how big of a tank...

[sir_dudeguy]

Just a couple weeks ago i was in hawaii and while there i snorkeled like every day, which made me want a lot of fish that come nowhere close to fitting in my 40 breeder haha.

Anyways, I just ordered an upgraded light for my 40...4x39w t5 HO retro (icecap), intending to do stuff like clams or whatever.

But then i was thinking...maybe i want to get a bigger tank so i can get some of those bigger fish, but having corals is important to me as well. So what if i were to get a tank thats big enough for whatever fish i plan to get, but at the same time not too big for my lights...like maybe just small enough so that the lights i just ordered will be able to grow what i currently have....Right now i got lots of softies...fiji yellow leather, 2 toadstools, lots of kenya, gsp, hammer coral, zoos...etc.

So how big of a tank could i get and still use the 4x39w retro to grow basically what i've got now? Softies and a couple lps?? Or am i just over thinkin this one haha

[Peter Eichler]

What you should do is try to exchange the lights you ordered for the 48" retrofits, maybe get the Tek retrofit with 6 bulbs instead of the Icecap, just get the reflectors swapped out for Icecap if you can (Reefgeek does this for a few bucks per reflector). Then go get yourself an AGA 120 gal. tank. Though keep in mind that things like large Angels and Tangs would be better off in a 6' tank.

With the lights you have coming the biggest you could do is a 65 gal. and that's not going to do much for allowing you to keep larger/more fish.

[pledosophy]

The retro you got is 36"? So you could go up to a 75g tall. Not really enough to keep many of the large fish but those lights will work growing the corals you mentioned.

Some of the larger fish like Tangs, etc, need a 6' tank, you would need two fo your retro's to cover it.

[sir_dudeguy]

I was thinking more along the lines of like a custom tank. Like a 72" tank (maybe a bit longer) and doing the lights side by side, at least for now till i could afford to get a different light.

[Peter Eichler]

Originally posted by sir_dudeguy
I was thinking more along the lines of like a custom tank. Like a 72" tank (maybe a bit longer) and doing the lights side by side, at least for now till i could afford to get a different light.

If you can't afford to get another light I wouldn't suggest trying to afford setting up a 72" reef tank, especially a custom one

[sir_dudeguy]

lol ya i know what you mean. I saw one on craigslist for pretty cheap. And its not like this is gonna be any time soon either. Obviously i'll have to buy all the other equipment and stuff as well...at which point, who knows...maybe i'll have the money to just get a bigger light anyways haha.

[Peter Eichler]

Originally posted by sir_dudeguy
lol ya i know what you mean. I saw one on craigslist for pretty cheap. And its not like this is gonna be any time soon either. Obviously i'll have to buy all the other equipment and stuff as well...at which point, who knows...maybe i'll have the money to just get a bigger light anyways haha.

When you have enough money saved up get a 6' long tank and use the T5s as supplemental lighting for metal hallides.

[frederickk]

SAved your money and go bigger at once. like a 180g or 220g

[three-spot]

Technically, with intelegent placement of corals and use of an eggcrate rack, you could go with a 1000+ gallon.