What Tank Size Should you Choose? by greg.chernoffAquariums come in many different shapes and sizes. It really depends on your situation to determine which size is best for you. You have to consider things like where you will put the tank, what fish you want to keep, and your skill level. In this article, I will explain why you may want to buy a bigger, smaller, or medium-size tank. Beginner Marine Tank The most talked-about idea within the topic of tank size is which size is best for beginners. There are lots of reasons why all sizes are good for beginners and the reasons why they aren’t good. People that are new to the hobby often assume that smaller aquariums are easier to keep than larger ones. This is partly true, but generally smaller aquariums are more difficult to keep. At the same time, beginners probably should not have a 200-gallon tank. This does not mean it is impossible for beginners to be successful with these sizes, but most of the time they should be avoided. Why are small aquariums bad for beginners? First of all, when I say “small aquarium” I am referring to tanks under 40-gallons. In the marine aquarium hobby, stability is everything. Keeping water parameters stable is the most crucial part to keeping corals and fish. Of course, there is a general range you want to be in with some parameters being more ideal, but as long as you are within that range and stable you are set out to have a successful aquarium. The less water volume there is, the more difficult it will be to maintain stability. While a few extra nutrients will not hurt a larger aquarium, that bit will have a bigger impact on a smaller aquarium because there is less water to balance it out. For this reason, everything happens much faster in a smaller aquarium. This is not to say a beginner cannot keep a smaller aquarium with amazing results. It just means that smaller aquariums may take more work, surprisingly. What attracts new hobbyists to small aquariums is the price. They are much cheaper in every aspect. The tank itself is cheaper. The equipment is cheaper. You don’t have to buy as much rock and sand. It even takes up less electricity. This is why a larger 200-gallon aquarium may not be ideal for a beginner. A larger aquarium is easier, but it is also much more expensive. You have to buy more lights or bigger lights. You have to buy a bigger skimmer, bigger pumps, and more rocks. You are also dealing with much more water. A tiny five-gallon water change is not going to impact your water bill much, but a twenty-gallon water change one or more times per month plus ATO water will add up. So what size should beginners go with? Anything between 50-175 gallons is great for beginners. Keep in mind that the larger you go, the more expensive it will get overall. A 90-gallon tank would be great for a beginner, as it offers a good balance between something that is easy, but not too expensive. Aquariums size for experienced hobbyists If you are an experienced hobbyist, you have a larger variety of which tanks will be suitable for you. It just depends on what tank you want to have. If you want more fish you will need a larger tank. If you don’t want to have to mix as much water for water changes, you may want to go with a smaller tank. You also need to consider the price. Do you want to buy a cheaper tank and save money for fish and corals? Do you want to buy the best tank you can buy? These are all things you need to consider. You probably have a specific idea of what you want in your next tank. AlgaeBarn has you covered with the best tanks from CADE. Fish per gallon? A common question among beginner hobbyists is how many fish they can have in a particular aquarium. A while ago there was this idea floating around on the internet that the rule was “one inch of fish per gallon”. This rule is silly because you cannot have a 20-inch fish in a 20-gallon aquarium or 20 fish that are one inch. While it is inhumane to put too many fish in a small space, the main reason this rule does not work is because of the bioload that comes with fish. For the most part, the amount of fish you can have in a particular tank depends on how much bioload the tank can handle. Keep in mind that big fish create more bioload and small fish create less. Better filtration will allow for a higher bioload. That means that a 100-gallon-aquarium can have a larger bioload than another 100-gallon-aquarium depending on its filtration. A better aquarium will allow you to have more fish, to an extent of course. CADE Reef S2 tank sizes The reef S2 series aquariums by CADE come with a pre-assembled stand, an awesome sump, and an ATO chamber. These tanks are currently being sold by AlgaeBarn and are some of the best tanks you can buy. They come in many different sizes, which I am going to break down for you. Keep mind that the sump volume is what can actually be used, rather than the complete volume of the sump. The smallest is the CADE Reef 600 S2 also known as the PR2-600(pro reef). The total system capacity is 70-gallons, which includes a 13-gallon sump. The display volume is 57-gallons. This tank would be great for beginners or advanced hobbyists. It would be a great upgrade from a nano aquarium. Its cube shape allows it to fit into many spaces. The PR2-900 has a total capacity of 98.5-gallons. The sump is 13-gallons and the display is 85.6 gallons. This aquarium is a decently sized tank that can fit a wide range of different fish. It is probably the most ideal tank size for a beginner. Next is the PR2-1200. This aquarium has a display volume of 114-gallons and a sump volume of 21-gallons. It adds up to a 135-gallon system. Again, this is a great size for beginners. That doesn’t me it isn’t good for more advanced hobbyists either. You can certainly have a lot of fun with this aquarium. The PR2-1500 is 169-gallons in total with a 143-gallon display and a 26.4-gallon sump. The biggest aquarium from this line up is the PR2-1800, which comes in at a total volume of 207-gallons. It has a 171-gallon display and a 35.4-gallon sump. The two largest aquariums may not be ideal for beginners but will be able to house some big fish. All of these aquariums will be great for most hobbyists. All of these options have great accessibility to the sump and are very well-built. They will make the hobby a delightful experience. Hopefully, this article helped you get a better idea of what size aquarium you want to get. Remember it all depends on your situation. You should definitely enjoy the aquarium you decide to buy as well!
