Tank size, did I make a mistake?

[kimbaco6]

I understand that it is easier to create the right environment with a larger tank, but have a doomed myself here by purchasing a 30 gallon tank? I would like for it to be a reef tank with live corals, and it is set up for that.

Just curious the thoughts of experienced people out there.

FYI, I am a first timer, but have had fresh water tanks most of my life (15 years).

Thanks!

 

[russellbravo]

There are some beautiful nano tanks out there. I don't think ur doomed at all, but u should def research before u do any purchases. Eg. Corals (what type of lighting they need) and fish (reef safe, and won't outgrow the tank)... Best advice for this hobby is to take ur time and research. U save a lot of money by doing so.


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[FrostyNYC]

30 gallon is huge to me. I've had nothing but nano and pico tanks. They give you an opportunity to appreciate things that you'd miss in a larger system. It's harder to see the beauty of a single beautiful polyp or a sexy shrimp or pom pom crab in a 250 gallon system. . As far as the challenge, it can be harder but it definitely can be done.


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[tynman]

I dont think your doomed but I do think if your like most of us on here you will be upgrading in a year or 2....LOL but it is harder to keep a smaller tank. But you should for sure do the research everything before you buy it cause like it was said you can go though a lot of money!!! Like I did... I did it backwards bought it first then researched it lol lost alot of money.....Good luck and welcome to the saltwater world...

 

[kimbaco6]

Thanks. Yes, already wanting a bigger tank for sure!

 

[Dre]

The biggest problem with small tanks IMO is over heating and water evaperation.

 

[Bob 1000]

With a smaller tank you'll be worrying about temp if you do a reef.. a tank that small I would do a species only like some really nice shrimp or macro algae and dwarf seahorse..

 

[rookie07]

I disagree with bob(I have alot of respect for bob, he some very interesting tanks, an is very knowledgeable), I think small reefs can be great! As mentioned before, you get to appreciate different things, and get a much closer look at the amazing life from the ocean.
With that said, temp and water evaporation are you two big concerns, As mentioned before.

Water changes are much easier on small tanks, and bills are smaller.

I have had successful(by most definitions) both a 34 and 120.

If you plan to have corals, I would suggest a chiller to keep you tank's temp stable.
You should also be very slow with you additions to your tank, you tank is a new system and not stable yet, and needs to finds it's own equilibrium, which takes time.
Best of luck


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[Keith P]

Is the tank a 30G Breeder? If so, you could always upgrade to a 40G B. Same foot print.

Either way, 30G is not terribly small. It may limit the types of fish you can house, but you can still have all the exotic corals.

Are you planning on running a sump?

 

[basiab]

I have a 24 gallon and I am very happy with it. It is an Aquapod but I use a glass cover and have T5 lighting. There are many small colorful fish available. But because of the size you have to have peaceful types if you want them to last. I keep LPS and have candycanes, acans, brains. But you can have mushrooms, zoas and softies. So there is a broad range of corals that fit. And it is easy to maintain. Water changes provide the minerals you need. If heat becomes a problem try a small fan blowing over the top. I have not had any unusual problems with evaporation or heat. I add a cup of plain water almost every day and I change at least 1 gallon each week.

 

[kimbaco6]

When you say you add one cup of plain water every day, is that tap water untreated with salt?

 

[Keith P]

It should be RO/DI water, with out salt.

 

[Dre]

When you say you add one cup of plain water every day, is that tap water untreated with salt?

Salt doesn't evaporate water does,you will have to add pure water to compensate the loss.Keep in mind that not because some people don't have temperature issues you will not.30 gals of water can reach 90 degrees in a few hours on a hot day.Choose your tank location very carefully.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

imo, the smaller tank is much harder to keep stable. I have both ends of the scale.... a 270 gal. system at home and a 15 gal. nano at work.
temp. is the #1 problem with small tanks. the nano in my office have had constant issues with maintaining stable temp.(too hot) even with a thermoelectric chiller. i just got a 1/15 hp nano chiller(the conventional-circulating water type) to replace it.
because of the heat issue, that limited my lighting options which in turn limited my coral options. the tank is probably about 4-5 yrs.old now and fairly stable. it suffered 2 crashes during a couple of black outs that we had.

 

[seldin]

...but have a doomed myself here by purchasing a 30 gallon tank?...

Wow.

I had the same 55 gallon tank for 24 years with numerous, upon numerous changes, etc.
I also got a Nano a while back. I think nano's are awesome. The problem is not that a 30 gallon is a very small tank. Even a very large 300 gallon tank, is so small against the ocean. Smaller tanks can have their tank parms change very fast.

In the past, the going saying was "start with a larger tank" that can stay more stabilized. However, with so much info on the Web with MR forums, etc. I have learned much more in the last few years, than the many, many years, before.

So real advice, in my opinion, is to keep the tank, and do lots of research. Also, remember, animals do not like change. Sometimes, even a tank with bad parms, will do okay, because the fish got used to it. So even correcting a problem, sometimes works better, when going slowly.

So bottom line, is just to do research, do small changes to parms at one time and always look for ways to reduce fish stress. Like keeping a small bio load ( not a lot of fish in tank), as this can increase phosphates and lead you to have additional problems that will have you seek out more equipment to buy.

Just recently, I saw a large tank, with very little equipment. Seems, my little Solana had much more equipment than this tank. Both tanks do well. However, I enjoy "simpler is better"

PS. If you think your tank is small, you should go on to Nano Reef and check out Pico tanks. These tanks are even smaller than nano sized. I have seen amazing Nano tanks and Pico Tanks.

PSS. As you can guess, I think I want to try one of these Pico tanks.

What's interesting, is how a lot of people always want bigger tanks. I never did. I think my 55 is large enough. However, I do like new equipment, so buying a new setup is always fun. However, as you can see, I like to go on the smaller side. To each their own.

I find AIO ( All In One ) tanks, very cool, with their own advantages and disadvantages.