New Tank suggestions

[Buzz]

I've had my little 20 gallon for about 4 years and finally have some space for a bigger tank. I was thinking of a 40+ gallon with a built-in overflow. I don't really want to go too big (55+).

Any suggestions on what size tank and what lights to get?

Current setup:

20 gallon long
2 55w PC's run off a home made ballast with wires sticking out everywhere
Original CPR Bakpak w/ maxijet 1200
Gutted skilter that's housing my thermometer, grounding probe and tons of little critters
About 20lbs of live rock, some shrooms, polyps, a bubble tip anemone & 3 clownfish.

I'll be slowly transferring everything over to the new tank and may use the 20 gallon as a sump/refugium if it'll fit under the tank?

Any suggestions?

 

[914]

well, personally i'd go for a 75...
it's the same lenght/height as a 55, but deeper (front to back).

locally (at Magic Pet in Wethersfield CT) you can get an AGA 75 (not drilled tho, tempered bottom, regular sides) for $99

anyhow, whatever tank you get, of course surface area is important.. i affects gas exchange rates and how much lighting you can cram over it, plus higher surface-area tanks are easier to arrange LR in...

good luck!

 

[Rich-n-poor]

personally I like the looks of bowfronts. I am getting a 72 bowfront. but they also make 46 corner bow tanks.

recently I saw a small 38 gallon bowfront at the lfs, what a neat little tank flat back bowed front just like the larger ones.

the pcs would be about the right size for a 46 corner, its available with built in overflow, and if you add a MH your lighting would be great.

_________________
grapefruit plants

 

[Tim Reed]

What are you going to keep in it. I feel the tank should match the inhabitants you expect to keep.

 

[Buzz]

Tank will mainly have soft and hard corals in it + my 4 yr old anemone from my 20 gallon.

I'm leaning towards a cheap 30 gallon, nice stand and no sump. I don't think I want to bother with plumbing and seeing that the 20 gallon's been doing fine for 4yrs now without a sump, I will try to go sumpless unless there's a need for it.

Lighting will most likely be a 250w mh + 2 of my 55w pc's from the 20 gallon. Will probably use a HOT-1 skimmer and seed the sand bed with LS from various places and also from the 20 gallon.

So - 30 gallon, sumpless, approximately 360w of lighting and a 3-4" sand bed seeded with live sand, 30-40 lbs of LR + a PM HOT-1 skimmer. Hard/soft corals, max of 5 small fish, and a 4yr old bubble tip anemone. What do you think?

 

[VkeSu]

I'd add more lr to a larger tank...be sure it is already cured and add a little at a time. Be sure if you did go bow front, your lighting would fit on it. We have 72 gall bow and LOVE IT! Would go bigger if I had more room. (You'll never wish you had a smaller tank).

 

[HARRISON]

Well here is what I would do (for what its worth).

I would get a 40 gallon. Thats what I started with. It has a good amount of water volume and a good amount of space. They are cheap to buy and don't take up much more room than a 20 or 30. Then I would use the tank you have now for a sump / refugium. The plumbing is a breeze and the added stability is worth the effort. Not to mention the fact that you get to see all the critters growing in the refugium as well. Kinda like another tank but you don't have to tell your wife its another tank... (Harrison, always thinking!) Now as far as the lighting. I had 2 55's over a forty for over a year and liked it and everything did pretty well (no SPS) I think all you would need to do is add a MH and you'd be set. I don't think you need to upgrade your skimmer at all. I STILL use a CPR on my 80 gallon, although I have a 30 gallon refugium. Don't fix what ain't broken. But I would get the extra water volume and space. But thats just me.

The cost difference would be pretty minimal I think.

HARRISON