Seth Jung says November 2, 2020 at 4:14 pm Totally agree after having upgraded 3 times now, save in the long run! Reply
Star PASSMORE says November 18, 2020 at 2:54 pm Go as big as the you can afford. Youll regret ut later if you dont.. Reply
Nathaniel Vick says November 22, 2020 at 11:19 pm Absolutely! Better to get what you want than going through several tanks!? Reply
Charles Folstrom says November 12, 2020 at 2:44 pm Definitely get what space and budget will allow. Reply
Xiaoxi Yang says November 26, 2020 at 6:09 am Agreed. Bigger is nice, but space and budget are key. Reply
Xiaoxi Yang says November 26, 2020 at 6:09 am Agreed. Bigger is nice, but space and budget are key. Reply
dillonpitts28 says November 13, 2020 at 10:48 pm I agree on bigger. I started out small thinking thats all I would need and 4 tanks later. I would have saved money if I went big to start with but big tanks was intimidating when I first started. Reply
Justin says November 16, 2020 at 1:59 pm 1500, it gives an ample amount of display volume to house most of the “wants” from the tang gang and still have enough room for some awesome aqua shaping. Reply
missinglink358 says November 21, 2020 at 11:50 am Regret not waiting longer, jumped the gun and bought to soon. Should have waited! Reply
marybeth.jirasek says November 10, 2020 at 6:53 am I agree. Go as big as you can without hurting your wallet. Reply
Tilor Teegardin says November 2, 2020 at 8:29 pm Bigger is definitely better but make sure you don’t go bigger than your space can handle. If you start small and grow you will end up spending more money in the long run as you grow and the smaller tanks are much harder to care for. They require a ton of regular maintenance. Reply
Tilor Teegardin says November 2, 2020 at 8:29 pm Bigger is definitely better but make sure you don’t go bigger than your space can handle. If you start small and grow you will end up spending more money in the long run as you grow and the smaller tanks are much harder to care for. They require a ton of regular maintenance. Reply
gerardobarbaro says November 2, 2020 at 10:03 pm The bigger the tank the less water changes needed Reply
Joshua Vaisman says November 3, 2020 at 9:14 am Agreed – the biggest your budget and space allows Reply
Regina Heitschmidt says November 3, 2020 at 11:00 am I did, I ended up upgrading only two months on! Shiukd have gone big from the beginning Reply
Charlie says November 4, 2020 at 6:24 pm Go as big as you can afford and best size for the space in your home. Reply
Larry Moore says November 8, 2020 at 1:25 am I’m going to stick with the 65 gallon to start with. As I gain experience and self confidence I plan to go bigger, probably 125 Reply
Cory Randles says November 11, 2020 at 9:07 am That is one thing I wish I first did when I started Reply
Adam P says November 12, 2020 at 6:14 am I started in the hobby with a nano…and now have a 100g system. Nano taught me patience and built good routine maintenance habits. Reply
Luis says November 17, 2020 at 7:16 am That’s true, however I just can go as big as a dedicated space that I have at home for the aquarium, but is quite enough…for now 😉 Reply
Luis says November 17, 2020 at 7:17 am Totally agree, however I just can go as big as a dedicated space that I have at home for the aquarium, but is quite enough…for now 😉 Reply
Luis says November 17, 2020 at 7:17 am Same here, however I just can go as big as a dedicated space that I have at home for the aquarium, but is quite enough…for now 😉 Reply
jjapn says November 23, 2020 at 3:35 pm I agree, go big now because you know you’re going to want to later. Reply
Brian Smith says November 24, 2020 at 12:02 pm Currently in that “regret it later phase”. ?? but really looking forward to the upgrade! Reply
gigi222255 says November 29, 2020 at 8:25 am Once you understand the concepts of reefing, the largest tank you can fit into a room when considering weight and dimensions is the way to go. Get the largest tank you can afford first. It cost less in the long run and avoids the upgrade swap. Reply
Daniel Bucher says November 2, 2020 at 1:39 pm I hadn’t intended on getting a reef tank. Then I started helping friends and parts started to pile up. I started with a 125 acrylic tank. And a huge refugium. Reply
cjmatthews425 says November 3, 2020 at 6:06 am Decided on a tank slightly larger then you think you want to have. Most hobbiest upgrade and go larger once they start to see how much room is taken up by the aquascape. Reply
Jadin Devito says November 4, 2020 at 1:30 pm me too would have been better off with more space Reply
Ryan Reed says November 2, 2020 at 1:50 pm 207g Cade so that you can fit a wide variety of aquatic life! Reply
taylorator101 says November 2, 2020 at 1:53 pm Go big!! The smaller you start the harder it is! Reply
trevorpem10 says November 2, 2020 at 1:54 pm Whatever you do don’t let your wife decide, that is unless she’s into the hobby! As big as you can afford! Reply
Daniel Creeron says November 2, 2020 at 2:12 pm Like others have said, buy the biggest you can afford. If you go too small it will end up costing twice as much in the long run. Reply
Jemma Hussey says November 2, 2020 at 5:15 pm Thanks! That’s some good advice. I am looking into getting a saltwater tank. It will be my first. Reply
Jeremy says November 2, 2020 at 2:24 pm The biggest you can get is the way to go! However you learn a lot as you grow a smaller system(and get very creative) but the frustration of always wanting to expand is easier to deal with the bigger you start with! Reply
Michael Schmieder says November 3, 2020 at 7:14 am Great information here. I recommend getting the biggest tank you can afford and have the room. Otherwise, you may have regrets. Reply
Mike Kincade says November 2, 2020 at 2:41 pm When you say this size will do go bigger cause it won’t be big enough for long Reply
kweisen-1082 says November 2, 2020 at 2:43 pm I have 3 Nano Tanks less than 40 gallons. I wish I had the 120 gallons or larger now. Reply
ANTHONY CANDELORA says November 2, 2020 at 2:43 pm Get as big as u can afford and able to handle maintenance wise Reply
Cody Fisher says November 2, 2020 at 2:44 pm I live in a apartment so I know one day ill have to move it. Ill take the 6 or 1200 Reply
Mr Papu says November 2, 2020 at 2:45 pm Go as big as your budget can handle. I see so many leave the hobby for going too big & not wanting to deal with whatever issue they happen to deal with. Reply
Mike Kincade says November 2, 2020 at 2:45 pm Get as big as you can fit or you’ll regret it when your changing out tanks lol Reply
Michgander reefer says November 2, 2020 at 2:51 pm Buy what your budget allows and thats to include all the gear to go with. Reply
ANTHONY CANDELORA says November 2, 2020 at 2:57 pm Do what you budget allows and the amount of maintenance you can handle Reply
salerno.sam says November 2, 2020 at 3:33 pm It depends on what kind of tank you want. I started out small and plan on keeping a nano, but I’m ready fir a 100+ gallon tank now. Reply
William Leonard says November 2, 2020 at 3:37 pm The bigger the better you will regret going small when it gets full fast. Reply
Thereasa says November 2, 2020 at 3:43 pm Honestly, moderate size is probably best for beginners, especially those on a budget. Not having to buy as much sand and rock and water, etc is often more appealing than dumping thousands of dollars in all at once. Personally, I’ve dealt with a lot of freshwater systems and had an idea what it would cost when I started my 120 Gallon reef, but it still gave me a good sucker punch at the start. Reply
spencershawnallenward says November 2, 2020 at 3:45 pm I’m from Texas.. where everything is bigger. Bigger is better! Reply
Sam says November 2, 2020 at 3:45 pm Depends on what kind of tank you want, your living situation, how much you want to spend, and how much room you have to dedicate to the tank. I started out with a nano and love it, but I also want to add a larger eventually. I’m active duty military so the thought of breaking down a huge tank and moving it every couple of years isn’t that appealing. Reply
