What would you do?

Parker22 · 10/19/2012, 10:09 PM

Hey all,

I am wanting a reef aquarium. Trying to keep the price as low as possible for a GOOD system.

I am interested in the 39G CAD aquarium as well as the 50G CAD (cube) aquarium. The 39 does not have a sump, the 50 does. I hope to be able to do T5 lighting and NOT run a chiller. I want to grow corals (probably only lps as this will be my first tank, and I do not want to dump tons of money into lighting, and obviously I am a amateur).

Do you guys think the 50G would be way better than the 39G? I hope to be able to have at least 6 fish (eventually, as well as a shrimp a few crabs and a few snails).

What do you experts say?

kenc87 · 10/19/2012, 10:17 PM

Well as always I will tell you the bigger the tank the better. Secondly I will say that six fish in a 39 is way too many. I'd say depending on the type of fish six in a 50 is ok but depends as I said. You should be able to keep Lps easily under a 6 bulb or maybe even 4 bulb t5 light. As for cost this hobby isn't cheap so just prepare yourself for that right now.

hollister · 10/19/2012, 10:24 PM

Yea the bigger the tank the easier to take care off and more room for corals. I can say SPS like older moer mature tanks. They need well groomed tanks.

Parker22 · 10/19/2012, 11:39 PM

I guess I shouldn't say at least 6 fish. I would be plenty happy with 4. I do not see myself going over (or even having a desire to go over) 6 fish if it was capable.

What lighting would you guys recommend? As I mentioned, I do not want to have to do a chiller. Would T5's be sufficient? (Would 4 24" T5 bulbs on the 50g cube be enough to support most "basic" corals?)

As to this hobby not being cheap I realize that. I just want to try and keep costs down without sacrificing quality when it comes to a setup. I am willing to spend whatever it takes (or so I think I am).

10/19/2012, 10:09 PM	#1
Parker22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 53	What would you do? Hey all, I am wanting a reef aquarium. Trying to keep the price as low as possible for a GOOD system. I am interested in the 39G CAD aquarium as well as the 50G CAD (cube) aquarium. The 39 does not have a sump, the 50 does. I hope to be able to do T5 lighting and NOT run a chiller. I want to grow corals (probably only lps as this will be my first tank, and I do not want to dump tons of money into lighting, and obviously I am a amateur). Do you guys think the 50G would be way better than the 39G? I hope to be able to have at least 6 fish (eventually, as well as a shrimp a few crabs and a few snails). What do you experts say?

10/19/2012, 10:17 PM	#2
kenc87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Posts: 610	Well as always I will tell you the bigger the tank the better. Secondly I will say that six fish in a 39 is way too many. I'd say depending on the type of fish six in a 50 is ok but depends as I said. You should be able to keep Lps easily under a 6 bulb or maybe even 4 bulb t5 light. As for cost this hobby isn't cheap so just prepare yourself for that right now.

10/19/2012, 10:24 PM	#3
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Yea the bigger the tank the easier to take care off and more room for corals. I can say SPS like older moer mature tanks. They need well groomed tanks.

10/19/2012, 11:39 PM	#4
Parker22 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 53	I guess I shouldn't say at least 6 fish. I would be plenty happy with 4. I do not see myself going over (or even having a desire to go over) 6 fish if it was capable. What lighting would you guys recommend? As I mentioned, I do not want to have to do a chiller. Would T5's be sufficient? (Would 4 24" T5 bulbs on the 50g cube be enough to support most "basic" corals?) As to this hobby not being cheap I realize that. I just want to try and keep costs down without sacrificing quality when it comes to a setup. I am willing to spend whatever it takes (or so I think I am).