Which size tank should I get?

newsalt · 01-12-2004, 04:24 PM

I want to eventually upgrade my 15g high tank to something larger. Due to space limitations in the room where the tank will be, I can only fit a tank that is a maximum of 32 in. long without rearranging all the other furniture. Unless I'm wrong, that would rule out 30g, 40g long, 40g breeder, and 50g. Which leaves me with two choices, a 20g long or a 37g both of which are both 30" long and 12" wide. The 37g is about 10" taller than the 20g, but I've read that it's not really water volume that you're after, but length. So the extra 10" height of the 37g really doesn't do anything for me right? Now here's the thing, a buddy at work has a 20g long he's looking to get rid of. I can have that for free or I can go out and buy a new 37g. Compared to my current 15g high, how many more fish will I be able to get if I take my friends 20g or buy the 37g? Any advise? And no, I can't buy a new house.

Thanks

fidojoe · 01-12-2004, 04:29 PM

I'd still go with the 37, you can have maybe one more small fish in the 20 than the 15. Water volume does still come into the picture, and you could put a dwarf angel in the 37 safely.

Cougra · 01-12-2004, 04:41 PM

There is also a 29High available with a 30" x 12" by 18" footprint you could consider.

If this is going to be a fish only tank then the more water you have the better so I would go for the 37Gal but you will need to make sureyou have excellent water circulation to help aid in oxygenating the water.

If you want to go reef, the depth of the tank will make a difference. It'll require stronger lighting in the deeper tanks that you will need to take into consideration as well.

As for more fish, what kind of fish would you LIKE to have? It'll be easier to make a plan around what you like then just suggesting a random number of fish you can have in the tank. Every fish is different and needs different requirements.

newsalt · 01-12-2004, 04:47 PM

After I posted the message, I noticed that a 29g was also available. It will be a FOWLR tank as it currently is. Right now in the 15g high I have 2 ocellaris clowns and a Coral Beauty Angel. The clowns are probably an 1" long and the Angel maybe 1.5" long (give or take). I really don't want anymore in the current 15g. However, If I went with the 29g or 37g, I would hope to add maybe 2 more fish. Maybe a Royal Gramma and maybe a Rainford Goby.

cheeks69 · 01-12-2004, 05:03 PM

I'm gonna eventually buy a custom made acrylic tank because of tha same problem. It's gonna be 32x24x20 so that's an option for ya to get a custom tank. Mine is going to be about 66 gal. HTH

zy112 · 01-12-2004, 05:29 PM

i would choose either the 20 L or 29. the 37 would be too tall for me.

fidojoe · 01-12-2004, 05:35 PM

I agree the 29 is my fav of the 3, for shape.

Maxx · 01-12-2004, 06:16 PM

Rainfords are pretty tough, I would reccomend doing more research on them prior to purchasing. Royal Grammas on the other hand are hardy and cheaper too. If this is going to be a FOWLR I would go w/ the 37. The reason for that is the added water volume will give you more stability and will help you out in the long run. If you even remotely think that you could go w/ a reef eventually, I would go 29 or 20....lighting does become an issue to consider w/ deeper tanks.
JMO,
Nick

RanRoc · 01-12-2004, 06:25 PM

I'd go with the 29.
-RY

jks1 · 01-12-2004, 06:52 PM

I have the 29 tall, and it is a great tank. I light it with one 150W HQI MH and a couple of 15W actinics. I have a Maroon clown, Royal Gramma, 6 line Wrasse, and a seaweed blenny and I dont have any nitrate problems you might see w/ overstocking- HTH

Reef Geek · 01-12-2004, 07:40 PM

I like the look of a taller tank, I would go for the 37. I have a 29 right now (30X12X18) its all right, but I am looking to go bigger (48X24X30)

newsalt · 01-12-2004, 07:57 PM

Maxx:

So are you saying if someday I might want to add an Anemone I should go 29 or 20? Does the addition of an Anemone mean it's a reef tank? I don't know.