mlashawnbenton says November 2, 2020 at 3:47 pm I’d recommend at least starting with a 75 gallon. I have a 100 gallon now but first was a 55 gallon and it was never enough for me. My dream is anywhere from 2 to 500 gallons. Reply
spschiebel says November 2, 2020 at 3:50 pm Decided long ago to go big. 5′ or 6′ Strongly considering the 1500 or 1800 from Cade for my first tank. Reply
Joshua Ballenger says November 2, 2020 at 4:05 pm If you have the space go with the bigger tank. Everyone gets the itch to upgrade at one point or another. Reply
Joseph Nguyen says November 2, 2020 at 4:11 pm At least 70 gallons but decide what type of fish you want to keep Reply
Robert Bowers says November 2, 2020 at 4:18 pm The bigger the better. Get the biggest you can fit in the space Reply
Seth Jung says November 2, 2020 at 4:20 pm After having upgraded 3 times, I’d say go big to start. Reply
teresaannehand says November 2, 2020 at 4:21 pm I agree with the go big I kept going bigger now I have a 300 gallon and I absolutely love it. Reply
Alfie says November 2, 2020 at 4:56 pm No matter what size you pick you will want something bigger. Choose something that fits your space and budget. Remember a used tank is does not hold much value. Reply
Russell George says November 2, 2020 at 5:05 pm A medium sized tank is a good starter because it’s easier to handle, relatively lower initial cost, and not so small that you will immediately want to upgrade. Something around the 40 gal size will give you enough space for some fish and corals but things like water changes won’t be so crazy that you’re mixing up 20+ gallons per week. It’s also easy enough to restart if things go crazy and would be a good sized quarantine tank when you finally do decide to go bigger. Reply
Jacob T Wright says November 2, 2020 at 5:09 pm Go as big as you can maintain. Going big is nice but there are many times going to big can be just as bad and overwhelming. Reply
Joe major says November 2, 2020 at 5:11 pm Get the big one now and you won’t have regret later!! Reply
Deva says November 2, 2020 at 5:17 pm I know everyone will say go big or go home and I normally agree, however there is some very nice about a nano cheaper to buy, cheaper to run and still looks great! so there is no one size fits all answer here. so many factors like what are your goals, what do you want to keep how big of a budget etc. Reply
Aaron Hill says November 2, 2020 at 5:17 pm Go Big! Room for larger/more exotic fish and a more stable system Reply
sublunarynature says November 2, 2020 at 5:23 pm Whatever works for you! I started with a 12 gallon and liked it better than my current larger tank. Reply
grymtooth says November 2, 2020 at 5:35 pm Having started in a 4 gallon, moved to a 20 gallon, then finally to a 90 gallon, I would say go as big as the budget would allow. Reply
Nathaniel says November 2, 2020 at 5:36 pm While I’d like to say go as big as space allows, I believe you should only go as big as your schedule allows for maintenance. If you only have half an hour on the weekends you’re willing to work on the tank, get a tank that only requires half an hour of work. Reply
carloapalis says November 2, 2020 at 5:42 pm get a tank as big as you can fit in your space. the bigger the better. Reply
atrevino says November 2, 2020 at 5:45 pm Any size will work. Doesn’t really matter. Buy what you can afford. Reply
evergreek says November 2, 2020 at 5:51 pm Go ahead and buy big. It’s more stable and you end up saving money in the long run. Reply
Jesus says November 2, 2020 at 5:53 pm I has a 75 gallon as my first tank. I liked the 4 foot length but not the depth. These Cade aquariums look good. Reply
Michael Pimental says November 2, 2020 at 5:59 pm I know from experience that the more water I have the easier it wil be for me and and all species of fish and coral that I put in this beautiful aquarium. I love everything about the system and have never had one quite like it. I currently have a 90 gl with a top overflow and a 30 gallon sump. With two 250 wat led lights under canopy. Very old-school. Need an upgrade. Love the PR2-1800 this old reefer needs a real reefer tank. I have had saltwater tanks since my early 20’s now turning 51 next month. Would be an awesome birthday present. I am a disabled combat vetran the tank is awsome therapy. Reply
David says November 2, 2020 at 7:42 pm Concerning tank size, go as big as possible for the space you are putting tank in. I’ve got a 110g and want bigger. My tank was bought used so the dimensions aren’t what I would call convenient. It’s 30″ deep and 18″ wide so a powerful light must be used to penetrate to the bottom. Go with a 24″ deep 24″ wide to give you room to aquascape. Consider the fish you want as well. Sailfin tang s require 150 gallon or more to be happy. If you buy smaller you will be limited on your fish. Reply
Juan Carlos Perez says November 2, 2020 at 6:15 pm I started with a 90 gallon and now looking for something bigger. Seems like im not the only with this problem Reply
Jason Hempel says November 2, 2020 at 6:18 pm Don’t make the mistake I did and buy a tank too small. Do the research and plan everything before you commit. Reply
Bill Kroll says November 2, 2020 at 6:29 pm People always say go as big as possible, but you got get a size you will do the upkeep on. Reply
Jeff Rochon says November 2, 2020 at 6:36 pm Get the biggest you can fit/afford. Larger volume of water results in lower fluctuations in chemical and salt makeup. Reply
fergusontracy438 says November 2, 2020 at 7:04 pm Bigger the better, I started with a 24 gallon salt now I want a large saltwater tank lol Reply
fergusontracy438 says November 2, 2020 at 7:04 pm Bigger the better, I started with a 24 gallon salt now I want a larger saltwater tank lol Reply
John Worthington says November 2, 2020 at 7:06 pm I always think you should go as big as possible less headaches in the long run Reply
enordstrom says November 2, 2020 at 7:13 pm Depending on your situation I always recommend people to get a larger tank and quality equipment when setting up a new tank. Have my eye on the Cade 1800 S2, looks well built and could be a game changer in the hobby! Reply
Michael Mooney says November 2, 2020 at 7:15 pm Gotta go as big as you can be patient and do it right Reply
Ashley Servee says November 2, 2020 at 7:21 pm Definitely agree with others. The bigger the better. Lol Reply
Hayden G says November 2, 2020 at 7:22 pm If I could start over, I would do a 210 gallon tank, great dimensions overall. AIOs are great too! Reply
Josep Scalice says November 2, 2020 at 7:28 pm I started off with a 70g fowlr, now I’m at a 90g reef with predators… hopefully next year when we get a house and a forever home, I can upgrade to a 150+. Reply
Bart says November 2, 2020 at 7:32 pm 120-150 gallon tank is the perfect fit for me. Great promo because I’m in the market for a tank and was not considering a CADE……..until today. Reply
jasonbohr26 says November 2, 2020 at 7:35 pm I’d love a 900 but I think as someone new to the hobby the 600 would be better for me to learn with Reply
benddontbreak says November 2, 2020 at 7:37 pm Any size is cool with me , but I prefer larger tanks Reply
Shannon Nichols says November 2, 2020 at 7:47 pm For saltwater/reef, the bigger the tank the easier they are to maintain. Just my opinion. Reply
Casey says November 2, 2020 at 8:11 pm Years ago I hated small tanks and had large tanks. 20+ yrs in the hobby I enjoy both Large and Nano Tanks Reply
LUIS ACEVES says November 2, 2020 at 8:14 pm Decide on the size you want, than go one size bigger. Trust me. Reply
Lisa says November 2, 2020 at 8:35 pm I always want it bigger shortly after I set up a new tank, lol Reply
ajdipota says November 2, 2020 at 10:20 pm Same here! The bigger, the more stable. May not be the best for beginners, but these Cade systems look to be the most complete I’ve seen, which would make having a larger tank easier to maintain. Reply
Rboon says November 2, 2020 at 8:30 pm I started with a 5g, wish I wouldve went bigger from the beginning Reply
Compy Ginorio says November 2, 2020 at 8:52 pm Definitely the bigger one that can anyone can afford and accommodate in a designated area for enjoyment. But with more water volume more easy is to keep the water quality steady. Reply
