What size to start with?

[DonaldLL]

Hello,
I am new to posting on this site but have been lurking for a while. I have experience with FW but long ago. My ex had a SW tank back 20 yrs ago and i was involved in her hobby but that's as close as I have been to SW since. I've been reading a lot and I have been to several shops asking questions. I think i have learned enough to know what I like and what I want. I want a reef tank. but now I am wondering..... Am I completely out of my mind for wanting my first SW tank to be a 220 gal reef tank? Should I start with something smaller? I see other posts saying that after this many or that many years of having a reef tank of 50, 70, 90 gals etc, that now it's time to upgrade to a larger one. Here I am thinking about starting with 220 gals. Is this just being stoopid?

 

[dlp211]

I am also new to the hobby and I will say this, I am doing a 180g build for my first tank, and I am already thinking bigger. I am glad that I went with a 180, it will let me keep almost all the fish that I want to keep, and I have been planning for so long that my maintenance will be minimal. Just realize that costs go up as tanks increase. I had to readjust my budget expectations after choosing to go with a 180 instead of a 90.

 

[SushiGirl]

Not stupid at all. Save you money in the long run rather than buying bigger tanks year after year LOL.

 

[DonaldLL]

I understand... I originally looked at a 125, then a 150, next a 180, and today in saw a 220 and it was just what I had in my mind's eye. I have already upgraded 3 times and I haven't spent a dime.... YET!!

 

[OregonReefer]

The bigger the tank the easier it is to keep stable

That said... IMHO go as big as you can afford and will fit in your home

 

[DonaldLL]

Well thank you this is reassuring. I think today it really hit me that this is going to happen. Then I thought about how big this project is and I got a little nervous. After looking at 125 then seeing the 220 I came home and measured it out and it is just massive to my eyes! All of a sudden I started thinking "maybe I oughta stick with the 125". I just have a feeling that once I get the 125 in here, it wouldn't be long before I'd wish I had that 24" width and the extra height. Thanks for the support

 

[peppie]

If you have the cash,space,and desire to be successful in this addicting hobby Go For It. IMO, as many will agree. It is more forgiving, the more water volume you have. It is much easier to down grade in size, than the other way around. Most if not all your equipment for your 220 will run a smaller system.
You are on the right track by getting involved here at RC. If you need to know anything about SW aquariums you will find your answer here. Read Research and ask.
Good luck, Oh yea You will need to post pics,LOL

 

[DonaldLL]

Peppie I already thought about the pics! I have seen some pretty amazing pics and videos. I am looking forward to testing my skills as a photographer/videographer too!

 

[baws187]

I say go as big as you can afford.

 

[tozzi]

I say go as big as you can afford.

Never a better post to say +1 to.

For real, as big as u can afford. Actually get a little smaller than the biggest u think u can afford, cause its gonna cost u more than u think.

 

[peppie]

We all love to see how much better our own tanks could look. LOL

Good pics is a whole different animal. Most can get buy, Some are out_______ ing standind few are worthless.

 

[Crazed]

If you go smaller, you will wish you hadn't. That said, either way, you're going to be entering one of the coolest hobbies in existence, so you will be able to have an incredible tank at any size that will continuously challenge and surprise and satisfy you. But you will be wishing you had more room to buy that fish or place that coral. Go as big as you can, like the others have said.

 

[pr12]

Definetly go as big as you have room for and can afford, I wish I could upgrade again but dont have the money or most importantly the room. A 220 would be great, plenty of room for fish and coral!

 

[vorm]

IMO, it's the cost factor on how big to get over how much experience you have, as a larger tank is way more forgiving than a smaller one.

However, the cost start to go up exponentially with tank size, as the cost of equipment needed starts to go up in huge chunks for each size larger tank you go (lights, skimmer, pumps, etc), as do maintenance cost as well. You're doing much bigger water changes, replacing a lot more/larger bulbs, using a lot more electricity, etc. And don't forget it takes a lot more to stock a bigger tank.

That being said, if are both able and willing to dish out the cash for it all, then go for the bigger tank. You be happier and it will save you money in upgrades.

