What size to start with?

[DonaldLL]

I am glad I posted this question. For one, my self doubt (or ignorance) on this topic has been removed.; secondly, there is other advice that I will follow, i.e. need QT tank(s), and keep it simple or at least start simple; third, you have confirmed my belief that I should buy quality and I know that costs more but this has always been my philosophy. I just need to learn where those lines are between low quality - good quality - unnecessarily expensive quality.

Thanks for the help

 

[Lynnmw1208]

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

+1! I would have gone bigger but my tank was free so I took the 125. I don't think I could've fit bigger anyway Maybe some day in the basement.... with a bar around the tank... lol we can dream. I'd say go for it if you want the 220, have room and can afford it :thumbsup:

 

[cloak]

You can't go wrong with a 40 breeder IMO. Most people will say that the bigger you go the better, but a 220 gallon tank can be mucked up just as fast as a 110 gallon tank in the wrong hands. Like mentioned above, costs will go up, but if money is no object then get whatever you want. Automate the whole thing.
Do you know what the difference is between a happy healthy 220 gallon reef tank and a happy healthy 110 gallon reef tank is? Nothing. It's a happy healthy reef tank... A slice of pie.

Good luck.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

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

^^^^^^This

 

[RJT]

Go for the biggest. At least you can say you did your best-win or lose.

 

[Josh_Canada]

I feel like im going totally against the grain, but if space and $ is an issue, a biocube 29 would be a great start on a budget. It's all about research, so many people post on this particular nano-cube there are fathoms of great info on how to utilize and customize a fairly priced plug and play system to run head-ache free, and quite smoothly IMO. Mistakes will definetly hit the system WAY harder. Also there is still alot of up-keep to much larger systems, that can easily put a noob in over his head. Everything must be done on a larger scale which is alot more difficult then a 5g waterchange every couple of weeks. Space restrictions are the only down side, espesially as far as territorys go in a cube, eg. you have two territorial and more aggressive fish, they simply set up shop on either end of a tank. Most of the bad tank crashes i see happen in 20 gallons and under, just food for thought.

 

[RcToners]

Just my opinion,

I started with 100 gal then a 150 gal and currently have a 375 ga, would have a 540 gallon had I not just built my stand and aquascape for my 375 gall. A 125 or 150 looks big to start but give it a week or so and you will realize its a tiny tank, not that there is any thing wrong with that Get the biggest tank you can to start, get the best equipment you can to start and the biggest sump you can. I had my 150 gal with a 30 gal sump to start and old pc fixtures because the tank came with a package, I then purchased a 55 gal for a sump, then a 14 bulb t5 constilation fixture- I was never satisfied- I purchased my 375 gallon and just said screw it, purchased tunze with controller, aqua illumination led's, reeflo orca 200 pro skimmer, 125 gallon sump, the list goes on, had I just purchased the right stuff in the begining I would have saved thousands of dollars on upgrading. Just go for it !!