Troy D Feeken says November 2, 2020 at 9:01 pm Start with what kind of fish you’d like to keep. Then based on that adjust your necessary tank size. Reply
Troy D Feeken says November 2, 2020 at 9:02 pm What type of fish would you like. Some require longer swims while others are suitable for a nano size desktop aquarium Reply
Justin Walz says November 2, 2020 at 9:03 pm Bigger tanks offer some flexibility such as water Parameter consistency but always remember if it is a Reef, you have to stock with corals. The bigger the more patient you have to be Reply
Michele Price says November 2, 2020 at 9:29 pm Do your research, decide on the best size for you. Then get the next size up 🙂 Reply
Andrew Welsh says November 2, 2020 at 9:36 pm Every size it’s it’s own experience, but i will say, going too big can make things awfully tough. Once you clear about 250 or so, equipment can start to get real pricey real fast and if something goes wrong, it takes months to get it back. Reply
Dee says November 2, 2020 at 9:41 pm Get the biggest tank you can now because you’ll want to upgrade later when you go small Reply
justin dejesus says November 2, 2020 at 9:48 pm i usually say go with what size you are comfortable taking care of. but man is bigger definitely better Reply
Jay-Jay Agnir says November 2, 2020 at 9:48 pm You’re always going to want to upgrade so buy the largest tank you can afford.That’s why I decided to upgrade to the CADE 1800 S2 from my nuvo 30 gallon tank. Best decision I ever made. Reply
justin dejesus says November 2, 2020 at 9:50 pm i always say get a tank you are comfortable taking care of but bigger is better. more options to chose from Reply
Tim Tran says November 2, 2020 at 10:17 pm that old adage “go big or go home” is a staple of mine. but alas, the boss (aka wife) says the biggest i can go would be the 1500S Reply
Kristian MadMax Theissen says November 2, 2020 at 11:01 pm Started out with a 29g. Should have just started my 55 lol. But hey now i will have more room for a cade 1800! Reply
Steven Flores says November 2, 2020 at 11:32 pm Go as big as you can fit. Because you will be upgrading quickly. Reply
Mike Brown says November 2, 2020 at 11:35 pm I wish I would have picked a bigger tank size to start with! I started with a 60 and want to upgrade. If I had one suggestion to make to a new saltwater hobbyist it would be to go big or go home!!! ??? Reply
Christopher jeffers says November 18, 2020 at 10:49 pm I wouldgo over size because with a new tank comes new life you will be glad to have gotten the larger tank Reply
Chris Segraves says November 3, 2020 at 1:39 am I agree with everyone that a bigger tank is easier because it has more wiggle room. I would like the cube for my next tank due to where I want to put it. Reply
Kevin Johnson says November 3, 2020 at 4:29 am I started with a 55 Gallon. It is a great beginner tank to learn the hobby and learn from my mistakes that would be very costly in a larger aquarium. After a few years, it will be time to update to the PR2-1500. Reply
Joy Marish says November 3, 2020 at 5:07 am I’d start small if I were a beginner, but as I’ve had aquariums before I’d go mid size. Reply
jeffery486 says November 3, 2020 at 5:13 am To each their own but I regret starting with a 25 gallon. Reply
James Lance says November 3, 2020 at 5:39 am The biggest one you could use is the best choice for stability. Reply
Christopher Olinick says November 3, 2020 at 5:42 am Go big, or go home! Easier to manage bigger tank. Reply
cjmatthews425 says November 3, 2020 at 6:08 am Always go a larger then you think you want, most hobbiest upgrade quick after their first tank. Reply
Bob Trimper says November 3, 2020 at 6:11 am Large is great, but master smaller first and you will be happier in the long run IMHO Reply
shawn vest says November 3, 2020 at 6:23 am Buy as big as you can afford bc you’re gonna wanna upgrade as soon as the smaller one is setup Reply
robby says November 3, 2020 at 6:38 am It really depends on your situation to determine which size is best for you. I’ve found however that I’m generally dissatisfied with my aquarium size after about 6 months Reply
Bill says November 3, 2020 at 6:42 am Go with the largest size tank you can fit in the area that you have. I made the mistake with smaller tanks. Reply
Michael Coovert says November 3, 2020 at 6:59 am I thought bigger was better, but as a beginner, it would probably be best to start small and grow into bigger tanks. Reply
Veronica J Spurgeon says November 3, 2020 at 7:15 am Size does matter! 😉 Can’t wait for mine to be delivered! Reply
Tanner Vermule says November 3, 2020 at 7:22 am Go for middle of the road. Not as big as you can but also don’t go smaller than 40. I suggest 50s. Reply
Gary Edwards says November 3, 2020 at 7:40 am Started off with a 55g, by the next year we are up to a 125g with a 75g sump. I think the 55g was a good starting point and nice to learn on Reply
Astrid Hopkins says November 3, 2020 at 7:43 am I think starting with a tank size that isn’t overwhelming for your intentions is most important. Sometimes bigger is not better if you don’t have the ability to take care of it. A 10 or 20 percent water change alone on a large tank is often a challenge for the beginner. Reply
Zachmazepa says November 3, 2020 at 7:44 am Get what fits your budget and you can easily maintain. No sense in buying a huge tank just to watch it go downhill. Reply
castro01 says November 3, 2020 at 8:57 am Always good big for first tank and then get a second smaller one as second. Reply
Leslie Collard says November 3, 2020 at 9:14 am Just start out big because your gonna end up there eventually. Reply
Ron Oppor says November 3, 2020 at 9:42 am I like the larger tanks. Larger swim areas with allowable rockscape. Reply
Cody Maier says November 3, 2020 at 9:43 am Make sure to pick a tank size based on what you can handle and the fish you want to keep in it! Reply
Ron Oppor says November 3, 2020 at 9:44 am I prefer the larger tanks. Larger swim area and adequate rock scape area. Reply
Paul Marvin says November 3, 2020 at 9:49 am I would go with a larger system because its easier to keeps water parameters more stable Reply
scotty8284 says November 3, 2020 at 10:09 am My first tank I went up one size because I wanted to be sure I had room to do what I wanted. Should have gone up TWO!!!! Reply
Robert Schwencke says November 3, 2020 at 11:35 am A lot of choosing is what you are trying to do. My 29 biocube is perfect for me. Reply
Patrick Jennings says November 3, 2020 at 10:13 am Depending on your budget and space, the bigger the better. Reply
Patrick Jennings says November 3, 2020 at 10:18 am Depending on your budget and available space the bigger the better. Easier to keep stable. Reply
tonymininno says November 3, 2020 at 10:35 am I should have really considered this more before buying. I bought a 60 gallon tank and now a year later realize that it is not big enough for me and what I want to keep in it. Buy the biggest you can afford. Reply
Mike Alsgaard says November 3, 2020 at 10:36 am The PR2-1500 is 169-gallons in total with a 143-gallon display and a 26.4-gallon sump. sounds about right on the sqft of the locations Reply
Ron Hall says November 3, 2020 at 11:23 am Bigger is not always better. Main thing is patience.. Reply
Justin says November 3, 2020 at 11:31 am The largest tank you can afford to maintain will yield the most success IMO. Reply
Sean says November 3, 2020 at 11:50 am Just what everyone else said, get the biggest tank you can afford, bigger is more stable and therefore easier. Reply
johndudley805 says November 3, 2020 at 12:22 pm Go small, you will want larger tanks sooner. Start at 75 or 90 gallon. Yes, it is a lot but will help you learn water stability and allow you to have small fish that will require larger tanks when they are older. Let’s face it, you are inspired by massive corals and fish that are on expert levels with the appropriate tank size and you want to be at the that same level but don’t understand the basics yet. Reply