 

[mightymizz]

IMO, it's the cost factor on how big to get over how much experience you have, as a larger tank is way more forgiving than a smaller one.

However, the cost start to go up exponentially with tank size, as the cost of equipment needed starts to go up in huge chunks for each size larger tank you go (lights, skimmer, pumps, etc), as do maintenance cost as well. You're doing much bigger water changes, replacing a lot more/larger bulbs, using a lot more electricity, etc. And don't forget it takes a lot more to stock a bigger tank.

That being said, if are both able and willing to dish out the cash for it all, then go for the bigger tank. You be happier and it will save you money in upgrades.

This is truth here. If you are even thinking about a larger tank, then you probably have some cash available to spend. IF you can afford great gear for it and realize that with a 220g, even a 10% water change is over 20 gallons and are fine with stuff like that in the long run, then go for it.

If you are already thinking about buying cheaper equipment (not good gear used, but truly inferior in quality) then go smaller and get good equipment, as most will attest, it will pay off in the long run.

 

[Kerreefer]

my 2 cents:

--if you have the cash go for a larger tank. 180's are even nice. reason being they have way more water volume so you hav a Ton of buffer for salinity, po4, etc. in essense they are more frgiving than a nano.

--drilled reef ready tanks imo are 10 times better. although mine is not im giving you my hind's sight from my own experience. my tank also has a Huge glass center brace that is a pita to gt your arms around. something without a center brace is way easier to work on.

*turns on anti flamer filter*

-- keep it simple. dont go all crazy with algea turf scrubbers, refugiums, or that sort. get a 7 inch filter sock a 40 gallon long tank (for sump) and put a really good skimmer on it rated at or above your total tank capacity.

if you decide you like all the mentioned above at a later point yu can always incorporate it...

dont forget the water changes and your fine!

 

[pentrix2]

This is truth here. If you are even thinking about a larger tank, then you probably have some cash available to spend. IF you can afford great gear for it and realize that with a 220g, even a 10% water change is over 20 gallons and are fine with stuff like that in the long run, then go for it.

If you are already thinking about buying cheaper equipment (not good gear used, but truly inferior in quality) then go smaller and get good equipment, as most will attest, it will pay off in the long run.

+1 on this. when buying equipment try not to go the cheapest. middle grade is fine.

i started out with a 30g, then kept upgrading until i was happy with a 300g tank. i would of saved me a bunch of money by just going the 300g route.

:headwalls:

 

[pentrix2]

my 2 cents:

--if you have the cash go for a larger tank. 180's are even nice. reason being they have way more water volume so you hav a Ton of buffer for salinity, po4, etc. in essense they are more frgiving than a nano.

--drilled reef ready tanks imo are 10 times better. although mine is not im giving you my hind's sight from my own experience. my tank also has a Huge glass center brace that is a pita to gt your arms around. something without a center brace is way easier to work on.

*turns on anti flamer filter*

-- keep it simple. dont go all crazy with algea turf scrubbers, refugiums, or that sort. get a 7 inch filter sock a 40 gallon long tank (for sump) and put a really good skimmer on it rated at or above your total tank capacity.

if you decide you like all the mentioned above at a later point yu can always incorporate it...

dont forget the water changes and your fine!

+1 on this too. don't try to buy everything all at once, i.e., UV sterlizer and media reactor isn't needed at this point because the tank is too new.

 

[Seahorse NJRC]

Bigger is always better, but don't forget about a QT or two. For a system of that size I would probably go with a 55 for new fish (this will be able to accomodate the larger fish that you may want to add) and a 20 long for corals. I say this because you don't want to be dealing with any type of outbreak in a large tank (or any tank).

 

[Kerreefer]

another thing is. if you are going to go with a reef, there are two types and they dont coexist very easilly with ea. other. one would be low-nutrient SPS's. the other is more lagoonal being a high nutrient (lps, Australians, etc.)

for the fish side im clueless. i had a few but got rid of them except the picasso clowns. they just "stuck" to me. there personallity makes me calm...