What size tank for beginner?

[Resugio]

I have two options that I can do. I could start out small and eventually go big...or I could just start with the large one.

Tank #1
37 gallon
XP3 filter

Tank #2
180 gallon tank
55 gallon sump

This is what I have so far. Just trying to decide which would be better to start out with. I still would obviously need more equipment to get either one started.

[brians4671]

bigger is better

[silkchaos]

Go Large, but take your time and PLAN or it will be far more expensive then you need.

[46FiatYamaha]

bigger is better for several reasons, the tank is more stable, and you don't have to upgrade later. But, it's more initial cost. Overall, it's definitely cheaper to just get the bigger one since basically none of the equipment could carry over to the larger tank later

[Blown 346]

I agree, if you can go big now do it.

[macronut]

Purchase what you can afford. If you can afford the larger tank and have room for it with all the appropriate equipment, then by all means get the larger tank.

[jackets22]

I dont know if I agree so much with the big is better. I always see where everyone says big is better but I dont know about that.

True bigger is better when it comes to forgiveness with water quality-mistakes. But between cost, equipment and time associated with a 180 tank vs. a 37 gal is huge. You dont NEED a sump, RODI, large water tank for storage, way more expensive lights, more salt, chemicals, food etc...

For a beginner the most important thing is taking your time and doing it right. If you do this you can make a small tank as nice as a large one and it is alot less work and cost. If water quality forgiveness was the only factor I would agree but I beleieve the other factors are more important.

[JCR's Reef]

Jon- what you speak of is true, but being an beginner you will need to learn from your mistakes, and there will be alot. A small tank volume of water wont be a forgiving, and too late for a beginner to catch. In this case, go as big as you can, add the fancy equipment with your experience in the future.

[ejrabekoff]

Bigger tanks are especially beneficial for beginners. They provide a stable marine environment, and mistakes matter less in a bigger tank.

[highland135]

I agree with Jon that bigger is not necessarily better. I started out about 3 yrs ago with a 37gal. and made many mistakes but had a lot of success with a smaller tank. I think as with what Jon stated when you start factoring in the cost of pumps, high wattage lights if it is going to be a reef tank, plumbing and any skimmer is going to be a lot more expensive than starting out reasonably small. I also think that as long as you're not starting with like a 10-12 gal nano you still have room for error.

[nrike]

the bigger the better.

[drparker]

Bigger is better and I understand the cost issue. What about going in between, a 75g can be pretty forgiving but does not require near the cash or equipment that a 180 would.

[Phillstone]

Define Bigger!

A 180 gal is generally out of touch for newbies on cost of set-up and false sense of security for many factors.

A 37 can swing very fast on temperature ph amonia nitrites and nitrates and costs to upgrade are bad.

180 is huge you wlll spend lots of $ and when you get the 1st algae bloom ,which will take longer to happen because of (false security) larger volume it will take much more to correct and you will be more likely to give up and get out.

Given the choice i would start you w/ the 37. And keep in mind rule of thumb was to set up tanks and add live rock and sand and let sit for 6 months before adding anything besides clean up crew.

Good luck w/ your final choice and come back for advice when things look good or bad.

We're here for you

Phill

[NewFish3]

IMO.... I started witha BioCube, because I wanted a saltwater tank...so my wife bought it for me for Christmas, to get me started.

But it has only been 2 1/2 months now & I want to add so much to the tank, because there is so many cool things out there to add. But I dont have the room in the BioCube.... So I am now looking at a much larger tank.....125 or 200 gallon tank.

The BioCube is a great starter tank, but trust me....... you will want a bigger tank very soon when you see what you can have.

HOWEVER....In saying this.......do what you can afford & go slow......add things as time goes on. If you try to make the tank the way you want it to look right off the bat.......it will not be a LOVE in progress........it will be a big CRASH that you will have to scrap.

Good Luck & Happy Reefin

[pikachusalad]

37 would be too small for me, 180 would fall through my floor.

Get a 75 gal with a 29 gal sump.

[JCR's Reef]

Resugio- If you really have 20 exp. you should really not have a problem with a nano tank. You have far more than me. Granted bigger is better, but my first one was a 10g and I didnt have problems with it just because I did endless research. I think you would be fine if you set it up correctly and wait the proper amount of time for cylce, and biological activities to take place. With whatever tank you choose, Good Luck!

[otrlynn]

Just my two cents--there is a lot of territory between 37 gallons and 180. Is there a reason you have limited yourself to these two sizes? If they happen to be the two sizes you have found used at a good price, keep looking. I have a 58 gallon tank that I am very satisfied with. I don't have the space for anything bigger and can't imagine having the cash to be buying the equipment for a bigger tank. Maybe you want to go somewhere in between 37 and 180. Consider what you will want to stock. If you are already thinking about tangs, you will need 75 as an absolute minimum and many people say that is not large enough. I love tangs, but accept that i won't be keeping them...

[foxesreef]

There are pros and cons to both. I wish I had a much bigger tank. However, many lose their desire a few months in. We see that all the time in the ad bulletins. Make sure this is a hobby you want to keep for many years to come. Think ahead and plan to spend your money wisely.

[PrisonCityReef]

The bigger the better.

Imagine dropping 1 drop of food coloring into a bathtub vs 1 drop of food coloring in a glass of water. Now pretend that food coloring is a bad chemical. The bathtub would barely notice it. The glass of water would be completely overrun.

For beginners (like me) the more total water volume you have the more forgiving it is.

Also, a smaller tank can really limit your fish selection.

DO YOUR RESEARCH before you add water! I've been doing my homework since December. I have a 125g tank sitting in my basement and a 55g sump. I'm close to ready, but not quite...

[Gdubb]

I have a 55g but now want a 125-180 mainly for the fish I want, Tangs!

[otrlynn]

Resugio, sorry, I just re-read your original post to see that you already have both of these tanks--so I see why you are limiting yourself to these sizes. If you start with the 37 and love it, you will want to move up, and as someone above said, you will not be able to transfer much of the equipment to the big tank, though you could probably use the 37 for a sump. Or you could keep the 37 set up as a frag tank or some other type of specialty tank. Keep researching; this is an expensive hobby and there is no way around that bigger is more expensive. You will spend more initially, and more to keep it running.

[Resugio]

Thank you for all of the replies!

I keep going back and forth as far as what I want to do. (My wife wants me to do the 180. ) The reason I am limiting myself between the 37 and 180 is because I have both of these tanks setup as freshwater. These would be the easiest tanks to convert to saltwater. I do also have a 120 and another 180, but it would be harder to switch them over.

I have found freshwater tanks similar to what you guys are saying, that it's easier to maintain one of my 180 gallon tanks than it is a 20 gallon tank.

Like someone stated, I just need to make sure that this is something I am going to be sticking with for a number of years since it is so expensive. But, since I have been doing the freshwater side of things so long, I don't think that will be a problem.

Also, I keep some of the harder to maintain freshwater fish, so I think that helps as well.

The plan is to keep doing research and start the conversion in the next couple of months and start adding water and getting the cycle going in about 6 months. I figure by then I should be able to get everything mapped out fairly well.

I am learning a LOT at this site....Thank you.

Bret

[rigbya]

You don't need an RODI for a nano tank?

[marduc]

Have you used copper medication in either of those 2 tanks while they were freshwater?

[Chris2500DK]

I'd start with the 37. A 37 is a decent size tank, and the cost of getting a 180 running and the time it'll take to maintain it is going to be a lot.