Michael Roth says November 3, 2020 at 1:17 pm Such a hard decision, I would say decide where you want the tank to go first. That will determine how wide and deep that tank can be. Then figure out how high of a tank you want as that determines what lighting you can have, but also what maintenance you can do. Too tall of a tank can be a pain in the rear, unless you can reach the bottom easily. Reply
Christopher Lee says November 3, 2020 at 1:20 pm Would love to go as big as I can! Want me some tangs and angels and triggers! Reply
Michael Roth says November 3, 2020 at 1:24 pm Truly depends on the space you have for it, and how much maintenance you want to do. Too big can be too much of a chore to work on, but too small and you are always wanting more. 🙂 Reply
Ellery F Wong says November 3, 2020 at 1:34 pm It depends on the bioload and how much effort you want to put into it buy larger volumes are definitely bettet. Reply
Michae says November 3, 2020 at 2:33 pm Big as you can handle but don’t forget how easy or hard a big water change will be Reply
kchristensen8064 says November 3, 2020 at 2:43 pm Go as big as your budget and house will allow. The bigger the more stability. Reply
Micah Stelling says November 3, 2020 at 3:04 pm Ask big as you can afford with quality equipment. Reply
jonlillie says November 3, 2020 at 3:34 pm While I used to believe the bigger the better. I think for someone’s first tank it needs to be 75g or less. That way they should be able to handle it. Reply
Mark Wiegand says November 3, 2020 at 4:00 pm Larger systems allow for a more diverse reef system. Plus you can be very creative with the inhabitants that share your reef. Reply
tony_garcia18 says November 3, 2020 at 4:25 pm I would take the beginners tank to learn more cause there’s always something new to learn and getting better with your own style of craft. Reply
7aquamom says November 3, 2020 at 5:05 pm Its easy to say go big or go home ,however that’s not really right. For a beginner I would absolutely suggest to go 40 gallons or larger. When picking out a aquarium its important to have a plan and budget, and of course do your research .For those in the hobby we all know the hobby can get pricey! Also keeping in mind the long term! A maintenance budget and let’s not forget the ooo crap budget .What is the ooo crap budget well things happen ,things break , things are defective, somethings need to be replaced , whatever it maybe we have a responsibility to our aquatics pets to be able to maintain and fix whatever needs to be fix . Back to the question at hand what tank size should I chose? Whatever tank is affordable and realistic for you to afford ,maintain and supports what you want ( fish only , reef ,freshwater etc) . RESEARCH ,RESEARCH ,RESEARCH ! Reply
arlan says November 3, 2020 at 7:09 pm I have been out of the hobby for 25 years. About 10 weeks ago my grand kids talked me back in. So I started with a 56 gallon tank, now I have 3 tanks and looking for a bigger tank already. Reply
Daniel Shenoda says November 3, 2020 at 8:01 pm I recommend figuring out what fish and coral you want and work backwards. Bigger might not be better for everyone. It has higher initial costs to go big, although the stability is great. Reply
bluekab says November 3, 2020 at 8:20 pm The 1200 or 1500 would be amazing. I know right where I would put them too. Haha. Reply
mterry9239 says November 3, 2020 at 8:34 pm The best money saving decision your gonna make is going bigger from the beginning. Reply
gofor100 says November 3, 2020 at 8:48 pm Go as big as you can fit, but don’t forget the depth front to back. That is a big deal. Reply
Tesia Oliver says November 3, 2020 at 9:39 pm Started with a 65 until I got the hang of things. Hoping to upgrade to at least double that by 2021! Lots of research involved! Reply
Rachael says November 4, 2020 at 5:31 am Size depends on what you want to keep in your tank and the time you plan to spend on maintenance. Bigger is better, if you have the space! ? Reply
Todd says November 4, 2020 at 7:43 am I have a 75 and love it. Its the perfect size. Although I would love a bigger one. I wouldn’t go any smaller though. Reply
dsh92056 says November 4, 2020 at 7:46 am Choose by whatever your budget is and the space the room allows for Reply
William Di Martino says November 4, 2020 at 9:13 am If your house doesn’t support the weight of the tank, reinforce your foundation! Reply
brotherdave44 says November 4, 2020 at 9:57 am Go as big as you can afford for your first tank (Mine was a 90) easier maintenance and at least for me has kept me in the hobby. Reply
dwalters1017 says November 9, 2020 at 6:06 pm when the tank your choosing leaves a little doubt in your mind on being able to properly maintain it….. Go with the next size down. Always easier to go bigger later. Make the first choice the correct one or it may discourage you from ever wanting to enjoy this amazing hobby Reply
Ismael Ortiz says November 4, 2020 at 10:28 am I agree that bigger is better, I started off my first reef tank on a 75G. Now I have upgraded earlier this year to 150G and it is definitely easier to maintain. Reply
Shawn Lyons says November 4, 2020 at 10:50 am I started with a 24 gal aquapod with good success. Reply
theladdiefamily says November 4, 2020 at 1:24 pm Size your tank to your space, to the critters you want, and the amount of upkeep you are committed to. Bigger is better!! ? Reply
Dillon says November 4, 2020 at 5:05 pm I’ve learned the hard way get the big one won’t have to do it again Reply
motor795 says November 4, 2020 at 6:50 pm biggest tank you can afford, larger the better, i use to have a 180G and i didnt have to really do anything, now i have a 20G and i feel like its a constant battle on CA, ALK, MAG levels Reply
johnlourenco says November 4, 2020 at 7:28 pm Never regret going bigger, always regret going too small. Reply
michaelcburch626 says November 4, 2020 at 7:35 pm Every tank I get I think to myself “I should get a bigger one” Reply
reynaldo787 says November 5, 2020 at 9:58 am Small for beginners, then switch if it right for you. I went small in my first tank to learn and gain experience in the hobby. After 6 years of patients now I feel ready upgrading to a bigger tank. Reply
akozub2004 says November 5, 2020 at 11:30 am One size bigger then you can afford is cheaper then upgrading next year and having to deal with a tank transfer. Reply
akozub2004 says November 5, 2020 at 11:30 am One size bigger then you can afford is cheaper then upgrading next year and having to deal with a tank transfer. Reply
Burke says November 5, 2020 at 11:31 am As a seasoned hobbyist, id go for the largest tank i can manage Reply
scottjung says November 5, 2020 at 11:34 am Bigger for beginners is easier to stabilize water parameters, too big and they’ve got a hole in their wallet before they know if they like the hobby. FOWLR is also easier to start and tank size can be smaller. Commit to water changes. Reply
Thelma says November 5, 2020 at 12:43 pm I say go as big as your wallet allows and house allows!!! Reply
John smith says November 5, 2020 at 4:18 pm It’s always best to start at the top because you aways have space to add… but if you start small you have yo start all over when you run out if space Reply
Kyle says November 5, 2020 at 6:11 pm Have to pick the size of the tank that fits your needs today not what you think you’ll want in 5 years Reply
lkysvnchop says November 5, 2020 at 9:04 pm The biggest tank you can house and afford will save you a ton of money later when you have to upgrade because you bought too small of a tank. Reply
houphouet0 says November 5, 2020 at 9:51 pm Great point, not having beginners buy tanks that are too small. Reply
Kris ligon says November 6, 2020 at 5:34 am My heart it set on a 240 gal one day I hope to achieve that for now I will enjoy my 75 gal Reply
corydbronner45 says November 6, 2020 at 9:38 am Get as big of a tank as you can afford but if you decide to go small I recommend a 2’x2’ cube aquarium Reply
sweetestone04 says November 6, 2020 at 5:08 pm I love my nanos and I have a 220 that just got put up about a month or so ago Reply
Cody Mullins says November 6, 2020 at 6:13 pm My thoughts are to go big with equipment so that if you decide to go bigger, you only need to upgrade your tank size. Reply
William Leonard says November 6, 2020 at 6:51 pm The biggest you can get within your budget you wanna have room to grow Reply