Thanks.

newsalt · 01-12-2004, 08:03 PM

fidojoe:

In your first reply, you said you'd go with the 37 gal. Then, in a later reply, you said you like the 29 gal. I value everyone's opinion. Did you switch when you found that it will be FOWLR?

Thanks

Playa · 01-12-2004, 08:14 PM

I would take the free 20 gallon long and use it as a sump for a 29 gallon.

johnlewis · 01-12-2004, 08:26 PM

Well I would go with 37 for the extra volume and pickup that free 20 for a sump.

01-12-2004, 04:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
newsalt Torch coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 584 View Gallery Karma Komment	Which size tank should I get? I want to eventually upgrade my 15g high tank to something larger. Due to space limitations in the room where the tank will be, I can only fit a tank that is a maximum of 32 in. long without rearranging all the other furniture. Unless I'm wrong, that would rule out 30g, 40g long, 40g breeder, and 50g. Which leaves me with two choices, a 20g long or a 37g both of which are both 30" long and 12" wide. The 37g is about 10" taller than the 20g, but I've read that it's not really water volume that you're after, but length. So the extra 10" height of the 37g really doesn't do anything for me right? Now here's the thing, a buddy at work has a 20g long he's looking to get rid of. I can have that for free or I can go out and buy a new 37g. Compared to my current 15g high, how many more fish will I be able to get if I take my friends 20g or buy the 37g? Any advise? And no, I can't buy a new house. Thanks

01-12-2004, 04:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
fidojoe Fish Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,584 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'd still go with the 37, you can have maybe one more small fish in the 20 than the 15. Water volume does still come into the picture, and you could put a dwarf angel in the 37 safely. __________________ *Member "Crabs Are Evil" Society* My Tank: 90g AGA, 18g tall sump, CSS 220 w/ meshmod impeller, 4x54w Tek T5 retro w/ IC reflectors, Kalk reactor w/ aquamedic niveaumat system, a few SPS, LPS, zoos, and a few softies, 2 Ocellaris Clowns (hosted by both a RBTA and GBTA), Yellow Watchman, Potter's angel, Yellow Tang, Foxface, Midas Blenny, Purple Pseudo, huge brittle star, 2 tigertail cukes, fire shrimp, snails, and unfortunately two emerald crabs (the bubble algae got out of control).

01-12-2004, 04:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	There is also a 29High available with a 30" x 12" by 18" footprint you could consider. If this is going to be a fish only tank then the more water you have the better so I would go for the 37Gal but you will need to make sureyou have excellent water circulation to help aid in oxygenating the water. If you want to go reef, the depth of the tank will make a difference. It'll require stronger lighting in the deeper tanks that you will need to take into consideration as well. As for more fish, what kind of fish would you LIKE to have? It'll be easier to make a plan around what you like then just suggesting a random number of fish you can have in the tank. Every fish is different and needs different requirements. __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

01-12-2004, 05:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,386 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'm gonna eventually buy a custom made acrylic tank because of tha same problem. It's gonna be 32x24x20 so that's an option for ya to get a custom tank. Mine is going to be about 66 gal. HTH __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

01-12-2004, 05:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
zy112 Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,225 View Gallery Karma Komment	i would choose either the 20 L or 29. the 37 would be too tall for me. __________________ Zach

01-12-2004, 04:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
newsalt Torch coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 584 View Gallery Karma Komment	After I posted the message, I noticed that a 29g was also available. It will be a FOWLR tank as it currently is. Right now in the 15g high I have 2 ocellaris clowns and a Coral Beauty Angel. The clowns are probably an 1" long and the Angel maybe 1.5" long (give or take). I really don't want anymore in the current 15g. However, If I went with the 29g or 37g, I would hope to add maybe 2 more fish. Maybe a Royal Gramma and maybe a Rainford Goby.

