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Smallest that I would go with would be a 75 gallon...the dimensions are better to work with when stacking rock since they are wider (front to back) than a 55 gallon. As far as how big to go....go as big as you think you can afford. Its addicting and once you get your tank filled with corals you will want to upgrade so you can add more. Personally and remember this is just my opinion...I would never ever set up a tank again that is less than 180 gallons.

Well, bigger is better, and you should probably start off with a 55 or bigger, but 55's are very narrow, like DRO said unless you get a custom one, where they become very short. You could get a 36"x18" 55g, but with a room like that, I would say anywhere between 75-180 would be good. If you don't want it to be too wide, go with a 75, if it can be as wide as possible, but you don't want it very long, get a 120(4x2), and if you a wide long tank, most people say 180g tanks are perfect because of their width, and length.

The best bang for the buck seems to be the 125gal tank. It's 6' long, and looks very impressive. The cost if you shop around and get lucky can be in the mid $200s



Dan

Ya, I sorta purposly forgot about that one. I always think if you have room for a 6 footer you might as well do it right. Thats just my opinion though.

BIGGER is BETTER!!!

I'm setting up my first reef tank right now, and it's a 72 gallon bowfront. I'm very happy with the size/dimensions...other than the fact that it's hard to get a roomy sump underneath there. I'd go for the 155 bowfront if you can, it has a RR overflow in each corner and is a gorgeous tank IMO.



[hr width='40%'][font color="#000080"]"I know that you are something special, To you I'd be always faithful
I want to be what you always needed, Then I hope you'll see the heart in me"[/font]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

After more years than I can remember keeping fresh water fish I've finally decided to set up a reef tank.

I know that "Bigger is Better" in most cases, however I would appreciate any input from those who have kept reef tanks as to what would be a the smallest size and also what would be the largest size to begin with

This tank will be set up as a focal point in a sitting room that is approximately 10' x 15'. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Ya, that would be a bit of a drive. But if the prices are worth it, then you have a place to go. It's a nice place, very big, and has hundereds of tanks in stock. They are stacked on racks 15 to 20 feet tall. You just tell them what you want, and walk around to look, and before you know it, it's up front waiting for you. They even help load it in your truck.


Dan


Dan

Thanks Dan, but as I'm in Idaho might be a bit of a drive to Chicago, but you never know I need a road trip!!

Jim

/:'

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Just incase you want to look for your self, here is the site. They do not ship, it's pick up only.

http://www.aquaticworld.net/aqprices.asp

Dan


Dan

I haven't seen any around here for sale so will probably need to order it

Where are you located. If you happen to be near where I live, I know of a place north of Chicago that sells tanks for whole sale, might be worth a drive.

I just checked, a drilled 180 tank is $550.99, undrilled with tank top and FLOR lights is $609.96

Dan


Dan

We'll await your successful SW keeping eagerly OldTimer ...

Oh, and if ever you need some suggestions for species that are somewhat unconventional, page me and I'll dig out my Burgess' Mini-Atlas for you

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Thanks to all for your input & guidance. And Cali one thing I've learned in my life is patience. I've learned the hard way, too many times that rushing to get done is not always the right way, so I'm taking this slow and easy and hopefully with any luck and sticking to the fundamentals and advice of those more experienced I won't have too many failures.

I'm fortunate enough that the money to get this going isn't an issue, but as I always like to do it myself I know it will take time, and I've also learned I'm never to old to take advice from others. It has amazed me in just the short time I've been monitoring this site the knowledge that you all have, especially with the younger members. Thanks again & wish me luck.

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Took me best part of a year to get the Panda Fun Palace™ up and running back in 1994. Again, budget woes. Took me 6 months' waiting to get the Panda breeding aquarium running too, same reason.

But the best things in life are worth waiting for

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I know what you mean Ferret. I had my tank/stand etc for 8 months before I did anything.

Sadly money does not grow on trees

Getting a SW setup running takes time.

Boy does it ever. I've had my tank for...emmm...*counts*...nearly three months now, and all it's housing is dust bunnies. Blech. It's getting there though...

A wise aquarist once said:

"In a reef tank, only bad things happen quickly."

