Which tank to choose and good cheap equipment.

Reeftank203 · 11/24/2016, 05:10 PM

Hi, I'm new to these forms. I'm getting back in the hobby and need some advice. I used to have mainly freshwater aquariums and one small saltwater/mini reef. I'm setting up one freshwater and one saltwater tank. For the freshwater I'm doing a 180. For the saltwater I'm not sure yet. I can't go nearly as big as the 180 for saltwater but I can still get a mid sized tank. I was thinking either a 40 breeder, a 55 gallon or possibly a 60 gallon(a tall version of a 55 gallon.) Or a 54 gallon bow front corner tank that I already have(came after with the 180 I got on Cregslist). The reason I am not sure if I want to use the free tank or not for saltwater of the height, it's a taller tank and seems like it would cost a lot to light plus the dimensions arnt good for fish, but it looks really cool. The reason I was considering a 40 breeder is beacause it would probably be cheaper to light(I won't have to get a super long light plus it's shallow and I wont need a light thats as powerful). I was considering the 55 or 60 gallon is beacause it's longer and I would have more territory for he fish and get fish that need more space to swim back and forth. So for lighting, how much cheaper would lighting be for the 40 breeder than for a 55 or 60 gallon or the 54 gallon bow front corner tank(which is roughly 21 inches tall I'll measure later). I'd rather get a taller tank but I'm on a tight budget and if lighting the 40 breeder would be a lot cheaper, I might just go that route. And keep in mind I wanted to keep corals(I'm not too familiar with the types beacause I only had one small saltwater a few years ago) I mean I don't need a light powerful enough to keep the most demanding corals, just some basic ones that don't need super powerful lights. So could someone give me links to the cheapest possible lights for a 40 breeder reef, a 55/60 gallon reef and a 54 gallon bow front reef so I can determine if i should go for he shorter 40 breeder, use my current 54 gallon on get a 55/60 gallon? Also for he proton skimmer I was thinking of going with an off branf one as I saw get had decent reviews. Are off brand cheaper skimmers usable or are they complete trash? And for filtration I would be using like rock, a protein skimmer and ethier a canister or I could make a sump(I've never had a sump before so it would be my first, would it really be worth making a sump for a tank this size or would a canister suffice?) Also if I did do a sump, I would use he hob sump things beacause I don't want to drill my aquarium and destroy resale value and if I decide to change it up one day I want it to not have holes in it.

ReefLover1230 · 11/24/2016, 06:44 PM

I have a 40 breeder and love it. Definitely go with a sump. I didn't have one at first but added one and now I don't know how I went without it.

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Reeftank203 · 11/24/2016, 07:14 PM

How big of a sump would I need for a 40 breeder? And how much would lighting cost on a 40 breeder compared a taller and or longer tank?

Reeftank203 · 11/24/2016, 07:16 PM

And what benefits would a sump have over a canister filter for a tank this size?

Kendalljt · 11/25/2016, 08:49 AM

...

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ericarenee · 11/25/2016, 09:29 AM

I would get the largest sump you can fit under your stand..

benefits of a sump

1 All of your equipment is out of the way
return pump , heaters, Media reactors such as for carbon, gfo if needed in the future.
2. You can do a fuge to grow pods to help with diversity (not really required)

3. ATO . Auto top off system..

4. increased water volume for stability...
5. skimmer is out of site

if you go with a canister you will have to use a hang on back skimmer.. unsightly and can be a mess when it Over flows because every skimmer will over flow...

ReefLover1230 · 11/26/2016, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reeftank203

How big of a sump would I need for a 40 breeder? And how much would lighting cost on a 40 breeder compared a taller and or longer tank?

As big as you can fit under your stand. Mine happens to be a 20 gallon high with refugium.

As far as lighting that depends on what corals to plan on keeping. I have a mixed reef and would like to eventually get into acropora so I just got two kessil a160we's in tuna blue for about 550

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ca1ore · 11/26/2016, 04:16 PM

FWIW, actual tank has marginal resale value whether it's drilled or not drilled. Don't go HOB overflow, they mostly stink.

masterbeavis · 11/27/2016, 12:46 AM

I personally would go as big as I could on the saltwater tank, even going so far as to drill the 180 you have for overflows and return, and skil the freshwater tank for now. Most of us have had the "I need a bigger tank" realization. Do lots of research before spending any money.

