My current tank is 5100 pounds and previous was 6800 pounds