55 gal or 65 gal?....

giaco8378 · 11/24/2006, 06:14 PM

ok heres another question... im buying the new tank tomorrow... i can buy a 65gal for 350.00 tank,stand, and el cheapo light, or i can buy a 55gal for 199.99.(same deal as far as what comes with it) now the 65gal is not nearly as long as the 55gal but is much deeper and taller. which would be better in the long run for a reef tank?

thanks yall
Justin

Lpsfanatic338 · 11/24/2006, 06:20 PM

As an owner of a 55g, i would definently not buy one again. They are way to skinny to do any really nice aquascaping. Pretty much all you can do is a rock wall. The added depth of the 65 will give you much more aquascaping choices

DrHank · 11/24/2006, 06:30 PM

If you're thinking about reef don't go el cheapo lights, you'll only have to replace them. Also, the additional depth will mean a reduction in the amount of light that can penetrate to the bottom. Most corals like quite a bit of light. I'd recommend T5's if you think that you may want anything other than soft corals (a lot of folks will tell you to go with MH). Have you considered looking for a used tank. You will get much more for your money and getting it from a fellow hobbiest, you're more likely to get it set up properly. If you just can't wait for a good deal to come up (or don't want to) I would probably recommend the 55 gal. If you are willing to wait and look I think that your best buy would be a reef ready 75 gal. I think that you could probably find one reasonably and then you'd have a system that you might be happy to keep for quite some time. What ever you decide, take your time ask questions on RC and good luck to you!

bankspower · 11/24/2006, 06:38 PM

I have a 55, like it, but not as well as a 65! 75 works good as well and is a 4 foot tank like the 55, only wider.

shawn

fishmanblue · 11/24/2006, 07:05 PM

have 55 gal to narrow go with the 75. The look of the rock wall will have less flow on the back wall unless you but a ph along the back wall

Z-Man07 · 11/24/2006, 07:22 PM

I own a 55g. Can wait to upgrade it. Mostly due to the restriction in aquascaping it. The dreaded rock wall. Try to get something deeper front to back. Take your time and learn lots. Then YOU will know what YOU want to get.

I bought mine in May. Seemed like a good deal at the time. Not only that it wasn't that good of a deal. But I just did not know enough yet. Now I am replacing everything. It is like I paid that much $$$ just for the tank alone. The lights are crap. The skimmer is crap.... Take your time and start to aquire one or two things at a time with your goal in mind. LEARNING.

Jay

CPT. MURPHY · 11/24/2006, 08:52 PM

Go with a 125 you'll want one soon enough anyway

CPT.

To Reef Central

aquamn1999 · 11/24/2006, 10:27 PM

I would go with the 65 . One for more water volume and the other is aquascape

drummereef · 11/24/2006, 10:47 PM

I would buy the biggest tank you can. More water is always better for stability. Hang out long enough in the large tank forums and you'll be buying a 500 soon enough.

redmonkey0019 · 11/24/2006, 11:16 PM

Def. go with the 65, 12" of depth in that 55 will not give you any choice to aquascaping.

yeldarbj · 11/25/2006, 06:41 AM

As an owner of a 65, I would suggest the added depth of the tank makes the difference. I was only "allowed" 3 ft of wall space for a tank so 65 was as good as I could get. I really like the 2 ft height of it as well. If possible, I would consider a 75, not quite as high but you get both the depth and 4 ft of length....and then if you are considering the 75, you might as well take a look at a 90 (adding a foot in length to the 65).

DgenR8 · 11/25/2006, 07:12 AM

Be realistic with yourself. Where do you want to put your tank, and how big of a space have you got there? That's pretty much the way to decide on a tank. If you have the space to put a larger tank, you will always want that larger tank. I started with a 9 gallon plastic hex tank, went through 10, 20, 29 (long and tall), 30, 55, 125. I'm up to a 220 now. Looks like the 220 will have to do, I can't fit anything bigger. I would have saved a TON of money by just going for the 220 in the first place. You can never sell a tank or equipment for what you paid for it, so each upgrade costs money.
Go as big as you can.

Nano Chris · 11/25/2006, 03:54 PM

Go with the biggest you can afford if its 65 go 65 if you can afford bigger go 90gal thats what i did and the space compared to 55 or 65 is significant.