Michael Lassiter says November 7, 2020 at 7:20 am Thanks Tanks should be chosen on need, experience and research. Reply
bradley.harden says November 7, 2020 at 8:13 am Just go as big as you can comfortably fit. A 55 is enough water that a beginner doing their reading can maintain it. Definitely go for that Petco dollar per gallon if you’re just starting out! Reply
JUAN ESTRADA says November 7, 2020 at 10:22 am Go bigger cause you’ll end up wanting too really any system will do lol Reply
Tony says November 7, 2020 at 11:57 am I have learned from my current small aquarium to buy the biggest you can afford and have the space for. A 125 gallon is on my wish list. Reply
Paul Marvin says November 7, 2020 at 2:02 pm I feel a 75g or 90g is the perfect first reef tank! Reply
Sean Clark says November 7, 2020 at 8:06 pm Bigger is better. That is why we use gallons, not liters. Reply
Sean Clark says November 7, 2020 at 8:08 pm Bigger is better. That is why we use gallons over liters. Reply
Gino says November 7, 2020 at 10:34 pm Larger sized tanks give you so many more options and helps keep parameter swings not to be addressed as quickly as a smaller sized tank. But if you’re looking to save some money I’d get at least a 3 foot tank. Although I have a 3 footer and I’m looking to upgrade to a 5 or 6 footer now! So there’s that! Reply
Justan Jenkins says November 8, 2020 at 9:24 am i think i disagree with everyone that says go bigger or you will regret it.. for some of us finances will always be a struggle. no reason to force myself to buy a bigger and more expensive tank just because one day i MIGHT want/ be able to afford a bigger tank… i think that the PR2-900 is definitely an ideal beginner tank.. to elt you enjoy the hobby without getting to frustrated when things inevitably go wrong and you may have to start it up from scratch all over again.. and definitely more budget friendly while still allowing room for the fish you most likely want anyways.. Reply
Angelica says November 8, 2020 at 10:04 am Keep in mind that the bigger the tank, the more it costs to fill with stuff. And the maintenance may be less often with big tanks, but the water changes have to be huge. Reply
M Morgan says November 8, 2020 at 4:32 pm I think that the more experience that you have, the better your skills equip you for nano and small size tanks. As a noob, bigger means forgiveness for your sins. It’s about finding that balance. My next build will be the right scale for what I can manage. A monster tank is useless if it is too deep to clean or the upkeep is overwhelming. Reply
wendtfamilyaquariums says November 9, 2020 at 10:39 am We definitely enjoy bigger tanks, but go with whatever size works for you. 🙂 Reply
john-3645 says November 9, 2020 at 3:11 pm Get the biggest tank you can or you will regret it later! Reply
Jennifer Reichardt says November 9, 2020 at 4:31 pm Please consider the weight of a new tank! Many older homes are not equipped with floor structures strong enough to hold a large tank! Mine is, therefore I’m going to look into your 220! Reply
jasonrsimpson says November 9, 2020 at 4:46 pm Love these tanks waiting for my 900 s2 to show up. Reply
williamj2003 says November 9, 2020 at 5:49 pm Bigger is always better in the world of reefing!! Reply
williamj2003 says November 9, 2020 at 5:51 pm Bigger is always better in the world of reefing!! Make sure you have adequate space for all you animals! Do your research ? Reply
williamj2003 says November 9, 2020 at 5:51 pm Bigger is always better in the world of reefing!! Make sure you have adequate space for all you animals! Do your research ? Reply
williamj2003 says November 9, 2020 at 5:51 pm Make sure you have adequate space for all you animals! Do your research ? Reply
Mike Kincade says November 9, 2020 at 6:20 pm Always go big if the space is too small then pick a different spot to put the tank even if the wife says no lol Reply
Mike Kincade says November 9, 2020 at 6:20 pm Always go big if the space is too small then pick a different spot to put the tank even if the wife says no lol Reply
Tesia Oliver says November 9, 2020 at 7:26 pm Agreeing with the other reviews. Go bigger than you think or you will regret not going big to begin with! Reply
s_coffman says November 9, 2020 at 7:33 pm I think it comes down to three things. Maintenance cosmetics ( rock layout) and being able to spread out my corals to give them enough room to grow. Great information. Reply
Aaron Gilka says November 9, 2020 at 7:46 pm The bigger the better that is if I have the space for it… I guess will throw away the buffet table ? Reply
Rebecca Whitley says November 9, 2020 at 9:22 pm Bigger is usually better, but dont some fish do better in smaller conditions? Wouldnt fish qt of life come into play as well? Reply
scotty8284 says November 10, 2020 at 5:50 am Try to go up one size from where you think you should start. For experienced hobbists, get the tank that does the job you want done! Reply
Patrick Kenney says November 10, 2020 at 6:18 am Get the biggest tank you can fit on your biggest wall! Reply
Natalie Neace says November 10, 2020 at 7:05 am Depends on the fish and the scape you’re working on but it always helps to have a few extra gallons! Reply
Leo Minegishi says November 10, 2020 at 7:25 am Decide the fish/coral you ultimately want, then decide the tank that will “fit” it. At least you may minimize upgrades that way. Reply
Matt Hollis says November 10, 2020 at 8:13 am Get the tank you can afford. Tank is probably your least expensive of your expenses. All the equipment adds up, bigger aquarium, more equipment. Reply
joshuameadows989 says November 10, 2020 at 10:22 am The biger the better I have so many swings on my lil tank it not fun to keep up with it be a nice upgrade Reply
purelakerfan says November 10, 2020 at 11:43 am I am all about getting the biggest fish tank you can. It is so true that you can regret getting one that is too small. Go big from the start Reply
Dennis says November 10, 2020 at 4:22 pm Get the biggest tank you can for the space that you have! Reply
Jeremy Rankin says November 10, 2020 at 7:19 pm Go big or Go home is my opinion. if you short yourself you will want to upgrade in a matter of no time!!! Reply
animeman988 says November 10, 2020 at 7:21 pm You want a tank you can grow into like the 1200 because you get used to the size fast if its too small. I also feel its better to have a little bit bigger of a tank so there is more volume of water and your parameters don’t swing as bad like on a smaller tank. Reply
Sam says November 10, 2020 at 10:33 pm The bigger the water volume the better. Had a 180 gallon tank but almost 400 gallons total and had an amazingly stable tank. Go big or go home! Plus you can keep most of what you want from the beginning instead of just dreaming…! Reply
Michele Price says November 11, 2020 at 7:41 am Do your research, find the right size for you, then go a size bigger 🙂 Reply
heather.palafox says November 11, 2020 at 7:51 am Bigger is better if you can afford it and have the space. There’s nothing like tank regret when you wish you could’ve had bigger. Reply
dsims369 says November 11, 2020 at 8:56 am Starting out small is not the way to go! I would say starting out with a 50 gal is ideal, although you’ll probably end up upgrading before too long. I went from a 50 gal to a 120 gal within my first 2 months! Reply
rpkneumann says November 11, 2020 at 11:09 am Started with a 32G BioCube. out fo the total investment the tank was one of the smallest items. Wish i would have started double the size at least. Love fish and corals to much. Reply
Quinn Pergande says November 11, 2020 at 1:17 pm new to tanks. entering this to take care of some of some coral but happy holidays Reply
Quinn Pergande says November 11, 2020 at 1:17 pm new to tanks. entering this to take care of some of some coral but happy holidays Reply
Tanner Funai says November 11, 2020 at 1:34 pm Assuming you have the space the 1800 would be the size to get. As tanks get bigger they not only allow you more room for more fish and coral colonies but also provide more stability! Reply
