Tank size

tanzer16 · 09/05/2012, 06:55 AM

If given the option for a noob, which size tank would be preferred between a 55g or a 40B? I already have a used 55 all cleaned out and ready to go, but with the petco sale, I was going to purchase a 20L for a sump and I see a lot of people going with a 40B for DT. Should I stick with original plan or get a new 40B ? Also, does anyone know if the petco 40B can be drilled?

bluewater921 · 09/05/2012, 07:15 AM

as a 1st timer and setting up a new tank the 55 will work but the foot print on a 55 is so small ... i would go a lil bigger like a 75 gives you a lil more room plus less probs in the long run .. get a 20 gallon from petco for a sump will work .. the 40gal Br is ok but your going to find out fast you really dont have any room to really do anything .. the best for starters is the 75 to 100 gallons of SW ..

Neptune_Fan · 09/05/2012, 07:25 AM

Being that you asked for a choice between the 55G and the 40B. i would say go with the 40B. reasons being that the 55G footprint is quite odd, you get the height and lenght but the depth is very narrow. My first tank was a 55G and now i have the 40B. Also you will find that lighting options for the 48" are going to be much more expensive than the 36". yes the petco 40B can be drilled.

mcgyvr · 09/05/2012, 08:04 AM

from those 2 choices.. I too would pick the 40b..much better usable size.. Then another 40b for a sump under it.

and yes the 40b can be drilled (just did it 2 nights ago). Its not tempered at all.
http://www.aqueonproducts.com/assets/011/19784.pdf

aandfsoccr04 · 09/05/2012, 09:06 AM

I'd either go with the 40 breeder or bump it up to the 75 gallon. 55 gallon is terrible footprint for a reef.

azjohnny · 09/05/2012, 09:14 AM

+1 with 40B

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sigmapiguy1061 · 09/05/2012, 09:15 AM

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1346858134.841722.jpg

I vote 40B

"No rain, no rainbow"

29144u · 09/05/2012, 09:16 AM

40b - the 55 is too damn narrow-you can do a nuch better aquascaping job . in hte 55 your pretty much stuck w/ the "reef wall up the back"

sigmapiguy1061 · 09/05/2012, 09:28 AM

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1346858840.006434.jpg

^ 40B w/ 20L sump

Totally possible

"No rain, no rainbow"

Wmich2008 · 09/05/2012, 09:31 AM

Ya I would go with the 75. As soon as you set up the 40 your going to want to go bigger.

reeferstace · 09/05/2012, 09:47 AM

Between the two- 40B all the way. I started with a 55 and the narrowness made it impossible to aquascape. I love the footprint of a 40B. There's so much more you can do with it, however, you are still limited with the number and kind of fish you can suitably house.

sigmapiguy1061 · 09/05/2012, 09:58 AM

No tangs puts a damper on the 40B

"No rain, no rainbow"

tanzer16 · 09/05/2012, 10:36 AM

Thank you to everyone for all of the input. i've had the 55 i got used in my garage for a few months now, while i do research and slowly purchase what i need to get it going. the more i read, and the more i look at it, it's width seems so limiting.....not to mention that i'm not certain that it can be drilled so i'd be committed to HOB overflow. Nothing wrong with that.....but i would prefer to drill a tank and have everything internal if given the choice. I just figured it would be a great time to buy a 40B with the petco sale if I go that route.

As far as Tangs, I wasn't planning on them anyway, as i thought even the 55 was too small for them

reeferstace · 09/05/2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanzer16

Thank you to everyone for all of the input. i've had the 55 i got used in my garage for a few months now, while i do research and slowly purchase what i need to get it going. the more i read, and the more i look at it, it's width seems so limiting.....not to mention that i'm not certain that it can be drilled so i'd be committed to HOB overflow. Nothing wrong with that.....but i would prefer to drill a tank and have everything internal if given the choice. I just figured it would be a great time to buy a 40B with the petco sale if I go that route.

As far as Tangs, I wasn't planning on them anyway, as i thought even the 55 was too small for them

You are right. The 55 would be too small for tangs.

Get the 40B for a display tank. With the right sized stand you could possibly use your 55 as a sump.

tanzer16 · 09/06/2012, 12:37 PM

thanks again for all of your input and opinions everyone. i just got back from petco, and got everything i need. after seeing the 40B in person, i loved the dimensions of it much more so than the 55.......so ended up buying the 40, a 20L for sump, and a 10 for QT. Amazing sale.....all for 70 bucks.....saved 102.

so now that i have switched directions and am committed to the 40B, i would definitely like to drill it for overflow and return. any suggestions on this would be appreciated. i was thinking the 700 overflow kit from a certain vendor which includes a piece of candy.......with a 1/2" return. Should i drill and plumb for one or two returns for this size tank??

if anyone has a better idea or alternative, i would very much welcome your opinion since this is my first setup

09/05/2012, 06:55 AM	#1
tanzer16 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: mountain top, pa Posts: 221	Tank size If given the option for a noob, which size tank would be preferred between a 55g or a 40B? I already have a used 55 all cleaned out and ready to go, but with the petco sale, I was going to purchase a 20L for a sump and I see a lot of people going with a 40B for DT. Should I stick with original plan or get a new 40B ? Also, does anyone know if the petco 40B can be drilled?