I'd have to agree. Excellent points Cali...

[hr width='40%'][font color="#000080"]"I know that you are something special, To you I'd be always faithful
I want to be what you always needed, Then I hope you'll see the heart in me"[/font]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Definitely go for the largest you can afford to set up and maintain. However, if you're new to SW, I'd put an upper limit of 300 gallons capacity, because the logistics of water changes and other maintenance tasks start to become daunting. Unless of course you're already used to maintaining large FW aquaria and you are happy with the workload involved.

As an extreme example, I did an aquarist profile here a little while ago on David Saxby and his monster reef aquarium. His water change logistics are NOT for anyone other than the dedicated, I can tell you! Eve with his RO unit going full tilt, it takes him a full 7 days to make enough water for a 50% swap. Which in his case is a whopping 1,400 gallons UK - that's close on 1,700 gallons US. This is water changing on an industrial scale!

But then he does have an exceptional system. Something like 3,500 gallons plus of water volume. Which houses 300 fish and close on 1,000 Kgs of live rock. If those figures make your eyes pop out, then imagine the fun and games of maintaining a system that size.

Unless you're already familiar with the logistics of such maintenance chores in big aquaria, I'd make sure that you place a sensible upper limit on size for your first system as well as a sensible lower limit. Think bigger once you've got a couple of years under your belt and you're ready to move on.

I take it your current choice is a 180 gallon US system ... let's see, that's a little under 150 gallons UK. Hmm, nice system to start with. Big enough to dilute the nasties during the maturation phase, but not so big that water changes become an exercise in industrial waste management. Yes, if your wallet can take it, I'd run with that.

Next thing you need to decide is the kind of filtration model you want to use. Basic Berlin setup? Modified Berlin with extra skimming? Ecosystem setup using Caulerpa macroalgae in a sump? The choice needs some time and forethought in the planning stage. Personally, I'd go for an Ecosystem setup because I'm a believer in harnessing natural organisms to do the donkey work, especially if I can find organisms that regard the unwanted things in my aquarium as food, because something that eats your pollutants is always going to be the best at the job! Hence, Caulerpa lit 24/7 in the sump would be my choice because it would not only remove nitrates but some phosphates as well, and according to the aforementioned David Saxby, who's grown more coral frags than most of us have had hot dinners, phosphates are a bigger enemy to live corals than nitrates. So while you won't be leaping into live corals from day one, bear in mind that if you nail phosphate management at this early stage in the game, and keep phosphates under control as well as nitrates, then when you DO move on and add live corals to the system as your experience grows, then the hard work you did in the early stages keeping phosphates nailed will reap big dividends later on.

Plus, the nice part about having your sump double as a Caulerpa refugium is that you could, in theory at least, cultivate other things in there. Such as amphipods to feed Mandarin Fishes. Whether you would be able to do that alongside your Caulerpa in a sump is a moot point, needless to say I've never tried it, but it's one of those ideas I'd have a go at the moment I had a decent SW setup running.

Oh, and the final tip: be patient. Getting a SW setup running takes time. And a willingness to stare catastrophe in the face in the early days. So even when you have readings from your test kits saying that your system is fully cycled and ready for fish, start off with something cheap and hardy, that you can pass on to another aquarist later on, and save the hot species in your 'wish list' for later in the game once the system is properly 'alive'.






Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

AGA and Oceanic and a lot of the big manufacturers have predrilled RR tanks. The ones with tempered glass I think cannot be drilled, so you have to do some research when buying. 180 isn't too big to be considered standard, unless you're going with unusual measurements. You're going to need two overflows on that tank; when you call to order it from wherever, they should be able to get you the RR version.


[hr width='40%'][font color="#000080"]"I know that you are something special, To you I'd be always faithful
I want to be what you always needed, Then I hope you'll see the heart in me"[/font]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Thanks for the input - I guess I'll probably go with the 180g. I haven't seen any around here for sale so will probably need to order it in. I guess I can have it pre-drilled for the sump, etc. at that time. Any suggestions there??

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

i would go with the 125g as stated above. Long and you could add alot of corals to it.







rabbit:88)