11/24/2006, 06:14 PM	#1
giaco8378 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 8	55 gal or 65 gal?.... ok heres another question... im buying the new tank tomorrow... i can buy a 65gal for 350.00 tank,stand, and el cheapo light, or i can buy a 55gal for 199.99.(same deal as far as what comes with it) now the 65gal is not nearly as long as the 55gal but is much deeper and taller. which would be better in the long run for a reef tank? thanks yall Justin

11/24/2006, 06:30 PM	#3
DrHank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,138	If you're thinking about reef don't go el cheapo lights, you'll only have to replace them. Also, the additional depth will mean a reduction in the amount of light that can penetrate to the bottom. Most corals like quite a bit of light. I'd recommend T5's if you think that you may want anything other than soft corals (a lot of folks will tell you to go with MH). Have you considered looking for a used tank. You will get much more for your money and getting it from a fellow hobbiest, you're more likely to get it set up properly. If you just can't wait for a good deal to come up (or don't want to) I would probably recommend the 55 gal. If you are willing to wait and look I think that your best buy would be a reef ready 75 gal. I think that you could probably find one reasonably and then you'd have a system that you might be happy to keep for quite some time. What ever you decide, take your time ask questions on RC and good luck to you! __________________ Doc (Click the red house for the FPRS site) Current Tank Info: 210 gallon Mixed reef, 65 reef

11/24/2006, 07:22 PM	#6
Z-Man07 Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 256	I own a 55g. Can wait to upgrade it. Mostly due to the restriction in aquascaping it. The dreaded rock wall. Try to get something deeper front to back. Take your time and learn lots. Then YOU will know what YOU want to get. I bought mine in May. Seemed like a good deal at the time. Not only that it wasn't that good of a deal. But I just did not know enough yet. Now I am replacing everything. It is like I paid that much $$$ just for the tank alone. The lights are crap. The skimmer is crap.... Take your time and start to aquire one or two things at a time with your goal in mind. LEARNING. Jay __________________ --> Jay Z.<-- Current Tank Info: What can I say... I have a tank, but there is no water in it!

11/24/2006, 10:47 PM	#9
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I would buy the biggest tank you can. More water is always better for stability. Hang out long enough in the large tank forums and you'll be buying a 500 soon enough. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

11/25/2006, 07:12 AM	#12
DgenR8 I'm an American and I remember Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 43,992	Be realistic with yourself. Where do you want to put your tank, and how big of a space have you got there? That's pretty much the way to decide on a tank. If you have the space to put a larger tank, you will always want that larger tank. I started with a 9 gallon plastic hex tank, went through 10, 20, 29 (long and tall), 30, 55, 125. I'm up to a 220 now. Looks like the 220 will have to do, I can't fit anything bigger. I would have saved a TON of money by just going for the 220 in the first place. You can never sell a tank or equipment for what you paid for it, so each upgrade costs money. Go as big as you can. __________________ “I wish there was a way to know that you were IN the good old days, before leaving them.” ~Andy Bernard Regional Manager, Scranton branch Dunder Mifflin Current Tank Info: Unknown slow drip, over 20 years damaged my house and heating system. No more tank.

11/24/2006, 06:20 PM	#2
Lpsfanatic338 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oceanside, New York Posts: 364	As an owner of a 55g, i would definently not buy one again. They are way to skinny to do any really nice aquascaping. Pretty much all you can do is a rock wall. The added depth of the 65 will give you much more aquascaping choices

11/24/2006, 06:38 PM	#4
bankspower Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 89	I have a 55, like it, but not as well as a 65! 75 works good as well and is a 4 foot tank like the 55, only wider. shawn

11/24/2006, 07:05 PM	#5
fishmanblue Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SE Nebraska Posts: 48	have 55 gal to narrow go with the 75. The look of the rock wall will have less flow on the back wall unless you but a ph along the back wall

11/24/2006, 08:52 PM	#7
CPT. MURPHY Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,148	Go with a 125 you'll want one soon enough anyway CPT. *To Reef Central*

11/24/2006, 10:27 PM	#8
aquamn1999 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 155	I would go with the 65 . One for more water volume and the other is aquascape

11/24/2006, 11:16 PM	#10
redmonkey0019 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Auburn University, AL Posts: 149	Def. go with the 65, 12" of depth in that 55 will not give you any choice to aquascaping.

11/25/2006, 06:41 AM	#11
yeldarbj Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,295	As an owner of a 65, I would suggest the added depth of the tank makes the difference. I was only "allowed" 3 ft of wall space for a tank so 65 was as good as I could get. I really like the 2 ft height of it as well. If possible, I would consider a 75, not quite as high but you get both the depth and 4 ft of length....and then if you are considering the 75, you might as well take a look at a 90 (adding a foot in length to the 65).

11/25/2006, 03:54 PM	#13
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	Go with the biggest you can afford if its 65 go 65 if you can afford bigger go 90gal thats what i did and the space compared to 55 or 65 is significant. __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!