01-12-2004, 05:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
fidojoe Fish Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,584 View Gallery Karma Komment	I agree the 29 is my fav of the 3, for shape. __________________ *Member "Crabs Are Evil" Society* My Tank: 90g AGA, 18g tall sump, CSS 220 w/ meshmod impeller, 4x54w Tek T5 retro w/ IC reflectors, Kalk reactor w/ aquamedic niveaumat system, a few SPS, LPS, zoos, and a few softies, 2 Ocellaris Clowns (hosted by both a RBTA and GBTA), Yellow Watchman, Potter's angel, Yellow Tang, Foxface, Midas Blenny, Purple Pseudo, huge brittle star, 2 tigertail cukes, fire shrimp, snails, and unfortunately two emerald crabs (the bubble algae got out of control).

01-12-2004, 06:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Maxx Manta Ray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 3,080 View Gallery Karma Komment	Rainfords are pretty tough, I would reccomend doing more research on them prior to purchasing. Royal Grammas on the other hand are hardy and cheaper too. If this is going to be a FOWLR I would go w/ the 37. The reason for that is the added water volume will give you more stability and will help you out in the long run. If you even remotely think that you could go w/ a reef eventually, I would go 29 or 20....lighting does become an issue to consider w/ deeper tanks. JMO, Nick __________________ "Chaos, confusion, despair...my work is done here." ...Some guy named Murphy.... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!" Reef Sanctuary Knowledgebase (Answers to all your questions and then some!)

01-12-2004, 06:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
RanRoc Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central Florida: GO KNIGHTS!!! Posts: 443 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'd go with the 29. -RY __________________ My Disclaimer for any Advice I Give: I Could Be Wrong... Randy's Rockin' Reef MANGROVE ROOT GANG

01-12-2004, 06:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
jks1 Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 876 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have the 29 tall, and it is a great tank. I light it with one 150W HQI MH and a couple of 15W actinics. I have a Maroon clown, Royal Gramma, 6 line Wrasse, and a seaweed blenny and I dont have any nitrate problems you might see w/ overstocking- HTH __________________ John Tank: 29g glass Pumps: Mag5.0 return - (3) rio 100 PHs Lighting: (1) 150w XM 10K/(2) 30W actinics Equipment: Aqua C Urchin skimmer- CPR Fuge, Titanium Heater -Red Sea wavemaster Pro Tank: 210g 1/2" Acrylic, dual overflows, 75g glass sump w/ 20g fuge. Pumps: Mag24 return - (2) MAG24s running 2 closed loop systems. Lighting: (3) 400w XM 10K/(2) Custom Sealife 96w PC - 25w dimmable incandescent Moonlight Equipment: Aqua C EV180 skimmer - CR500 calc reactor - Titanium Heater - AquaLogic single Stage Temp Controller - Aquanetics 1/5Hp Chiller - Neptune sys aquacontroller

01-12-2004, 07:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
Reef Geek Reefus Geekus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fountain, CO Posts: 325 View Gallery Karma Komment	I like the look of a taller tank, I would go for the 37. I have a 29 right now (30X12X18) its all right, but I am looking to go bigger (48X24X30) __________________ Justin Stealth Reefer

01-12-2004, 07:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
newsalt Torch coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 584 View Gallery Karma Komment	Maxx: So are you saying if someday I might want to add an Anemone I should go 29 or 20? Does the addition of an Anemone mean it's a reef tank? I don't know. Thanks.

01-12-2004, 08:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
newsalt Torch coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 584 View Gallery Karma Komment	fidojoe: In your first reply, you said you'd go with the 37 gal. Then, in a later reply, you said you like the 29 gal. I value everyone's opinion. Did you switch when you found that it will be FOWLR? Thanks

01-12-2004, 08:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
Playa Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, FL Posts: 1,451 View Gallery Karma Komment	I would take the free 20 gallon long and use it as a sump for a 29 gallon.

01-12-2004, 08:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
johnlewis Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton, MI USA Posts: 448 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well I would go with 37 for the extra volume and pickup that free 20 for a sump.

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