l.lozaja says November 11, 2020 at 7:02 pm The bigger you go the smaller the problems, the more room you’ll have for coral! Reply
miamma3 says November 11, 2020 at 7:48 pm Everyone is right unless you are really into small and doing things in a miniature way go as big as you can. Reply
Stephanie Smith says November 11, 2020 at 8:03 pm Go big! I wish I would have went big right from the start!! Reply
Michael says November 12, 2020 at 2:18 pm Bigger is always nice, but make sure that you can handle the maintenance on it. Not just the volume of salt and fresh water that you need. But can you easily reach into the tank and move/remove items. If you can’t do the regular maintenance the tank will fail. Reply
Chris Bena says November 12, 2020 at 4:00 pm Working on my third upgrade!! If I win, it’ll be my fourth! Reply
Joe Willis says November 13, 2020 at 1:28 pm If you can afford it, choose bigger. I’ve always regretted settling for a smaller tank. Reply
hostetterdawn says November 13, 2020 at 10:30 pm What your pocket and house can handle for sure! Reply
MikerMe says November 13, 2020 at 10:31 pm Go with the bigger tank and start with smaller fish. You can always go bigger later. Reply
Carl Heller says November 14, 2020 at 4:21 am Go big or go home. It’s lot easier with a bigger tank than its small tanks. Reply
Larry Brazzell says November 14, 2020 at 8:11 am Min of 55g. Gives room for errors to be corrected. Reply
Mark says November 14, 2020 at 2:10 pm Go big if you can unless you’re like I was a get a tank as a gift to get started and use it Reply
Mark says November 14, 2020 at 2:12 pm Go big if you can unless you’re like I was and get a tank as a gift and use it Reply
kyron_cochran says November 15, 2020 at 6:48 pm Choose based on available space and the time you have available to devote to the setup, both NOW and down the road. Reply
Robert Bowers says November 16, 2020 at 11:19 am Get the biggest tank you can afford in the space available. Reply
bigfarzy0918 says November 16, 2020 at 11:32 am Tank size depends on your cost , type of fish or corals you will be having , how much maintenance you want to perform etc. gotta do some research before you just jump right into a tank Reply
drjoeproscia says November 16, 2020 at 11:38 am If you are serious about having a tank then go big. You dont want to get a small one and wish you had gone bigger. Size does matter Reply
Tian Sorg says November 16, 2020 at 12:57 pm The bigger the better!! But make sure you have the room required for a larger tank. Make it the focal point of the room! Reply
Joe says November 16, 2020 at 1:49 pm I always had more luck with smaller tanks for some reason. Reply
galetichtrey1 says November 16, 2020 at 3:01 pm Always take in account the dimensions and weight of the tank before you get one. Reply
Michael Liu says November 16, 2020 at 3:15 pm If you can always get as big as you can afford, you’ll be upgrading in no time anyway. Better to buy once and cry once as they say 😉 Reply
KaiokenX10Devin says November 16, 2020 at 3:16 pm Definitely recommend a bigger tank ,smaller tank parameters can fluctuate quickly Reply
Martin D Robinson says November 16, 2020 at 3:43 pm Go as big as you can because you will run out of room and want a bigger tank Reply
Matthew Gary says November 16, 2020 at 3:50 pm Definitely agree with going bigger first. Easier to maintain a less likely to upgrade sooner. Reply
kmaves22 says November 16, 2020 at 3:52 pm Bigger would be ideal to start, However if you’re not rich you almost have to start small and buy and sell your way to bigger as your tank grows. Reply
Jason Boggess says November 16, 2020 at 4:36 pm If you have never had a tank I would say start around 20 or go with whatever size you can afford without breaking the back Reply
Soren Shurtleff says November 16, 2020 at 4:49 pm get the biggest tank you can afford, there a lot more stable than small tanks. Reply
Justin Walz says November 16, 2020 at 4:56 pm Size matters: depends on the person, their goals, and expectations. This is good info Reply
Andre Phills says November 16, 2020 at 5:56 pm I don’t know of anyone in this hobby that did not appreciate having more real estate to grow frags. Bigger is always better! Reply
tonymininno says November 16, 2020 at 7:05 pm Buy the biggest you can afford. Remember that larger aquariums tend to be more stable and easier to control. Reply
wanda.phills says November 16, 2020 at 7:06 pm Better stability, more space for Fish and Corals…Bigger is Better! Reply
wanda.phills says November 16, 2020 at 7:08 pm Better stability and more space for Fish and Corals…A Bigger tank is Better! Reply
Jasper says November 16, 2020 at 7:19 pm Go the biggest you absolutely can or you’ll be up sizing shortly after! Reply
Mike Mijarez says November 16, 2020 at 8:33 pm Definitely would go with a bigger tank considering the type of fish you like. If you want any tang you have to aim high Reply
Compy Ginorio says November 16, 2020 at 9:52 pm The biggest that can be afford based on available space. Reply
Joe Camejo says November 17, 2020 at 2:25 am Go as big as you can possibly go. If your thinking one size, might want to consider the next. Don’t settle on a smaller size based just on budget. Save a little more and buy when ready. Most will end up upgrading. Reply
Damien jaggers says November 17, 2020 at 5:34 am Get the big one this time or u will be upgrading again Reply
Steve Ricketts says November 17, 2020 at 7:09 am I started with a Nano and I’ve quickly out grown it. It has provided me lots of experience though! Reply
jaywelle says November 17, 2020 at 12:23 pm If bigger seems intimidating, and the wallet isn’t a limiting factor, this is a great catalyst to grow in knowledge and experience. Reply
john.rocha says November 17, 2020 at 3:17 pm I am so excited to be getting a new tank. Got the 1500 series Reply
Teri Embum says November 17, 2020 at 4:15 pm Go bigger. Have a 75 gallon DT that I’ve never had any problems on. Have a 20 nano in the office – continually fighting with it for over two years. So much easier on the bigger tanks. Reply
evanthetek says November 17, 2020 at 4:33 pm If you have the space always go big! Remember the size of your inhabitants and what they need to be safe.. Reply
georgearena25 says November 17, 2020 at 4:47 pm I have the perfect space for the 1500 that I will get. Reply
Joshua Tibbetts says November 17, 2020 at 9:17 pm I started with a 32 gallon Biocube now I’m wishing i would hjoshuaave started with a higher tank!! Reply
athena graeme says November 18, 2020 at 1:59 am So true, I always want to go big, but big sometimes isn’t the right fit. Reply
Arlan White says November 18, 2020 at 9:16 am bigger tanks are easier to keep the water at good levels, but the new all in 1 small tanks seem to be doing well. So if space is not an option try the little 1 if you have space and money go big Reply
echurch549 says November 18, 2020 at 2:25 pm Get the biggest tank you can afford that fits the room nicely. Just make sure you can maintain it and have a good rodi system to keep up with water changes in the beginning. Reply
tc80t says November 18, 2020 at 6:29 pm Budget space and if you ever have to move it all things to think about Reply
Robert C says November 19, 2020 at 8:44 am Definitely loving the 1800. I was kind of set on that, but what got me rethinking is the water changes. That’s a lot of water to move, even if it’s just twice a month, and the cost to make those WCs convenient adds a bit to the cost. Any of those models are awesome tho. Reply
Robert C says November 19, 2020 at 8:44 am I was kind of set on the 1800, but what got me rethinking is the water changes. That’s a lot of water to move, even if it’s just twice a month, and the cost to make those WCs convenient adds a bit to the cost. Any of those models are awesome tho. Reply
Robert C says November 19, 2020 at 8:45 am Glad I read this, what got me rethinking my tank size selection is the water changes. That’s a lot of water to move, even if it’s just twice a month, and the cost to make those WCs convenient adds a bit to the cost. Any of those models are awesome tho. Reply
Robert C says November 19, 2020 at 8:47 am Some good info here. The waterchanges are what have me thinking. I’d love the biggest model, but it’s a lot of water to move. And the cost of making waterchanges easier adds up a lot. Reply