09/05/2012, 07:15 AM	#2
bluewater921 Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: melbourne fla Posts: 605	as a 1st timer and setting up a new tank the 55 will work but the foot print on a 55 is so small ... i would go a lil bigger like a 75 gives you a lil more room plus less probs in the long run .. get a 20 gallon from petco for a sump will work .. the 40gal Br is ok but your going to find out fast you really dont have any room to really do anything .. the best for starters is the 75 to 100 gallons of SW .. __________________ if i was a fish i would play on the reef & swim in the surf Current Tank Info: 180 in the wall reef

09/05/2012, 08:04 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	from those 2 choices.. I too would pick the 40b..much better usable size.. Then another 40b for a sump under it. and yes the 40b can be drilled (just did it 2 nights ago). Its not tempered at all. http://www.aqueonproducts.com/assets/011/19784.pdf __________________ Who me?

09/05/2012, 09:06 AM	#5
aandfsoccr04 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 3,561	I'd either go with the 40 breeder or bump it up to the 75 gallon. 55 gallon is terrible footprint for a reef. __________________ 120 gallon mixed reef

09/05/2012, 09:47 AM	#11
reeferstace I'm a little people Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Over Yonder Posts: 1,392	Between the two- 40B all the way. I started with a 55 and the narrowness made it impossible to aquascape. I love the footprint of a 40B. There's so much more you can do with it, however, you are still limited with the number and kind of fish you can suitably house. __________________ Stacy

09/05/2012, 07:25 AM	#3
Neptune_Fan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 224	Being that you asked for a choice between the 55G and the 40B. i would say go with the 40B. reasons being that the 55G footprint is quite odd, you get the height and lenght but the depth is very narrow. My first tank was a 55G and now i have the 40B. Also you will find that lighting options for the 48" are going to be much more expensive than the 36". yes the petco 40B can be drilled.

09/05/2012, 09:14 AM	#6
azjohnny Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Gold Canyon Posts: 2,914	+1 with 40B Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

09/05/2012, 09:15 AM	#7
sigmapiguy1061 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 158	ImageUploadedByTapatalk1346858134.841722.jpg I vote 40B "No rain, no rainbow"

09/05/2012, 09:16 AM	#8
29144u Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 83	40b - the 55 is too damn narrow-you can do a nuch better aquascaping job . in hte 55 your pretty much stuck w/ the "reef wall up the back"

09/05/2012, 09:28 AM	#9
sigmapiguy1061 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 158	ImageUploadedByTapatalk1346858840.006434.jpg ^ 40B w/ 20L sump Totally possible "No rain, no rainbow"

09/05/2012, 09:31 AM	#10
Wmich2008 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Battle creek Michigan Posts: 536	Ya I would go with the 75. As soon as you set up the 40 your going to want to go bigger.

09/05/2012, 09:58 AM	#12
sigmapiguy1061 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 158	No tangs puts a damper on the 40B "No rain, no rainbow"

09/05/2012, 10:36 AM	#13
tanzer16 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: mountain top, pa Posts: 221	Thank you to everyone for all of the input. i've had the 55 i got used in my garage for a few months now, while i do research and slowly purchase what i need to get it going. the more i read, and the more i look at it, it's width seems so limiting.....not to mention that i'm not certain that it can be drilled so i'd be committed to HOB overflow. Nothing wrong with that.....but i would prefer to drill a tank and have everything internal if given the choice. I just figured it would be a great time to buy a 40B with the petco sale if I go that route. As far as Tangs, I wasn't planning on them anyway, as i thought even the 55 was too small for them

09/06/2012, 12:37 PM	#15
tanzer16 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: mountain top, pa Posts: 221	thanks again for all of your input and opinions everyone. i just got back from petco, and got everything i need. after seeing the 40B in person, i loved the dimensions of it much more so than the 55.......so ended up buying the 40, a 20L for sump, and a 10 for QT. Amazing sale.....all for 70 bucks.....saved 102. so now that i have switched directions and am committed to the 40B, i would definitely like to drill it for overflow and return. any suggestions on this would be appreciated. i was thinking the 700 overflow kit from a certain vendor which includes a piece of candy.......with a 1/2" return. Should i drill and plumb for one or two returns for this size tank?? if anyone has a better idea or alternative, i would very much welcome your opinion since this is my first setup