tank size for an enthusiastic beginner

[fatman]

I do not know what the dimensions are for the 60 gallon tank you mention. I would recommend a 48 inch long tank, not a 36 inch long tank. There are many mare options at bettr prices for lighting a 4 foot tank versus a 36 inch tank. Plus a longer tank would be shallower allowing fot chaeper T-5 lighting rather than the more expensive halides used on tanks deeper than around 18 to 20 inches. I would recommend either a 55 gallon or a 75 gallon, but not the 36 inch long 65 gallon tank. The 75 gallon tank has 1/3 more surface area allowing for heavier fish numbers with increased safety and allow for aquascaping that does not require live rock close to or leaning on the back glass wall, yet it is virtually the same height as the 55 gallon tank, so the 75 gallon really requires no more intense lighting than the 55 gallon tank so T-5 lighting would still be a good option. The T-5 lighting would be cheaper in a shallow tank such as the 55 or 75 gallon tank, than would most halide lighting.

[lcstorc]

Be sure to post pics of the new tank. We love to see things progres from the beginning.

[Fish Crazy]

I agree go 48" my first tank was 36" long and it was harder to find equip, Go with the largest tank you can afford as you will outgrow your tank - I just moved up to a 180 and would have saved much $$$$$ if I went pic early on

[fatman]

As far as the need for live rock. Live rock is principally just a place that supports the prolific growth of nitrifying and to a lesser degree denitrifying bacteria. They are the bacteria that reduce your fishes wastes ammonia to nitrites, then to nitrates and ideally then to gaseous nitrogen that can leave the water. The amount of rock you need is entirely up to the bio load you will place on the bacteria that convert the waste. Fish (especially large fish and predators) create huge bio loads, corals and most invertebrates create small bio loads. You could put huge amounts of live rock in your tank but the bio processing abilities of the rocks bacteria will still only be equal to the normal load placed on them. No bacteria is built up in reserve by having extra rock. The bacteria only develop as much as what their food input allows. IE. to put it simply , if you have only one fish you probably would only need one live rock. If you have many more fish you need many more live rocks. When a tank is initially cycled the bacterial load capability developed is only that needed to remove the load placed on it up to that point. To develop beyond that point the bacteria must be fed gradually increasing amounts of food (organic wastes) their bio load processing capabilities will always grow to the point of being entirely proportional to the amount of food they recieve regularly. If they recieve less food for a while then some of the bacteria die and not as many are reproduced. Saying that a tank needs so many pounds of live rock per gallon of water is akin to saying a tank requires so many watts of light per gallon. Things just do not work that simply. That is why lots of preplanning and research produce the best results with the least amount of waste and mistakes and it lessens the boxes of extra equipment that seems to accumalate with every reefer in the first year or so of reefing.

[Woodstock]

You've gotten some great advice
Pics when you can please

[phillsy4]

Definitely as big a tank as your budget allows. Remember when you start crunching numbers there is alot of extras you 'll need along the way. I like your choice of words with enthusiastic beginner,I prefer guy with a fish problem helps me justify all the money i put in my tanks. good luck and post pictures

[ZAPCOnj]

Yeah there is alot of great advice on this forum. better than on some of the other ones that i have been surfing though...

I will post some photos up when i get the water, rock, and sand in there!

Thanks guys!!