mhorton says November 19, 2020 at 12:28 pm Pick the inhabitants you want to keep, then build your tank around them. Reply
Ray Gonzalez says November 19, 2020 at 1:00 pm As for me, I would go with 600 S2. Easier cleaning and matainance. And the part I believe it won’t break the bank. Lol. Reply
markkrider68 says November 19, 2020 at 5:56 pm Big is better if ya go small your gonna want to upgrade in a month anyhow. Reply
James Reed says November 19, 2020 at 6:27 pm Go as big as your maximum weight limit and your wallet can afford! Bigger is never big enough! Reply
Joseph Stmarie says November 19, 2020 at 7:22 pm I started with a 75 gallon. And now I upgraded to a 150. And I do not regret it Reply
michael.cox.ii says November 19, 2020 at 10:13 pm Go as big as you can afford financially and with time and effort. There is a happy medium to small requires a lot of time. Too big requires a lot of money and time ? Reply
Laura Sloan says November 20, 2020 at 3:02 pm Glad I read this – I would’ve assumed a beginner should start with a smaller tank Reply
Ryan Skinner says November 20, 2020 at 4:22 pm I started in the hobby with a 5 gallon nano tank. I actually had some pretty good success with it due to space limitations. My best advice with any tank you choose is to take your time. Small tanks react to fluctuations much faster than a larger tank. Reply
Ricks Garage says November 21, 2020 at 3:50 am Always better to go bigger or regret it down the road Reply
sarabeth3412 says November 21, 2020 at 5:30 pm Just starting with a 55 gallon cube, already want to increase Reply
Christina Wynn says November 21, 2020 at 8:14 pm I am wondering, is there such a thing as too big? Lol! Reply
jgorman87 says November 22, 2020 at 9:30 pm Just not enough room in the smaller tanks and shift parameters way to easily. Reply
Grieta Kinens says November 22, 2020 at 10:47 pm what your budget and space can afford…a total loss could be devastating! Reply
James McGee says November 22, 2020 at 11:16 pm Bigger is definitely better but make sure you don’t go bigger than your space can handle. If you start small and grow you will end up spending more money in the long run as you grow and the smaller tanks are much harder to care for. They require a ton of regular maintenance. Reply
Keith Taylor says November 23, 2020 at 3:13 pm Can’t imagine being happy unless it’s the big tank ? Reply
Brandon Yachna says November 23, 2020 at 3:41 pm With a smaller tank, you definitely start feeling the need for “bigger” soon! hahaha. Reply
MATTHEW REED says November 23, 2020 at 4:49 pm As big as you have room for and can do maintenance on comfortably. Reply
david.portholepub says November 23, 2020 at 7:05 pm Choose what’s right for you. Don’t go big just because you want a lot of stuff. Remember if you go big in the tank you have to have the equipment to support it. Reply
david.portholepub says November 23, 2020 at 7:05 pm Choose what’s right for you. Don’t go big just because you want a lot of stuff. Remember if you go big in the tank you have to have the equipment to support it. Reply
mini_lexk says November 23, 2020 at 7:43 pm start with what seems right & when you’re co comfortable start another tank. Reply
Conner says November 23, 2020 at 8:13 pm I like to have a tank in every room so it depends on where your putting it I think. And one of those random things to think about is how much that big tank filled is going to way and making sure your floor can support it Reply
thehouseofhays says November 24, 2020 at 12:43 am Go bigger but go slow get a little qt tank to start with if you have to have fish. Reply
dwgroves says November 24, 2020 at 5:27 am Big is nice, but can stretch the budget for fish and corals. I prefer a mid size. Reply
Oscar Saavedra says November 24, 2020 at 8:40 am have to think about what actually want to create with the tank. show fish or nano fish corals etc. ( in my opinion bigger the better but is more $$$$) Reply
jeremywenz says November 24, 2020 at 10:20 am Always go bigger to start. I always recommend 40gallons as a good starter tank! Reply
Will Humphreys says November 24, 2020 at 1:39 pm Bigger is almost always better. That being said, it also costs more to run…. Reply
Kenneth Frasian says November 24, 2020 at 6:46 pm I love all tank sizes and I’ve owned alot over the last decade. While some nano tanks can be perfect for convenience sake going bigger is usually better for stability and aquascaping a large tank is lots of fun. Only downside is needing more equipment to run a bigger aquarium like more lights Reply
gtilove86 says November 25, 2020 at 6:52 am Go as big as your budget allows. You will eventually want a bigger tank anyway! Lol Reply
hannah_roo41 says November 25, 2020 at 8:14 pm I really like my nano aquarium its easy to maintain and I could afford the AI Prime that powers it 😀 Reply
Matt Bohl says November 26, 2020 at 3:57 am Would be a nice new set up with my last tank that cracked woke building it Reply
Billy Koch says November 26, 2020 at 10:04 am Learned the hard way – go as big as you can because once you find some particular species you want and then only to learn you are limited due to the size of the tank. Its a lesson learned that I have made and now its onward to the bigger tanks Reply
Billy Koch says November 26, 2020 at 10:07 am Learned the hard way – go as big as you can its easier to manage and maintain. Reply
shirley devera-Caldwell says November 26, 2020 at 5:44 pm Got a 5 gallon for xmas. upgraded to a 10g a month later. 2 months later went to a 30. Another two months upgraded again to a 60.. should have started big first lol! Would love to now double that… this is all in one year haha… Reply
brocklehurstmatt says November 26, 2020 at 7:55 pm bigger is better, until you start losing fish because you cant find them and cant afford the 1200 in lights for your 8ft tank, so as big as your budget will allow. also figure out stocking first and work towards that. Reply
matthew j schwartz says November 26, 2020 at 11:02 pm Bigger is not always better. It all depends on what you want. For instance, if you want a frag tank go with a low boy or frag tank. For Angels and predator fish you want to go as big as you can afford. Remember the cost of equipment, water changes, chemicals, testing, lighting, filtration. The best advice I could give is to join a group and spend a month or so talking to the comunity. Do not jump into the hobby before you research. Going cheap almost always costs more in the end. Reply
angelamcummings says November 27, 2020 at 11:07 am went as big as our floor would allow…after reinforcing it of course lol Reply
nannasumpty says November 28, 2020 at 12:40 am they are some really nice tanks to choose from just don,t know what size to get now Reply
Anchor Sarslow says November 28, 2020 at 10:51 pm Go with what you are comfortable with.. Larger is better but.. you may not have the room or the cash.. And, know what you want to put in it first. not after you have the tank.. you dont want to be disappointed or stress the life out of your new pets. Reply
Edward Thayer says November 29, 2020 at 10:23 am I think people forget about the space sand and rock take up until itin there. Then they wish they had a larger tank. I did that! So I share now. Reply
dawn.g22 says November 30, 2020 at 6:41 pm I started smaller but now wish I had gone larger. Upgrading will be harder in the long run but will be a great experience! Reply
How hard is it to keep a refugium? Adding a refugium to the reef tank system can be a game changer for some reef keepers! Most experienced hobbyists agree that a refugiums’ natural Read More about How hard is it to keep a refugium?
The Ultimate Housekeepers We at AlgaeBarn love clean-up crew critters and microorganisms, so welcome to the ultimate housekeeping celebration! At AlgaeBarn, we are highlighting our Read More about The Ultimate Housekeepers
Keeping the Chalk Bass As many fish store workers can probably attest, beginner marine aquarium hobbyists have a strange knack for finding the toughest to keep species. Whether Read More about Keeping the Chalk Bass
