20L,20H,29,30L or 37??????

[Clarkii3]

heres the deal, i have a small room, i am selling my 2 nanos for a slightly bigger tank. i have 5 choices. Im on a 600$ budget, im trying to keep the lighting as low as possile and still have lps and just maybe a possible BTA in the tank. Not wanting to go over 130w. so i can have a 20gL with PC, a 20gH with PC or 4 tube t-5 fixture, 29g with pc , 30gL with t-5's, or a 37g with pc. here are the prices at my lfs

20gL w hood $67
20gH w/hood/stand $115
29g w/hood $79
30gL w/hood $89
37g w/hood/stand $156

what do you guys think i should get? i have $600 to set it up, still gotta have money for the lighting, aquafuge(yes im going to buy one), skimmer, LR,LS , fish/inverts/corals. so pretty much a low budget tank. right now all i bought is blue krylon fusion paint lol. i really wanted to do something different, besides pc lighting, but i think MH is out of my budget. also if i did happen to get a 150w MH fixture, how bad would that affect the electric bill? please help me out guys.

 

[LaDonaDorada]

get bigger, always get bigger even if you have to wait on corals and stuff. no matter what size tank anyone has they always wish it could be bigger

 

[sjm817]

40B! If you dont get that, the 30L is the 2nd choice.

 

[rickh]

That's funny--I didn't see the 40B on the list.
I like the 37AGA. You can add a DBD and still have the same "usable area" as an empty 29 gallon and it only uses 30" of floor space. R

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8015899#post8015899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rickh
That's funny--I didn't see the 40B on the list.

Thats why I aded it! 40B is a great tank. 36x18x16

 

[Clarkii3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8015899#post8015899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rickh
That's funny--I didn't see the 40B on the list.
I like the 37AGA. You can add a DBD and still have the same "usable area" as an empty 29 gallon and it only uses 30" of floor space. R

hmm good idea i could use a 130w pc too, but im kinda scared of a dsb, wont that cause any problems? i figured out the costs

37- $581 *$19
29- $547 *$53
30L-$547 *$53
20H- $457 *$143
20L- $473 *$127

*= money left for livestock

i really don't want to stretch it over $600, i just bought a car today and now i have to pay for gas,insurance, and i owe money for college(im a student) what do you guys think? This will probably be a BTA and clown tank, with a few select corals. Also got christmas comming up, my b-day is in feb. i work and get $6.75/hr so i i don't know. also have to replace my bulbs soon on my 24g, and probably get new ro/di cartridges so ive got a ton to do. Im thinking just get the 20gH,ac500 fuge mod w/light, a couple maxijets, a 24" 4 tube t-5 fixture, aragamax sand, 25lbs of premium fiji and im good to go.

 

[CeeGee]

I would get a 40 breeder. I have a 38 all-glass and it is very narrow. I hate it. I got it because I already had a stand.

 

[maddyfish]

Bigger ingeneral, but wider is good as well. Try to get a tank that is 18" wide, and avoid a 12" wide tank. They just seem to look better.

 

[B33FST3W]

I have the 37 and I like it, but dont love it. The height is great, really gives it a good look, but the width of the tank is too small. You end up not feeling like you have any room to have a forground and background, its all just a midground. If I could do it again, I would definatly get a wider tank.

 

[nmprisons]

the 30H should be your last choice, in my opion.