11/24/2016, 05:10 PM	#1
Reeftank203 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 13	Which tank to choose and good cheap equipment. Hi, I'm new to these forms. I'm getting back in the hobby and need some advice. I used to have mainly freshwater aquariums and one small saltwater/mini reef. I'm setting up one freshwater and one saltwater tank. For the freshwater I'm doing a 180. For the saltwater I'm not sure yet. I can't go nearly as big as the 180 for saltwater but I can still get a mid sized tank. I was thinking either a 40 breeder, a 55 gallon or possibly a 60 gallon(a tall version of a 55 gallon.) Or a 54 gallon bow front corner tank that I already have(came after with the 180 I got on Cregslist). The reason I am not sure if I want to use the free tank or not for saltwater of the height, it's a taller tank and seems like it would cost a lot to light plus the dimensions arnt good for fish, but it looks really cool. The reason I was considering a 40 breeder is beacause it would probably be cheaper to light(I won't have to get a super long light plus it's shallow and I wont need a light thats as powerful). I was considering the 55 or 60 gallon is beacause it's longer and I would have more territory for he fish and get fish that need more space to swim back and forth. So for lighting, how much cheaper would lighting be for the 40 breeder than for a 55 or 60 gallon or the 54 gallon bow front corner tank(which is roughly 21 inches tall I'll measure later). I'd rather get a taller tank but I'm on a tight budget and if lighting the 40 breeder would be a lot cheaper, I might just go that route. And keep in mind I wanted to keep corals(I'm not too familiar with the types beacause I only had one small saltwater a few years ago) I mean I don't need a light powerful enough to keep the most demanding corals, just some basic ones that don't need super powerful lights. So could someone give me links to the cheapest possible lights for a 40 breeder reef, a 55/60 gallon reef and a 54 gallon bow front reef so I can determine if i should go for he shorter 40 breeder, use my current 54 gallon on get a 55/60 gallon? Also for he proton skimmer I was thinking of going with an off branf one as I saw get had decent reviews. Are off brand cheaper skimmers usable or are they complete trash? And for filtration I would be using like rock, a protein skimmer and ethier a canister or I could make a sump(I've never had a sump before so it would be my first, would it really be worth making a sump for a tank this size or would a canister suffice?) Also if I did do a sump, I would use he hob sump things beacause I don't want to drill my aquarium and destroy resale value and if I decide to change it up one day I want it to not have holes in it.

11/25/2016, 09:29 AM	#6
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	I would get the largest sump you can fit under your stand.. benefits of a sump 1 All of your equipment is out of the way return pump , heaters, Media reactors such as for carbon, gfo if needed in the future. 2. You can do a fuge to grow pods to help with diversity (not really required) 3. ATO . Auto top off system.. 4. increased water volume for stability... 5. skimmer is out of site if you go with a canister you will have to use a hang on back skimmer.. unsightly and can be a mess when it Over flows because every skimmer will over flow... __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

11/26/2016, 04:16 PM	#8
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	FWIW, actual tank has marginal resale value whether it's drilled or not drilled. Don't go HOB overflow, they mostly stink. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

11/24/2016, 06:44 PM	#2
ReefLover1230 Reefing scene since 4/16 Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Maine Posts: 112	I have a 40 breeder and love it. Definitely go with a sump. I didn't have one at first but added one and now I don't know how I went without it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11/24/2016, 07:14 PM	#3
Reeftank203 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 13	How big of a sump would I need for a 40 breeder? And how much would lighting cost on a 40 breeder compared a taller and or longer tank?

11/24/2016, 07:16 PM	#4
Reeftank203 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 13	And what benefits would a sump have over a canister filter for a tank this size?

11/25/2016, 08:49 AM	#5
Kendalljt Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Nevada Posts: 13	... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

11/27/2016, 12:46 AM	#9
masterbeavis Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 11	I personally would go as big as I could on the saltwater tank, even going so far as to drill the 180 you have for overflows and return, and skil the freshwater tank for now. Most of us have had the "I need a bigger tank" realization. Do lots of research before spending any money.