Size may not matter; but have you ever seen a canoe go t osea before?

[ciaus]

I was in my local LFS today and watched a guy and his GF drop about 350 bucks on some basic stuff to set up a marine tank, I think it was about a 20 gallon unit.....sand etc...

I too am on the verge of starting my first Marine tank, but had been taking the approach to go 120/125/135 size range and use a 55 as the sump.  I know it will cost more to set up the larger tank, but I am expecting it to be a more stable setup too when I am done, than a smaller unit.

Is there an advantage for me to just say "dam the torpedoes; Full steam ahead" and setup a Marine on a tank smaller than I had initially planned?  I am certain I would probably learn more, as I would expect the smaller tank to be subject to more issues...

Advice appreciated.

Ciaus

[mikerobart]

Well there is nothing wrong with a nano, not to say that can't get expensive either. Are you looking to do fowlr or reef ? If reef what type of stuff do you want to keep ? You need to make these decisions before purchase. You can try to save with used equipment, classifieds are great if you're patient. The costs in sw are definitely more than fresh but I am having way more fun than I ever had with my fresh tanks in the past.

Larger tank = stability and you WILL want to go bigger eventually. No tangs or triggers in a 20g if you like the larger fish.

Make the decisions on fish, coral etc and then decide on size. It really does get expensive... I don't try to justify the cost anymore because I'm just too hooked. If someone told me a year or two ago that at this time I'd be happy to spend $400 on a thing that spins a propeller to move water I'd have said they were crazy.

Just an example for the sizes you mentioned... Plan on $600 - $1000 for live rock as a minimum.

[salvini55]

If someone told me a year or two ago that at this time I'd be happy to spend $400 on a thing that spins a propeller to move water I'd have said they were crazy.

Thats a knee slapper ^

[Hookup]

Mikerobart has it covered... Bigger is easier...  If someone had never owned fish before, then I'd say go with a 55g with sump setup... it's big enuf to not be a pain, and small enuf that if you find out you do not liek fish you're not losing a small fortune on used-sales.  If you already know you like keeping fish... go big... really big..

24" tall x 36" wide x 72" long big...  (36" wide is the key.. loads of room for aquascaping... I think it's what most people dream of having)

[mikerobart]

Thanks Kev  . Hookup I also love deep dim... I have a thing for cubes right now. My next tank... Hoping it happens in the nearIsh future ( need to land the first nice post- graduation job first) I'm thinking 36"x either 36" or 30" x 24 " tall SPS dom. 3 sides starfire rimless with a sfiligoi xr6 or dse pendant to to complete the look. Vortech for flow, balling on dosing pumps, 24/7 carbon and gfo, ozone, the whole kit and kaboodle. 

What you want to keep and how much you wanna spend... The big q's !!

Our vote will probably always be for big if cost isn't an issue. It will save you money long term because you WILL become addicted to growing corals and you WILL go bigger eventually if you start smaller. Plan very carefully and you'll have great success.

Main costs : rock, lighting

Skimmers seem to be getting cheaper by the week lots of good stuff that will get the job done for a reasonable price.

[93GTCANADA]

To me a bigger tank is more of a pain in the butt. Bigger water changes, more maintenance, bla bla bla. I will always stay small. I don't have the time for a bigger tank.

[Vincenzo.]

Pick up a solana or cardiff, i love my solana

[mikerobart]

Another really nice smaller system is the Cadlights artisan 50g. Sexy system.

[Hookup]

Not sure I agree that large systems are hard... simply having space to do 50gal water changes is the only "issue"....  for most of us this is done in the basement in 50gal containers... in fact, most people use pumps to quickly pump out 50gal of water from their systems then pump in 50g of new freshly made sw.... what could be easier?

Lugging 10x5gal pails up and down stairs to do water changes... that would suck... no questions... 

[Severum]

Furthermore, freshwater top off is automated with a reservoir and float sensors, and supplements can be done with a doser and controller.

The only real maintenance I do on my tank is changing filter socks and cleaning the skimmer cup.

Go big. We all eventually do. Even Vince.

[salvini55]

Vince may have gone bigger but rhumor has it that he still mixes salt with a wooden spoon 

[yellowtang]

IMO...
After going 33g...50g.....65g.....75g....and soon a 120g
and who knows what after.....I honestly can tell you that
starting small is not a bad idea!!! "learning process. "
just know that it does not take long before you will want to
upgrade to a bit larger tank.
just my 002.cents.
cheers

[Hookup]

IMO...
After going 33g...50g.....65g.....75g....and soon a 120g
and who knows what after.....I honestly can tell you that
starting small is not a bad idea!!! "learning process. "
just know that it does not take long before you will want to
upgrade to a bit larger tank.
just my 002.cents.
cheers

But, if budget is no issue, would you think it would have been wrong to start at 120g?  Was it worth while growing your system?

[yellowtang]

In a very honest opinion, I believe It has been a very
expensive learning experience.....and rewarding as well.
starting with a 33G was the turning point of what has become
an obsession.......from each upgrade has too been the cost
however,starting with a big tank like a 120g would have been
much to expensive 7 years ago.
cheers

[mikerobart]

But how many thousands would you save by going big right off. It doesn't hurt to learn on a small tank but in long run will be more $ when you decide to upgrade. Some things of course are transferrable... ro/di unit, live rock, sand, coral, fish... And with proper planning other components as well but hey... No beating aroud the bush here go big you won't regret it. 

[yellowtang]

Guess if you have deep pockets right from the start
It wouldn't be an issue...the point would be weather
starting small or big right from the start.
keep in mind.....that either being big or small you will
be dispensing a small fortune.
also remember that when first starting this hobby it can be
very disheartening as a new set up always have more downs
than ups....and that is when people suddenly quit the hobby
and get frustrated....Now think about all that $$$$ spent
on a large set up. 

[mikerobart]

You could get your feet wet on a small tank and eventually move as much as possible to the larger setup ( rock etc as mentioned ) . Personal decision at this point.

[yellowtang]

I am second to mikerobart
personal decision..............

[RoxyDog]

For sure all personal decision, but if you have the money/time/space/patience I'd probably start bigger.  That being said, I think "most" people should start at the 40-55gal range.  It's big enough to be stable but not unmanageable, small enough not to cost a fortune.  BUT if you're a tang lover then start bigger for sure.

[Hookup]

For sure all personal decision, but if you have the money/time/space/patience I'd probably start bigger.  That being said, I think "most" people should start at the 40-55gal range.  It's big enough to be stable but not unmanageable, small enough not to cost a fortune.  BUT if you're a tang lover then start bigger for sure.

Good advise... I do not see most people wanting to jump into a 6foot x 2foot project in their living room... it's soooooo much space... and the loss on that investment is crazy... 40-55g is the perfect balance of not too small to be "hard to keep stable" and not so big that you're making a life-commitment.

Either way though, it's typically expensive.